Roslin to join Edinburgh University and get GBP100 million investment

The Roslin Institute, home of Dolly the cloned sheep, is joining forces with the University of Edinburgh and will almost double in size with GBP100 million of investment.

Roslin will be merged with the School of Veterinary Studies within the university’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.

Further recruitment over the next few years, including around 10 more research groups, will see the Roslin Institute double its staff numbers to about 500. As part of its expansion, the institute will move to a GBP58.5 million building next to the new Vet School development which is due to be completed in 2010.  

Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice hancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said, “The coming together of the Roslin Institute and the University of Edinburgh is a great step forward. Both organisations are renowned internationally for their research and such a union will only serve to enhance and build on that.”

Research at Roslin includes the prevention and treatment of animal diseases caused by prions (such as BSE and scrapie), viruses and bacteria. Its work has implications for human health, including understanding how pathogens may move between species, investigating food safety issues, and understanding the genetic mechanisms of health and disease in animals.

The institute also focuses on animal growth, reproduction and development, welfare of animals within their environment, and how improvements can be made in the care and productivity of livestock and in treating diseases in companion animals.

Professor David Hume, director of the Roslin, said, “The pooling of resources and expertise between Roslin and the university will provide a significant boost to the work of the institute and herald the start of a period of expansion, with research that has implications for both human and veterinary clinical medicine.”