Genes & Traits for Healthy Animals: Understanding the origins of animal phenotypes
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
This programme will sustainably enhance animal productivity, efficiency and welfare by dissecting genotype-phenotype relationships and their biological basis. We will dissect the origin of animal phenotypes by studying the function of cells, tissues and body systems through development and life, and the impact of genotype-by-environment interactions on these.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Lead Research Organisation)
- Petersime (Collaboration)
- Cobb Vantress (Collaboration)
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Munich (Collaboration)
- Scotland's Rural College (Collaboration)
- GENUS PLC (Collaboration)
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Collaboration)
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Collaboration)
- Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (Collaboration)
- Aviagen (Collaboration)
- Lohmann Tierzucht (Collaboration)
- Roslin Technologies (Collaboration)
Publications
Agha S
(2025)
Revealing the Hidden Social Structure of Pigs with AI-Assisted Automated Monitoring Data and Social Network Analysis.
in Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Andresen AMS
(2024)
Mapping the cellular landscape of Atlantic salmon head kidney by single cell and single nucleus transcriptomics.
in Fish & shellfish immunology
Andresen AMS
(2026)
Virus-inclusive single nucleus RNA-sequencing reveals two distinct endothelial response patterns in infectious salmon anaemia.
in Fish & shellfish immunology
Aramburu O
(2025)
Epigenomics of embryogenesis in turbot
in Genome Research
Arana ÁJ
(2025)
Comparative Analysis of CRISPR/Cas9 Delivery Methods in Marine Teleost Cell Lines.
in International journal of molecular sciences
Arrázola MS
(2023)
Necroptosis inhibition counteracts neurodegeneration, memory decline, and key hallmarks of aging, promoting brain rejuvenation.
in Aging cell
Bancic J
(2024)
A framework for simulating genotype-by-environment interaction using multiplicative models.
in TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik
Bancic J
(2024)
Plant breeding simulations with AlphaSimR
in Crop Science
Barden M
(2023)
Serum 1H nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics of sole lesion development in Holstein cows.
in Journal of dairy science
Batho-Samblas C
(2025)
Characterisation of the avascular mesenchyme during digit outgrowth
in Developmental Biology
| Description | In chickens, we used our expertise in editing and transgenesis to establish a critical role for PRDM14 in gastrulation during embryo development, established a key role for NTN1 in tissue fusion during development, and found miR-2954 to have a key role in male embryonic development. We publicised our avian primordial germ cell (PGC) and surrogate host technologies, achieved direct propagation of PGCs from archived embryonic gonads, and showed that PGCs from one avian species can produce sperm when transplanted into sterile recipients of another species. Using a novel transgenic chicken line where individual cells can be induced to express different fluorescent proteins, we mapped the fate of specific cell types during the development of digits in the chicken forearm, defined the activities of mesenchymal cell during digit outgrowth, and skin and feather development, and traced the origin of cardiogenic cells. Another transgenic chicken line was generated to visualise cells at different phases of the cell cycle to study tissue development. A CSF1R-GFP reporter chicken was used to study the spatiotemporal development of lymphoid tissues in the chicken gut, and to identify M cell subsets in the gut and bursa, toward understanding of immune priming in birds. We also developed a novel transgenic line in which conventional dendritic cells (cDC) can be visualised with a fluorescent reporter or be conditionally ablated owing to coupling of the XCR1 promoter to inducible Caspase-9. For pigs, we developed protocols to derive and maintain pig skeletal muscle progenitor cells, providing a model in which to evaluate causal variants underlying muscle traits. We also characterised a novel pig cell line with enhanced adipogenic capacity, which has been licenced to multiple businesses engaged in cellular agriculture. At the whole-animal level, we used Artificial Intelligence to predict aggression from social interactions between pigs from video images, and to predict carcass traits in cattle before slaughter. We also secured £3.4M of Gates Foundation funding to develop strategies to obtain gametes from bovine stem cells in vitro as a strategy to accelerate genetic gain. |
| Exploitation Route | Understanding of the biological processes underlying development and tissue homeostasis of farmed animals informs animal breeding and precision breeding, and engineering biology in these species. New in vitro stem cell and organoid models, and chicken models of broad utility, developed in this programme can be used to advance research into productivity, health and welfare in these species in a more efficient manner that reduces or replaces animal use in experimentation. Understanding growth of key cells and tissues, such as those of the adipose and muscle lineages, may be used in designing conditions that will permit cellular agriculture and underpin optimisation of culture methods of cells from these farmed species. Development of novel reproductive and gene editing technologies enables efficient, safe and rapid precision breeding approaches. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
