Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · 8d

A needle-free, solid dose vaccine technology is able to safeguard pigs against one of the sector’s most impactful diseases - Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus.

The development is the first time that this technology has been shown to work in any species.

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A pig stands on the edge of its pen looking at the camera

The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · 12d

An oral contraceptive designed for use in managing wild grey squirrel populations has been found to work in rodents. Further development is ongoing towards its application in wild settings.

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@uksquirrelaccord.bsky.social

Squirrel contraceptive development takes key step | The Roslin Institute | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Edible contraceptive shows promise for management of grey squirrels in the wild.

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · 12d

Our research towards flu-resistant chickens is featured in the free Future of Food exhibition at the Science Museum, London, open until 4 January.

It shows how experts are exploring precise changes to chicken DNA to prevent disease.

Find out more: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/f...

A visitor looks at a chicken on display at the Science Museum.

The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · 23d

Roslin Reels - The Roslin Institute's Professor Neil Mabbott talks about his team's work on boosting immunity against infection.

For more information on our research, check out our website:
www.roslin.ed.ac.uk

@uoe-eid.bsky.social
#InfectiousDiseases #PublicHealth #AnimalHealth

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · 29d

Yesterday we hosted the first annual Sir Ian Wilmut Lecture, honouring the scientist behind Dolly the Sheep.

Nobel Laureate Prof Shinya Yamanaka, Kyoto University, spoke on iPS cells — early-stage cells that can become many cell types, with potential for regenerative medicine and research.

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Sep 5

Congrats to four professors on their inaugural lectures - Gregor Gorjanc, Professor of Selective Breeding (left); James Prendergast, Professor of Bioinformatics; Mizeck Chagunda, Professor of Tropical Livestock Genetics, and Liam Morrison, Professor of Veterinary Parasitology.

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Sep 5

As part of Technician Week, the University’s Technician Steering Committee hosted events on Easter Bush campus celebrating the expertise and contributions of our technical community.

Highlights included lightning talks, networking, and a tour of our Large Animal Research and Imaging Facility.

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Sep 1

We are marking Technicians Week by recognising the vital contribution of our technical staff at Roslin and across the University.

As part of the celebrations, the University's Technician Steering Committee is hosting events to support discussions around technical career pathways.

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Sep 1

Congrats to our new Interim Director, Professor Mark Stevens.

Mark, who is Chair of Microbial Pathogenesis, is a familiar face on campus, having been Deputy Director of Research for a decade. He will lead Roslin while recruitment of our next Director takes place.

vet.ed.ac.uk/roslin/about...

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Aug 26

Roslin Reels - The Roslin Institute's Professor Rowland Kao, CBE talks about his team's work on data and disease spread.

For more information on our research, check out our website:https://vet.ed.ac.uk/roslin

@rowlandkao.bsky.social @uoe-eid.bsky.social
#RoslinReels #InfectiousDiseases

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Aug 25

Roslin Director Professor Bruce Whitelaw, who is retiring after almost four decades at the Institute, offers his perspectives on spotting opportunities, leading with empathy, and what he's most proud of, in our latest interview.

#MeetOurScientists

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Professor Bruce Whitelaw on a career at Roslin | The Roslin Institute | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Retiring Director reflects on career highlights, problem solving, and leadership.

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Aug 21

Congratulations to Honorary Professor Gary Entrican on receiving the Zoetis IUIS VIC Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist Award at the 14th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium, in recognition of his contribution to veterinary immunology.

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#Immunology #VetAwards

Professor Gary Entrican receives Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist Award | Edinburgh Infectious Diseases | Edinburgh Infectious Diseases

August 2025: Many congratulations to Professor Gary Entrican from The Roslin Institute who has received the Zoetis IUIS VIC Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist Award at the 14th International…

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Aug 18

Mosquito feeding habits may play a bigger role in disease spread than previously thought.

Our scientists used a data model to show that mosquitoes’ tendency to feed repeatedly on the same species could help sustain viruses such as Japanese encephalitis, dengue and malaria.

#AnimalHealth

Mosquito feeding habits could influence disease spread | The Roslin Institute | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Data model shows how feeding preference may sustain transmission of mosquito-borne viruses.

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Aug 11

Applications are now open for an annual workshop on UK aquaculture and marine science, hosted by the Roslin Institute and The Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers.

📅 30 September - 1 October
📍Oban, Scotland.

