Edinburgh BioQuarter

20/03/2026

📸 A celebration of 300 years of Edinburgh Medical School

Opening today, the Faces of Edinburgh Medical School exhibition is a powerful tribute to the people who have shaped three centuries of medical teaching, research and innovation.

On display on the Mound for 6 weeks (before moving to Portobello), the exhibition features portraits of individuals connected to Edinburgh Medical School - all nominated by its community of staff, students and alumni.

At the heart of the exhibition are 13 striking new portraits by photographer Laurence Winram, alongside a wider collection of 52 images from archives and community contributions.

Together, they tell the story of a community that continues to push boundaries in medicine and health - right here in Edinburgh.

As part of the wider BioQuarter community, Edinburgh Medical School plays a key role in shaping the future of healthcare through research, education and innovation.

✨ If you're in the city, we’d highly recommend stopping by to take a look.

🔗 Find out more: https://bit.ly/4sZzA2l

16/03/2026

🔬 Last week we celebrated by bringing science straight into the classroom!

The BioQuarter Community Impact team, alongside a brilliant group of volunteers, took over science lessons to deliver hands-on workshops focused on genetics and health research.

Over the course of the week, we worked with six S2 classes, reaching 80 pupils through interactive sessions exploring topics like microscopes, ultrasound, simple inheritance, genetic diseases, and analysing blood sugar in type 1 diabetes.

Students were fascinated to see real fruit flies used in research, and many shared their own career ambitions - from becoming eye researchers to dentists!

Teachers were incredibly positive about the experience, with one describing it as “an absolutely brilliant input that the learners have been very positive about.”

Activities like this are important in sparking curiosity and inspiring young people to explore science and health research. It was fantastic to see so many pupils engaging with the activities and discovering just how exciting science can be.

A big thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the week such a success! 👏

11/03/2026

This month we’re collecting donations for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland - the country’s largest health charity dedicated to helping people live well with chest, heart and stroke conditions.

Through care, advice and support services, the charity helps thousands of people across Scotland rebuild their lives after diagnosis and recovery.

If you’re able to donate, the collection box is currently accepting:

👚 Clothes
👟 Shoes
📚 Books
🎲 Board games
⚽ Sports gear (no safety equipment such as cycle helmets)
💿 DVDs & CDs

Every donation helps support the incredible work Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland does for communities across the country. Find the donation box at the reception of the NINE.

08/03/2026

Today, on International Women's Day, we're spotlighting the incredible women in STEM based at Edinburgh BioQuarter! 👩‍⚕️

Across our campus, women are leading world-class research, delivering outstanding clinical care, teaching and mentoring the next generation and driving innovation that improves lives. From laboratories and lecture theatres to clinics and wards, their expertise, leadership and dedication shape everything we do on this campus.

We're celebrating their achievements and recognising the importance of creating environments where women can thrive, collaborate and lead at every stage of their career. 🤝



Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Roslinct

03/03/2026

🧠 Scottish Brain Sciences is hosting the International Brain Health Conference in Edinburgh this May – and you’re invited.

On 18-19 May 2026, researchers, clinicians, innovators and life sciences professionals will gather at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa to explore and share their latest breakthroughs in understanding, diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative diseases.

This is a brilliant opportunity for Scotland’s brain health community to connect, collaborate and share knowledge that could shape the future of dementia prevention and care.

If you work in neuroscience, healthcare, research or innovation – this is an event you won’t want to miss.

👉 Secure your space today - https://events.humanitix.com/international-brain-health-conference-2026

Know a colleague who you think should be there? Tag them in the comments! 👇

You are invited to join the first annual International Brain Health Conference on May 18-19th, 2026, in Edinburgh, UK.

23/02/2026

A promising new approach to help pinpoint inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) diagnosis is in the works thanks to researchers at The University of Edinburgh's Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR).

Traditional methods have been known to be invasive and uncomfortable, but this new test, which analyses immune cell signals in the blood, may help clinicians distinguish IBD from other causes of gut symptoms more accurately and earlier. 📊

By identifying specific patterns of immune activity, the test offers a targeted way to understand the causes of inflammation on an individual basis. Not only could this reduce the need for invasive procedures, but it also supports a more personalised approach to care for people with suspected IBD.

Find out more about the research here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/new-test-could-help-pinpoint-ibd-diagnosis



Edinburgh Medical School

A test that rapidly detects signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in stool samples could improve future diagnosis and monitoring of the condition, a study suggests.