| Description | Our research to edit farm animal genomes to confer beneficial traits in animal health, welfare, productivity and sustainability aligns with opportunities identified by the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 and the National Programme for Engineering Biology. We provided evidence to a House of Lords Science & Technology Committee inquiry on this topic, and to the Science Advisory Council advising the Scottish Government on Engineering Biology. Our £4.9M EB2 hub aims to catalyse collaboration and generate novel tools and resources for the community, as well as to sustain rare expertise. Contributing PIs advised the Food Standards Agency and the European Food Safety Authority on the application of novel genetic technologies in farmed animals and foods, informing their conclusion that these pose no new risks. We also supported the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science & Technology in Agriculture to deliver a week-long event at the Houses of Parliament to highlight opportunities afforded by the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023. We have introduced gene edits that aim to alleviate thermal stress in hot climates, for example in the PRLR gene to confer an altered coat phenotype in cattle and sheep. We have used AI to analyse video imaging of social networks in pigs, including to predict the outcome of interactions and episodes of aggressive behaviour. We are working with Genus to incorporate such data in breeding decisions. We have also sought to control injurious pecking in poultry by understanding genetic contributions to beak shape, and analysing the damage different beak shapes cause. We have also deployed unique capability in neurophysiology to evaluate impacts of feed restriction on brain activity in chickens, and highlighted the role of non-neuronal factors such as neuroinflammation in how animals respond to challenges. We have developed novel transgenic lines to study avian embryonic development, leveraging new capabilities in Light Sheet and super-resolution confocal microscopy. Our Chameleon line encodes three different fluorescent proteins, the genes for which are separated by target sites for Cre recombinase. On targeting Cre recombinase to specific locations in the developing embryo, this causes recombination events such that individual cells express one or more reporters. In turn, this can be used to map the fate of those cells and the structures they give rise to, as we have shown during limb development. These are widely used to study avian biology. We have also contributed novel resources to advance the 3Rs, for example through a single cell transcriptome atlas of avian enteroids that are a powerful model to study gut function and host-pathogen interactions, and further development of our stem cell technology to accelerate genome editing and cryopreserve avian resources. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Drivers of salmon robustness |
| Amount | £3,794,031 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2024 |
| End | 09/2029 |
| Description | Immune and metabolic impacts of ablating chaperone mediated autophagy by gene editing LAMP-2A paralogues in rainbow trout |
| Amount | £23,081 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2024 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | The cellular origins of melanised focal spots in Atlantic salmon muscle |
| Amount | £82,002 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Norwegian Seafood Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Norway |
| Start | 07/2024 |
| End | 06/2025 |
| Description | ai-guided genome editing: developing tissue-specific regulatory elements for livestock trait improvement |
| Amount | £105,342 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 15058902 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2025 |
| End | 08/2027 |
| Description | ai-pignet: the ai of social interactions for next gen smart animal breeding |
| Amount | £322,799 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y513891/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2024 |
| End | 08/2025 |
| Description | bright beginnings: exploring changes in hormone secretion and pineal gland gene expression in chickens at hatch in relation to light wavelength |
| Amount | £7,050 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 15104178 |
| Organisation | British Poultry Science |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2025 |
| End | 08/2026 |
| Description | characterising the variation in craniofacial morphology in developing chicken embryos |
| Amount | £9,100 (GBP) |
| Organisation | World's Poultry Science Association |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Start | 12/2026 |
| End | 11/2027 |
| Description | engineering biology for healthier pork |
| Amount | £87,807 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 15059220 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2025 |
| End | 12/2027 |
| Description | engineering biology toolbox for precision breeding |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 15059070 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2025 |
| End | 04/2030 |
| Description | enhancing lipophagy, a novel lipid catabolic pathway, for healthy and sustainable atlantic salmon aquaculture |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RD204 |
| Organisation | Centre For Environment, Fisheries And Aquaculture Science |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2023 |
| End | 11/2024 |
| Description | funding for pump priming 2024-25 |
| Amount | £125,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RF2510 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | generating livestock cell lines with landing pads for efficient transgene expression |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 15058796 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2025 |
| End | 08/2027 |
| Description | genetic and molecular regulation of beak tip (rhinotheca) shape in layer hens |
| Amount | £808,218 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X015904/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | ibreed: in vitro gametes for enhanced genetic selection of cattle |
| Amount | £3,383,763 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | INV-054048 |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 12/2026 |
| Description | new tractable models: engineering livestock stem cell potential |
| Amount | £126,958 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 15059204 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2026 |
| End | 07/2027 |
| Description | optime: optimize breeding via multiplex gene editing |
| Amount | £1,748,643 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | INV-089441 |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 11/2025 |
| End | 06/2029 |
| Description | pioneering gene drive technology at roslin |
| Amount | £231,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 01/2026 |
