2023 news

2023 news from Edinburgh Infectious Diseases.

November was a very busy month for Edinburgh Infectious Diseases with three big events occuring in close proximity to one another: the annual Winter Lecture, World AMR Awareness Week and the UK Mission to the EU One Health Fair in Brussels.

A collection of publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month.

November 2023: Kenyan Policy fellows, Evelyn Wesangula and Romona Ndanyi, collaborated on a documentary that explores the complexities of AMR in Kenya, aiming to captivate the attention of both policymakers and the general public.

Next phase of UK collaboration builds on discoveries around disease immunity, transmission and evolution. 

International initiative helps early career scientists develop their skills in studying infectious diseases.

A collection of publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month.

Scientists have used gene editing techniques to identify and change parts of chicken DNA that could limit the spread of the bird flu virus in the animals.

Researchers from Professor Sarah Reece's lab in the School of Biological Sciences are engaging with teachers and pupils across Scotland to talk about mosquitos, malaria parasites and body clocks.

A collection of publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month.

The Max Planck-Humboldt medal 2023 has been awarded to Amy Buck, Professor of RNA and Infection Biology, for her research into inter-species communication via RNA. The medal will be presented this November in Berlin. 

Efforts to develop a field-side test for animal trypanosomiasis could transform management of the common, costly infection in smallholder farms. 

Lab study pinpoints immunity-linked gene in pigs that is required for African Swine Fever virus to replicate. 

Inoculation within the first month of life is effective, offering greater scope for protecting calves against disease. 

Moredun Research Institute (MRI), in collaboration with French animal health company Ceva Sante Animale (Ceva), have been awarded £900,000 (80% funded) to develop new vaccines that target the viruses and bacteria responsible for bovine respiratory disease (BRD).

Pilot study shows a novel contact tracing app could help protect groups at risk of catching and spreading infectious diseases in the Global South.

Newly discovered mechanism enables bacteria to rapidly evolve, and could inform phage therapy.

Novel system speeds diagnosis of bacterial infections in dogs, enabling effective choice of treatment. 

Scotland’s White Gypsy/Traveller ethnic minority group were at greater risk of Covid-19 hospitalisation or death than the majority of the population, research reveals.

University of Edinburgh hosts Alumni Fleming Fund Fellows from Malawi, accompanied by Dr. Collins Mitambo, Head of Research at the Ministry of Health.

Publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network in the past month.

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh will receive £46.3 million from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to support ongoing activity at the MRC Human Genetics Unit.

Molecular material associated with growth, fertility, and infection risk in dairy calves could serve as indicator of productivity in cows.

Newly identified gene shown to prevent most strains of bird flu from causing infection in humans.

A 50-year study of red deer on a remote Scottish island is providing new insights into evolution in action and the impact of climate change in the natural world.

Explore the noteworthy publications from Edinburgh Infectious Diseases in the past month.

Details about the programme, Ker Memorial Speaker and Prize Winner, and voting arrangements for the poster sessions for this year's Annual Symposium

Unveiling cattle immune system diversity and disease resistance potential through DNA chemical markers

We are delighted to announce that Dr Verity Hill, from Prof Andrew Rambaut's lab in the School of Biological Sciences, is the winner of this year's prize for her work on Ebola and SARS-CoV-2.

The Ker Memorial Prize is awarded annually for the best PhD thesis in infectious diseases at the University of Edinburgh.

A leading specialist in veterinary public health and population medicine has been appointed as the new Head of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

A compilation of notable publication highlights from the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month.

Weakening virus by amending genetic code promises route to large-scale production of live vaccines. 

The OECD-CRP Symposium on AMR in Livestock Production in a One Health Context was held in Edinburgh on 22-24 May 2023.

A digest of the publication highlights from across the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network over the past month.

The Edinburgh Science Festival ran a vibrant programme of activities for all ages at the National Museum of Scotland during the Easter break in April 2023.

A group of outstanding early career researchers have been awarded one of the University of Edinburgh’s most prestigious fellowships.

Prestigious awards from University and BBSRC nurture outstanding scientists and pioneering projects. 

The group of 24 students were in Edinburgh as part of a study tour to learn about  "Science: Study, Research and Life. A comparison of the systems in Germany and Great Britain ".

Lasting conservation measures targeted at most vulnerable species are recommended in a report for the Scottish Government.

We explore publication highlights from across Edinburgh Infectious Diseases, March 2023.

A common virus, alongside an underlying genetic predisposition, is likely to have played a key role in the recent worldwide outbreak of acute hepatitis in children.

A video-game based model of infectious disease spread will form the basis of a pilot public engagement project that aims to engage Scottish communities with public health research data.

A successful Africa-led global health research programme, contributing to World Health Organisation (WHO) policy development, has shared the key to its success and is calling for a shift in the centre of gravity of health research, designed to benefit developing countries.

Covid-19 vaccination does not cause concerning changes to periods, research has found.

Leading edge technology has uncovered secrets about a world-renowned fossil hoard that could offer vital clues about early life on earth.

A multi-year commitment to explore innovative educational opportunities for African students and build research partnerships across the African continent has been announced by the University of Edinburgh.

Do cesarean-born babies miss out on essential microbes? New evidence suggests that the answer may be “no.”

Most fines for Covid rule breaches were issued when England was in its third national lockdown and Wales was in its second, research shows.

Response to infection in birds from chickens to crows points to biological factors linked to disease resistance.

We explore publication highlights from across Edinburgh Infectious Diseases, Feb 2023.

The higher prevalence of common cold viruses in Africa may have helped the continent experience relatively lower death rates from Covid-19, a study of people in Zimbabwe suggests.

Recent Covid-19 clinical trial results from Edinburgh Infectious Diseases

Two scientists who made important contributions to the development of Covid-19 vaccines have received a prestigious award from the University of Edinburgh.