19/02/2026

📣 Building on the success of previous sessions, our HPV vaccination awareness workshops are back!

We've already kicked things off at Holy Rood RC High School, reaching more than 200 pupils with the incredible support of the NHS Lothian vaccination team and our BioQuarter volunteers.

During the sessions, pupils:
🧠 Take part in an interactive HPV quiz
💉 Learn what to expect on vaccination day
👥 Explore how herd immunity works
🔬 View HPV-infected cells under a microscope

Did you know?
According to the NHS, the HPV vaccine can reduce the risk of cervical cancer by up to 87% when given at the recommended age - a powerful example of prevention in action.

We're proud to support young people in the local community in understanding this life-saving vaccine and feeling confident about their health decisions.

🔗 You can read about the impact of last year's workshops in this BBC feature:

The HPV vaccine programme, which started in 2008, has been hugely successful across Scotland.

10/02/2026

Researchers at The University of Edinburgh, in partnership with the University of Glasgow and industry collaborators, have demonstrated that a new Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiotracer - LW223 - is safe and tolerable in healthy volunteers. This advanced imaging tool targets a protein involved in inflammation and could help clinicians visualise inflammatory processes in conditions from heart disease to neurological disorders.

LW223 overcomes limitations seen with previous tracers, making it potentially suitable for use across a broader population. This offers a valuable new approach for diagnosis, monitoring and future treatment research.

It's incredible to see this work type of bench-to-bedside innovation emerging from Edinburgh BioQuarter's campus. 🔬

Read more about the advanced technology here: https://bit.ly/4bMJ4J4

New Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiotracer LW223 from the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow has been shown to be safe and tolerable in healthy humans.

07/01/2026

A new year for 🧪 👩‍🔬

Science Buddies is a brilliant opportunity for BioQuarter staff and students to become science “best friends” with local primary school pupils. Our buddies visit the same school over several weeks or months, building a real connection with the class while delivering fun, hands-on STEM activities.

Working closely with teachers, buddies help support a diverse science education and grow young people’s confidence and curiosity about the world around them. 🌍✨

Take a look at what some of the pupils from Prestonfield Primary School had to say about last year's programme in the video below. Capturing the spirit of the programme perfectly, pupils shared how they got to learn by doing and reflected on how science was made accessible and exciting.

We’re really looking forward to a fun and inspiring year of Science Buddying. Thank you to all the volunteers who’ve signed up to get involved!

31/12/2025

2025 at Edinburgh BioQuarter - A year of collaboration and impact 💫

This year has been a powerful reminder of what can happen when world-leading research, healthcare and industry leaders come together on one campus.

🌍 Welcoming global health leadership 🌍
In June, we proudly hosted the World Health Organisation Director-General for the official opening of the Usher Building at Edinburgh BioQuarter - a milestone moment for data-driven health and care innovation in Edinburgh.

🎓 Supporting the next generation 🎓
Our Summer Internship Programme continued to grow, offering a new crop of local high school pupils the experience of practical working placements in life sciences.

💡 Showcasing BioQuarter on the investment stage 💡
We also met with partners for a Global Investment Summit meeting, highlighting BioQuarter's progress and future ambition to become Edinburgh's Health Innovation District and strengthen connections that support our long-term growth.

🤝 Community and school engagement 🤝
Throughout 2025, our campus community has continued to connect with our neighbours - building opportunities and inspiration through education and outreach. Our team of 140 volunteers has delivered a range of programmes, reaching 366 primary school pupils from the community.

A big thank you to everyone across our campus - colleagues, partners, students and community collaborators - who have made these moments possible. We're excited to keep building on this momentum in 2026!

24/12/2025

With one more sleep until the big day, we'd like to wish everyone across our campus community a very Merry Christmas!🎄

Thank you to the researchers, clinicians, students, partners and teams who make Edinburgh BioQuarter a place where collaboration thrives. and life-changing work happens every day.

We wish you all a peaceful and joyful holiday.✨

18/12/2025

🎥 Learn about Scotland's first total-body scanner from Professor Dave Newby!

Unveiled at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh earlier this year, the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner offers a leap forward in diagnostics.

As the first of its kind in Scotland, the scanner transforms how we diagnose and treat some of the most complex health conditions, including cancer, dementia and heart disease.

As part of the national network, the scanner accelerates drug development, enables advanced AI and diagnostic tools and brings global collaborations within reach – all from right here in Edinburgh.

Footage courtesy of The University of Edinburgh's College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Communications team.