| Description | purchase of a dynescan semen analyser |
| Amount | £10,740 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RF2613 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2025 |
| End | 03/2026 |
| Description | refit and refurbishment of infrastructure to enable relocation of aquaculture facilities |
| Amount | £250,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RF2612 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2025 |
| End | 06/2026 |
| Description | roslin foundation - funding for pump priming 2025-26 rf2610 |
| Amount | £125,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RF2610 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2025 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | roslin foundation phd studentships-rf2023/001 |
| Amount | £560,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RF/2023/001 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2027 |
| Description | roslin on the road: aquaculture rural outreach and engagement programme |
| Amount | £115,603 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RF2609 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2025 |
| End | 09/2028 |
| Description | technologies for inducible transgenesis and chromosome engineering to achieve sex skewing in chicken |
| Amount | £167,951 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 15058488 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2025 |
| End | 08/2029 |
| Description | the transition from a sexual to a parental brain via nest building |
| Amount | £205,898 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y002121/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2023 |
| End | 11/2026 |
| Description | understanding biomineralisation in the fish dermal skeleton and its role in health and development |
| Amount | £506,473 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X009904/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2023 |
| End | 08/2026 |
| Description | Automated monitoring of aggression in pigs to inform selective breeding for enhanced welfare. |
| Organisation | Genus plc |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are working with Genus under a BBSRC Industrial Partnering Award to implement video imaging to follow social interactions in pigs and aggression (e.g. tail biting). The long-term aim is to use such data as a measurable phenotype linked to the genotype of the animals to inform selective breeding of pigs less prone to aggression. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contractually confidential. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We recently renewed $10M investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to sustain the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health to 2027. CTLGH involves collaboration between The Roslin Institute, ILRI and SRUC and aims to drive genetic gain in poultry and cattle indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. It involves contributions from researchers funded by this programme and adds significant value to its objectives. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative research. |
| Impact | Significant progress is being made in dissecting the genomic architecture of production and health traits in farmed animals indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the basis of adaptation to different environments. This will inform the design of breeding strategies that aim to bring lasting genetic improvements. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health |
| Organisation | International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We recently renewed $10M investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to sustain the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health to 2027. CTLGH involves collaboration between The Roslin Institute, ILRI and SRUC and aims to drive genetic gain in poultry and cattle indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. It involves contributions from researchers funded by this programme and adds significant value to its objectives. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative research. |
| Impact | Significant progress is being made in dissecting the genomic architecture of production and health traits in farmed animals indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the basis of adaptation to different environments. This will inform the design of breeding strategies that aim to bring lasting genetic improvements. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health |
| Organisation | Scotland's Rural College |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We recently renewed $10M investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to sustain the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health to 2027. CTLGH involves collaboration between The Roslin Institute, ILRI and SRUC and aims to drive genetic gain in poultry and cattle indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. It involves contributions from researchers funded by this programme and adds significant value to its objectives. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative research. |
| Impact | Significant progress is being made in dissecting the genomic architecture of production and health traits in farmed animals indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the basis of adaptation to different environments. This will inform the design of breeding strategies that aim to bring lasting genetic improvements. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Collaborative research with Cobb Vantress to cryopreserve avian genetic resources & revive them using surrogate host technology |
| Organisation | Cobb Vantress |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | With funding from Cobb and NC3Rs we have developed strategies to cryopreserve avian primordial germ cells and gonads and then rescue the donor germ line in surrogate hosts. The latter have inducible caspase 9 under the control of a PGC-specific promoter such that addition of a harmless chemical inducer of Caspase 9 causes ablation of endogenous germ cells during embryo development. Donor PGC can be implanted during embryo development which then populate the gonads, give rise to gametes and allow the donor germline to be transmitted. This means that genetic resources can be archived such that live flocks no longer need to be perpetuated. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and avian genetic resources (contractually confidential). |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Datasets relating to the functional annotation of the avian genome. |