Spaces are limited, apply by 22 Aug: edin.ac/4mfR8Eo

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Aug 8

Join us as Nobel laureate Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University presents the first annual Sir Ian Wilmut Lecture at the Roslin Institute, 3pm on Monday 8 September.

This talk, followed by drinks reception, is supported by the Roslin Foundation.

Tickets: edin.ac/456I2no
#ScienceLecture

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Aug 1

Our researchers, in partnership with The Kennel Club, have analysed data from over 11 million pedigree dog registrations in the UK.

Results suggest the need for breed-specific management strategies to promote genetic diversity.

Find out more:

#DataAnalysis @edinnovations.bsky.social

UK pedigree dogs should be managed by breed, study finds | The Roslin Institute | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Statistical analysis highlights the need for breed-specific population management strategies.

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Jul 18

Male birds need a key gene to survive, scientists have found.

The gene helps to correct an imbalance that results from male birds having two Z chromosomes, whereas females have only one.

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Gene balances sex chromosomes in male birds | The Roslin Institute | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Key gene is essential for the survival of male birds, gene-editing research shows.

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Jul 15

Roslin Reels - The Roslin Institute's Professor Dan Macqueen talks about his team's work on fish health and evolution.

For more information on our research, check out our website: www.roslin.ed.ac.uk

#RoslinReels #Aquaculture #FishHealth

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Jul 11

Resistance to antibiotics in livestock and their farmers is likely to be more prevalent in semi-intensive systems compared with free-range holdings, a study of Ugandan pig farms shows.

The findings suggest a raised risk of antimicrobial resistance amid rising demand for protein.

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Jul 10

A hybrid coronavirus, formed of cat and dog coronaviruses, caused a severe outbreak of disease among cats in Cyprus, researchers found.

Their work, in Nature, showed how this new virus was able to cause widespread cases of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) among the island’s cats.

Coronavirus causes fatal disease outbreak in cats | The Roslin Institute | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

A harmful strain of coronavirus has caused a fast-spreading outbreak of a harmful feline disease.

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Jul 5

Today marks Dolly the sheep’s birthday. Born on 5 July 1996, Dolly was the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, changing our understanding of cell biology and genetics.

To learn more about Dolly's life and legacy, visit our website: edin.ac/44wnt2e

#DollyTheSheep #ScienceHistory #OnThisDay

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Jul 3

Congratulations to our scientist Professor Kenneth Baillie on his well-deserved Honorary Membership of the Intensive Care Society.

His team’s work on the GenOMICC study is shaping the future of intensive care, uncovering genetic factors behind critical illness and identifying new treatments.

Honorary membership for intensive care researcher Professor Kenneth Baillie | Institute for Regeneration and Repair | Institute for Regeneration and Repair

The Intensive Care Society has awarded Honorary Membership to IRR Group Leader Professor Kenneth Baillie, for his significant contributions to intensive care medicine - especially during the Covid-19…

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Jul 1

A £5m hub is researching the development of healthy, sustainable livestock through engineering biology – making targeted changes to DNA to enable benefits to animal health, welfare and productivity.

#EngineeringBiology

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Hub to aid precision breeding of farm animals | The Roslin Institute | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

£5m investment to enable sustainable, healthy livestock through engineering biology.

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Reposted by The Roslin Institute

Edinburgh Infectious Diseases @uoe-eid.bsky.social · Jun 20

Researchers awarded BBSRC fellowships to fuel groundbreaking bioscience research

Congrats to Amy Pickering @roslininstitute.bsky.social and Sophie Giguere (@edinburghbiology.bsky.social) on their fellowships!

Read more about their work here ➡️ edinburgh-infectious-diseases.ed.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

Researchers awarded BBSRC fellowships to fuel groundbreaking bioscience research

June 2025: Congratulations to Amy Pickering and Sophie Giguere from the University of Edinburgh who have been awarded fellowships from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC...

edinburgh-infectious-diseases.ed.ac.uk

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The Roslin Institute @roslininstitute.bsky.social · Jun 23

Our researchers have uncovered a fat recycling process in Atlantic salmon cells, offering a new path to healthier, more sustainable aquaculture.

This discovery could improve feed design and disease resistance in farmed salmon.

Read more: edin.ac/4k0t3zu

#Aquaculture #AtlanticSalmon

Fat recycling mechanism could boost salmon health

Researchers have identified a fat recycling process in Atlantic salmon cells that could enable healthier feeds and disease resistance.

edin.ac