Find about recent news from across the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network A warm welcome awaits Fleming Fund fellows from Southern and Eastern Africa January 2025: The University of Edinburgh is looking forward to hosting 22 visitors from Kenya, Uganda and Malawi, for two weeks of training and collaboration. New game released to understand how social networks and decision making change disease spread January 2025: Researchers from School of Biological Sciences have collaborated with Game Developers 'Then Try This' to create 'Nergal' - a game designed help understand how people's social networks and decision-making, change how diseases spread through communities. World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2025 January 2025: As the world marks Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, researchers from The University of Edinburgh are collaborating with the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases to host a free, public exhibition. 2024 highlights from Edinburgh Infectious Diseases January 2025: 2024 was a very busy and productive year for Edinburgh Infectious Diseases. Here are some highlights! Genes linked to deadly parasites’ spread beyond Africa identified December 2024: Parasites that cause the deadly illness known as sleeping sickness can spread beyond their native Africa as a result of mutations to key genes, a study shows. Research Focus: From the cleaning practices of livestock transport vehicles to behaviour in fruit flies December 2024: A collection of publication highlights from Edinburgh Infectious Diseases over the past month. Training to combat drug resistance as awareness week begins November 2024: As the world marks Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week, a group from the Fleming Fund Fellowship programmes in southern and east Africa has just completed two weeks of intensive training in Edinburgh. World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week at the University of Edinburgh November 2024: A digest of events, research papers and activities happening in and around the University of Edinburgh to mark World AMR Awareness Week 24 (#WAAW24). Research Focus: From social ageing in primates to the Global Plastics Treaty October 2024: A collection of publication highlights from Edinburgh Infectious Diseases over the past month. New phase launches to tackle drug resistance crisis October 2024: A group of professionals from Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya are joining the fight against drug resistance in low- and middle-income countries. New hub to boost lung infection treatments October 2024: Multidisciplinary IRR-based partnership MicroTex has received funding to fight infectious and inflammatory lung disease. Welcome to the new Wellcome Trust PhD students October 2024: At the start of this month 13 new students began their studies on two Wellcome Trust PhD programmes addressing One Health Models Disease, and Hosts, Pathogens and Global Health. Professor Josephine Pemberton receives the British Ecological Society’s highest honour Professor Josephine Pemberton has been awarded honorary membership by the British Ecological Society, for her research on wild animal populations which has led to ground-breaking insights into the natural world. Professor Paul Sharp wins Royal Society’s Darwin Medal Professor Paul Sharp FRS, is recognised by the Royal Society with a prestigious medal, created in memory of Charles Darwin FRS, for his research on the evolutionary origins of HIV and malaria. Research Focus: From sleeping sickness in domestic dogs to infectious, neoplastic lung disease in sheep A collection of publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month. AMR expert network secures funds to tackle resistance A University of Edinburgh co-directed research network has received a £650,000 UKRI award to engage with communities and policymakers across the UK to reduce the AMR burden. Data insights aid in managing livestock disease spread A new analysis offers a comprehensive view of cattle movements, providing valuable insights for veterinary decision-making. Research projects on rabies and sleeping sickness win 2024 Ker Memorial Prize The 2024 Ker Memorial Prize in Infectious Diseases has been jointly awarded to Dr Andy Gibson (Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies) and Dr Guy Oldrieve (School of Biological Sciences). Research focus: from AMR resistance in seals to genetic mutations helping humans and animals survive against antibiotics A collection of publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month. Mutation drives bacterial adaptation to immune response Researchers have uncovered a genetic mutation that helps common bacteria affecting humans and animals to survive against immune defences and antibiotics. Major new appointments in infection research for the School of Biological Sciences The Institute for Immunology and Infection Research in the School of Biological Sciences is delighted to welcome three new colleagues to join us in Edinburgh in 2024 Wellcome Trust PhD candidate publishes first book on outbreak prepardeness and response 'The Outbreak Atlas' written by Mackenize S. Moore, a student of the Hosts, Pathogens and Global Health PhD Programme, and Dr Rebecca Katz, Director of the Centre for Global Health, Science and Security at Georgetown University lifts the curtain on the rationale and interconnectedness of outbreak responses across different fields and at various levels. Past and present directors of Edinburgh Infectious Diseases named as RSE fellows Current co-director of Edinburgh Infectious Diseases Prof David Dockrell and former director Prof Ross Fitzgerald, have been named as fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Squirrelpox virus spreads north of central Scotland Scientists from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies have confirmed the death of a red squirrel from squirrelpox virus in an area previously unaffected by the disease. Research focus: from abortions in livestock to immune traits in Scottish Blackface sheep A collection of publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month. Newly announced Research and Innovation Strategy encompasses EID's themes The University of Edinburgh's Research and and Innovation Strategy 2030 highlights the importance of cross-college initiatives like Edinburgh Infectious Diseases as key platforms for delivering the new strategy. Building capacity to tackle antimicrobial resistance in Africa Reflections on the work of the Fleming Fund Fellowship schemes in Uganda, Malawi and Kenya, that are building expertise in AMR surveillance. Trust in NHS advice key to Covid vaccine uptake People’s trust in the NHS was linked to increased uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine during the pandemic, a study suggests. Virus ancestry could aid bid to predict next pandemic, study finds Virus family history could help scientists identify which strains have potential to become the so-called Disease X that causes the next global pandemic. West Nile virus study sheds light on mitigating outbreaks Mapping development of mosquito-borne virus offers clarity on managing risk of infections. This article was published on 2024-08-28