| Organisation | Cobb Vantress |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration builds on joint research between Roslin and Cobb to understand how genetic variation may affect the expression and regulation of genes, based on rich functional annotation of the avian genome. It has been primed by past FTMA awards to allow a researcher to work with Cobb in the US, including to create computational workflows for data integration and analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to genome data, provision of expertise in kind. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Developing multiplex and serial genome editing strategies for the chicken. |
| Organisation | Cobb Vantress |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration builds on our pioneering work to culture avian primordial germ cells, edit their genome in vitro, then implant them into embryos from which endogenous germ cells have been ablated. The sires and dams that result from this transmit the donor germ line, and mating of these can lead to homozygous edited offspring in 6 months. While well-established for single edits, this collaborative project aims to devise and test strategies to make multiple edits at once, and introduce sequential edits. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cobb contribute financially via a BBSRC Industry Partnering Award (contractually confidential). |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Impact of light during avian embryo development. |
| Organisation | Petersime |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have BBSRC uplift funding to study the impact of light during embryo development in ovo, including on the timing of hatch and welfare and productivity of the resulting chicks. We have partnered with a major manufacturer of egg incubators. Petersime are well placed to implement any advances at international scale. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In-kind contributions that are commercially sensitive. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Integration of multi-'omics data to predict the impact of genetic variation in chickens. |
| Organisation | Aviagen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Research conducted by a researcher with a joint appointment between The Roslin Institute and Aviagen Ltd. The collaboration involves integration of 'omics datasets to predict how genetic variation in chickens may act (e.g. combining data on genetic variation with the location of genes and regulatory elements, transcripts, epigenome data etc). Previously primed by a Flexible Talent Mobility Award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Datasets. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Modulating lipid metabolism to enhance salmon health. |
| Organisation | Centre For Environment, Fisheries And Aquaculture Science |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Via a Seafood Innovation Grant, we have partnered with CEFAS and MOWI (a major producer of Atlantic salmon) to explore how enhancing lipophagy (a novel lipid catabolic pathway) could affect the fat composition and health of Atlantic salmon. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and access to facilities and resources. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Understanding the determinants of beak morphology toward control of injurious feather pecking |
| Organisation | Lohmann Tierzucht |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | With a BBSRC Industrial Partnering Award we are collaborating with Lohmann, a major breeder of laying hens. Our aim is to understand the basis of beak morphology with the long term aim of modifying beak shape to mitigate injuries due to feather pecking. The project will study gene expression and cellular phenotypes as the beak develops, as well as the role of specific genes and pathways. The collaboration was partly primed by exchanges that were funded by a BBSRC Flexible Talent Mobility Award to Roslin. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and access to animal resources and expertise. The in-kind contributions are hard to quantify. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Understanding the genetic basis of bone fractures in laying hens. |
| Organisation | Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration builds on BBSRC-funded research on the genetic basis of bone strength in laying hens, particularly susceptibility to keel bone fractures that are a major impediment to welfare and production. These studies have also involved a long-standing partnership with Lohmann Breeders GmbH. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Understanding the impact of epigenetic regulation in semen used for artificial insemination. |
| Organisation | Genus plc |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Artificial insemination is widely used in the breeding of ruminants to select animals of with enhanced traits based on knowledge of genotype-phenotype relationships. It is less well understood how expression of the genome may be controlled by epigenetic modifications, for example that may reflect the life history of the donors. We have partnered with Genus to explore this. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Semen samples from animals of defined genotype and genomic breeding values for quantitative traits. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Understanding the impact of nutritional supplements on chicken gut function. |
| Organisation | Technical University of Munich |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Collaborative research. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We are using our novel intestinal organoid model of the chicken gut to understand how dietary supplements affect gut function and mucosal immunity. This has included working with commercial partners on their candidate products. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Validation of a porcine pre-adipocyte cell line. |
