The University of Edinburgh is at the fore-front of biological and biomedical research. Across Edinburgh we have multiple biology/medical campuses covering fundamental aspects of research going through to clinical and translational studies. One of the strengths of Edinburgh University is our breadth of different research topics and the number of collaborative departments.

The EpiCrossBorders program was initialized through the Helmholtz epigenetics@HMGU community the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Welcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology and Centre for Regenerative Medicine. However, all Edinburgh University departments are eligible to participate in the EpiCrossBorders collaborative PhD programmes including research teams based in MRC Human Genetics Unit, Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Cell Biology, Institute of Evolution Biology, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Immunology and Infection, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Chemistry, School of Informatics, Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Centre for Inflammation Research, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health.

Edinburgh Students from all PhD programmes will be able to apply to join this initiative, and the first round of recruitment is aimed for Summer 2021. 

The Centre for Cell Biology is one of fifteen UK-based Wellcome Trust Centres, three of which are in Scotland. We were granted full Centre status by the Wellcome Trust in 2001, the year that the draft human genome was published.

Our mission is to play a significant part of the scientific global endeavour aimed at understanding living systems at the molecular level, making discoveries that advance knowledge of normal and abnormal cell function.

We currently specialise in the following areas: 1) the synthesis, processing, localisation and degradation of RNA; 2) epigenetic control of chromosome function; 3) mechanisms of cell growth & duplication; 4) the rules that govern cellular architecture.

Our research is “investigator-led”; in other words, the Centre’s scientific progress depends on the ingenuity and curiosity of its research group leaders, each of whom follows their own instincts.

 

We combine the latest computational and experimental technologies to investigate how our genomes work to control the function of molecules, cells and tissues in people and populations. For more than half a century our research has been dedicated to understanding human genetic disease. Today we continue to apply our clinical and scientific expertise, harnessing the power of complex data, to improve health, and the lives of patients and their families.

Our DNA...Our Lives

 

Our Scientists and clinicians study stem cells, disease and tissue repair to advance human health. Research at the Centre is aimed at developing new treatments for major diseases including cancer, heart disease, liver failure, and degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's.

The Centre is located in the Edinburgh BioQuarter, a site shared by the Royal Infirmary Hospital and the University's Clinical Research facilities. This makes us ideally placed to translate basic science into clinical therapies.