| Organisation | Roslin Technologies |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project harnesses expertise at Roslin on the basis and control of cellular differentiation to attempt to establish adipocyte cell lines that could produce animal fat for cellular agriculture. This collaboration was partly funded by an award from the BBSRC Impact Accelerator Account to Roslin and the University of Edinburgh. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contractually confidential. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | iBreed project to develop in vitro gametogenesis. |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have made a significant investment linked to this programme to develop strategies for generation of gametes (eggs and sperm) in vitro from stem cells, with an initial focus on cattle and pigs. It is envisaged that this will include significant collaboration with global breeders. If feasible, editing of these gametes and fertilisation in vitro will accelerate both the rate and efficiency of genome editing in livestock. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | "Agri-Science Week in Parliament" Exhibit at Houses of Parliament, London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | RI scientists invited to contribute a poster and staff for a four-day AgriScience exhibit at the Upper Waiting Hall, Houses of Parliament, organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Science & Technology in Agriculture. Roslin's contribution focused the potential for precision breeding/genome editing/engineering biology to increase the sustainability of animal production in the UK, supported by a poster with case studies of current research to reduce/prevent disease in pigs, poultry and salmon. The poster also highlighted UK goverment investment in Roslin research using a timeline of key discoveries and specialist animal facility openings. Engagements with MPs and parliamentary staff were high-quality and focused, and included people with all levels of awareness of and support for precision breeding. Useful conversations highlighted newly elected MPs' lack of awareness of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 and upcoming secondary legislation, and exposed resistance to accepting PB due to perceived opposition from constituents. This indicates that further work needs to be done on engaging policymakers on this topic, and getting a robust measure of public opinion on the topic. Outcomes include following up with key parliamentarians, organising a PB-themed visit to Roslin and contacting BBSRC about a potential public dialogue on PB in animals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | "Cute Egg" at Border Union Agricultural Society Countryside Education Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Cute Egg is an interactive activity about the function and quality of the cuticle layer on hen's eggs, developed and delivered by the Dunn reseach group at RI. Audience members at the Border Union Agricultural Society's Countryside Education Day (P6 pupils and teachers from all primary schools in the Scottish Borders) dye eggs to reveal the quality of their cuticle and find out about its role in protecting the egg from harmful bacteria, facilitated by staff and PGRs from RI. More info about Cute Egg: https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/community-engagement/resources/cute-egg/about |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | A classroom resource to support teachers to explore how gel electrophoresis works with their pupils. Gel Electrophoresis Wall Tank |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A classroom resource to support teachers to explore how gel electrophoresis works with their pupils. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Animal Behaviour Toolkit - Opening a Can of Worms |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A free, downlodable toolkit that supports primary and secondary teachers to work with their learners to create their own science investigations, focusing on pupils' own questions about worm behaviour. As well as reinforcing the use of the Scienfitic Method to address real-world questions, it introduces the field of animal behaviour research and includes a "Real-Life Research Fact File" that highlights a research project at RI. The toolkit also includes information about the use of animals in research and the 3Rs, created with support from Understanding Animal Research, who have since awarded the toolkit a UAR Openness Award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | DNA & the Genome | PCR Masterclass: A Question of Taste |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A full-day PCR workshop that aims to engage and inspire final and penultimate high school biology pupils, giving them the opportunity to work with real lab equipment and reagents, supported by RI academic/scientific staff and PGRs, who also discuss their own research and career paths. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Dr Kate Sutton on immunology in chickens |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An interview with Dr Kate Sutton on her career and research in avian biology, filling gaps in fundamental understanding of immunology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://vet.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/meet-our-scientists/dr-kate-sutton-on-immunology-in-chickens |
| Description | Free downloadable resources created to engage and inspire upper primary pupils, secondary pupils and teacher. based on our collection of "Meet a Roslin Scientist" short videos and scientist profiles that explore what scientists do, who they are and how they got into science. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Free downloadable resources created to engage and inspire upper primary pupils, secondary pupils and teachers, based on our collection of "Meet a Roslin Scientist" short videos and scientist profiles that explore what scientists do, who they are and how they got into science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Gel Electrophoresis Wall Tank |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A classroom resource to support teachers to explore how gel electrophoresis works with their pupils. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Insights into bone health to aid poultry welfare |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A news article on Roslin's website highlighting a useful approach to assess bone strength, supporting breeding management decisions for laying hens. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://vet.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/2024/insights-into-bone-health-to-aid-poultry-welfare |
| Description | Insights into bone health to aid poultry welfare |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | News article on Roslin's website reporting on a novel approach to assess bone strength, supporting breeding management decisions for laying hens. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://vet.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/2024/insights-into-bone-health-to-aid-poultry-welfare |
| Description | Lab Techniques: Gel Electrophoresis in Action |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This video has been designed to support Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of PCR. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Lab Techniques: Gel Electrophoresis in Action. Video designed to support Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of PCR. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This video has been designed to support Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of PCR. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Lab Techniques: PCR in Action |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This video has been designed to support Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of gel electrophoresis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Lab Techniques: PCR in Action. Video designed to support Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of gel electrophoresis. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This video has been designed to support Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of gel electrophoresis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | LabCamp: Cows, Coughs & CRISPR |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Secondary school pupils (16-18 year olds) get hands-on with real lab equipment and carry out a DNA digest and gel electrophoresis, supported by scientific staff, researchers and PGRs from the Roslin Institute. They get an insight into how real-life research projects develop and how researchers design and implement their experiments , as well as the opportunity to chat with our scientists about their career paths and their work using genome editing. The practical content is linked to the SQA curriculum and the workshop supports the Developing the Young Workshop framework. The sessions aim to reinforce learning by providing real-world experiences, especially in practical techniques that cannot be delivered in the school classroom, and break down stereotypes about who scientists are and who can do science. Pupils sign up to the sessions independently and attend during their school holidays, demonstrating their value to pupils. Participants report that they have learned useful skills for the future (e.g. university courses, future work in science) and gained insights into what areas of science they might go on to study and what careers in science look like. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Meet a Roslin Scientist |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Free downloadable resources created to engage and inspire upper primary pupils, secondary pupils and teachers, based on our collection of "Meet a Roslin Scientist" short videos and scientist profiles that explore what scientists do, who they are and how they got into science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | PCR Simulation Activity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A paper-based PCR simulation activity to reinforce how PCR works aimed at S6 secondary school pupils, college students and their teachers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Penicuk U3A Science Interest Group Campus Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Hands-on science activities and discussion of how we engage the public with science in EBSOC, tour of Roslin Bioimaging facility, two short talks from Roslin group leaders. The event engaged with interested adults from the local community who were keen to find out more about the research conducted at the Roslin Institute. After the event a return visit was planned for the whole U3A group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Portobello High School Equalities Careers Role Modelling Speed Networking Event S4/5/6 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Participation in a careers and EDI-focused Speed Networking Event at a local high school for S4/5/6 pupils (14-18 year olds) by Roslin Core Scientist. Provided pupils with the opportunity to talk to a BAME Roslin scientist, learn about their work and get advice on future studying and work in science, with a focus on encouraging diversity and inclusion in STEM. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Portobello High School S2 STEM Networking event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Participation in a STEM-focused Speed Networking Event at a local high school for S2 pupils (aged 12-14) by RI Group Leader. Provided pupils with the opportunity to talk to a Roslin scientist, learn about their work and get advice on future studying and work in science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Prof Mike McGrew's paper among Nature Comms' top 25 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Multiple articles on social media referring to Prof Mike McGrew's paper among Nature Comms' top 25 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.nature.com/collections/diiebagcjj |
| Description | Real-Life Research: How to build a bone |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This case study resource, aimed at secondary and college students, explores what the phosphatase enzyme PHOSPHO1 has to do with bone mineralisation, and explains the process of genotyping. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Research Talks for Penicuk & District U3A |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Two accessible research-themed talks at the November meeting of Penicuik & District U3A with Q&A session afterwards. We were again invited to contribute two talks for the members of our local U3A group (an annual event since 2017 that serves to highlight research at RI and the wider Easter Bush Campus to adults from our local community) which this year focused on nutritional and sustainable diets, and livestock welfare research. Both talks were extremely well-received with many audience questions and significant informal discussions with our speakers over tea and coffee. We have been invited back for next year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Roslin Reels - Dr Joe Rainger |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A short video where the Roslin Institute's Joe Rainger talks about his team's work on understanding congenital conditions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Roslin Reels - Professor Jayne Hope |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A short video where the Roslin Institute's Professor Jayne Hope talks about her team's work on tuberculosis and cows. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Roslin Reels - Professor Simone Meddle |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | a short video where the Roslin Institute's Professor Simone Meddle talks about her team's work on the developing bird brain. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Roslin wins Athena Swan gold status for second time |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | News article reporting on Roslin winning Athena Swan gold status for second time |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Science @Home- Marvellous Mixtures |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This 'Science @Home' investigation (designed for families to use with young learners aged 9-14) is used to explore the question "Can I separate my leafy mixture?". The investigation builds confidence in using the scientific method and reveals RI research using chromatography to analyse metabolites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Science @Home- Marvellous Mixtures. 'Science @Home' investigation (designed for families to use with young learners aged 9-14) used to explore the question "Can I separate my leafy mixture?". |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This 'Science @Home' investigation (designed for families to use with young learners aged 9-14) is used to explore the question "Can I separate my leafy mixture?". The investigation builds confidence in using the scientific method and reveals RI research using chromatography to analyse metabolites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Science @Home- Wonder with Worms |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This 'Science@Home' investigation (designed for families to use with young learners aged 9-14) is used to explore the question"Do worms prefer wet or dry places?". The investigation builds confidence in using the scientific method and reveals Roslin's research on animal welfare and the application of the 3Rs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Science @Home- Wonder with Worms |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This 'Science@Home' investigation (designed for families to use with young learners aged 9-14) is used to explore the question"Do worms prefer wet or dry places?". The investigation builds confidence in using the scientific method and reveals Roslin's research on animal welfare and the application of the 3Rs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Science Insights 2024: Inspiring future scientists |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A news article on Roslin's website reporting on the annual Science Insights outreach programme which ran from 22-26 July and provided 37 fifth-year high school pupils with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of scientific research and exploration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://vet.ed.ac.uk/news-events/2024/science-insights-2024-inspiring-future-scientists |
| Description | Science Insights: Animals in Research (talk) & Working with Animals (small group discussion) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Half-day talk and discussion session about the Use of Animals in Research, supported by animal facility staff from RI and other areas of UoE, and Understanding Animal Research. Part of the annual Science Insights work experience programme, which gives 40 penultimate-year high school pupils a real insight into the work and life of research scientists in biological, biomedical and animal sciences during a week-long programme in the school summer holidays. The sessions encouraged pupils to consider the ethics of using animals in research, and a chance to talk to the staff that manage our facilities, including large animal, avian, rodent and aquatic. Many pupils reported it was their favourite session of the week and appreciated the chance to ask questions about a potentially sensitive subject. Facility staff also valued a chance to talk about their work to a non-scientific audience and reported an interest in doing more of this type of work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Science Insights: Large animals in research (facility tour) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Tour/talks activity with four animal research-focused stations, held in the Large Animal Research and Imaging Facility (LARIF) outside barn. LARIF staff set up viewing pens with some of the large animals used in RI research (e.g. sheep, cows), and researchers provided short talks and demonstrations about their projects at each station. Part of the annual Science Insights work experience programme, which gives 40 penultimate-year high school pupils a real insight into the work and life of research scientists in biological, biomedical and animal sciences during a week-long programme in the school summer holidays. Pupils enjoyed a chance to see livestock up close (for the first time for many of them) and to hear about how animal research principles are put into practice during real research projects. They also appreciated the openness of the researchers when talking about this aspect of their work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Science Insights: Meet the Students (networking session) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Speed networking session allowing small groups of pupils to meet and talk to current students (UG and PG) about studying science and applying to university. Part of the annual Science Insights work experience programme, which gives 40 penultimate-year high school pupils a real insight into the work and life of research scientists in biological, biomedical and animal sciences during a week-long programme in the school summer holidays. Pupils report feeling more confident and informed about the university application process, and more aware of the many course options within and related to biology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Science Insights: Research taster sessions (work shadowing) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Half-day science shadowing sessions in small groups (two or three pupils per host reseacher/PGR/staff member). Each pupil gets hands on with the lab and/or computer-based research process, hears and sees what is involved in RI research, and has the opportunity to talk to staff and students in a more informal environment than whole group sessions. Part of the annual Science Insights work experience programme, which gives 40 penultimate-year high school pupils a real insight into the work and life of research scientists in biological, biomedical and animal sciences during a week-long programme in the school summer holidays. Pupils rated this session very highly, and session hosts also gave good feedback, commenting on how interested and motivated the young people were. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Soapbox Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Soapbox Science is a novel public outreach platform for promoting women and non-binary scientists and the science they do. The event transforms public areas into an arena for public learning and scientific debate. Roslin researchers gave short, engaging talks to the public in Edinburgh City Centre about their research, answering questions from the audience and encouraging discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | U3A Mini-conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The whole of the Penicuik & District U3A came to the Roslin Institute for their annual day out to further their lifelong learning. The programme included six short research talks from RI staff and PGRs, hands-on clinical skills, anatomy and science activites in campus teaching spaces and EBSOC, and a tour of buildings and facilities on campus. The day aimed to engage members of our local community with what our scientists do and why, and the world-class scientific facilities on their doorstep. The audience were very engaged throughout, with many questions and points to discuss, and overall feedback was incredibly positive. The event served to strengthen our links with this local group beyond our annual contribution to their autumn talks programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | article outlining how Epigenetic markers aid understanding of cattle immunity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | article outlining how Epigenetic markers aid understanding of cattle immunity |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | interview with a new Chancellors Fellow explaining his work, primarily the fundamentals of embryonic pattern formation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | interview with a Chancellor's Fellow explaining how he works to Understands the fundamentals of embryonic pattern formation, receiving a Chancellor's Fellowship from the University, and designing a multispecies study using chicken models. He specialises in cell and developmental biology to understand how gene signals and cells interact to form patterns during embryonic development, talks about his recent work, the potential applications of his research and the challenges he faces in a competitive research field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/meet-our-scientists/dr-james-glover-on-embryonic-patterns |
| Description | news article communicating a University and ILRI renew livestock research partnership |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | the article outlines how a Renewed Memorandum of Understanding creates research alliance to transform food systems and enhance sustainable livestock production. This article also appeared in Why Africa, Ghana News Online, Research Professional News |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/latest-news-2023/university-and-ilri-renew-livestock-researc... |
| Description | news article communicating how a US$3m bone insight study aims to support hen welfare? International team seeks to improve understanding of factors contributing to strength of important bone in laying hens. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This article also appeared in La Vanguardia and Agronoma. It is a project to understand bone health in laying hens aims to support their health and welfare, and inform breeding selection as industry moves towards non-caged systems. Outcomes from the US$3m international study will inform the selection of hens suited to egg production, whose breastbones are vulnerable to fractures, especially in non-caged birds. The collaboration led by Roslin scientists aims to develop a process of directly assessing the health of chicken's keel bone, or sternum. Additionally, researchers will seek to better understand how nutrition can be optimised in caged and non-caged hens, and how the timing of maturity in hens, when they start to lay, affects subsequent bone quality. The five-year study is funded by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research via the US Department of Agriculture. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/latest-news-2023/3m-bone-insight-study-aims-to-support-hen-w... |
| Description | news article demonstrating how Gene activity and digit structure define fingerprint pattern |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | article outlining how research has shown that Fingerprint formation is initiated by a specialised molecular process, influenced by the anatomy of the developing hand |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/latest-news-2023/gene-activity-and-digit-structure-define-fi... |