School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition - University of Aberdeen

04/09/2026

Another great 2026 NSS result! We ranked 9th in the UK for positive responses in Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry.

04/09/2026

We are proud to announce we also ranked 4th in the UK for positive responses in Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology in the 2026 National Student Survey (NSS).

04/09/2026

The 2026 National Student Survey (NSS) results are out! We ranked 4th in the UK for positive responses in Dentistry.

The NSS takes final undergraduate students’ opinions on the quality of their course to help inform student choices, guide institutional improvements and support public accountability.

03/09/2026

What are the benefits of blue spaces? 🌊

The Worth of Water report by the University of Aberdeen and Public Health Scotland, published by Greenspace Scotland, found that 1.1 million adults in the Forth region visited a blue space, which are outdoor water environments, during the past year. This ranged from rivers and lochs to beaches and coastlines.

The researchers used three separate approaches to assess the health value of blue spaces in the Forth region, estimating annual benefits of £105.2 million from exposure to nature, £123.3 million from physical activities and £39.6 million from aquatic activities.

But the benefits are not just financial. 93% of visitors said blue spaces lifted their mood, while 89.7% said they helped them de-stress and 86% reported a positive impact on their mental health. Almost half (46.6%) of visitors said the presence of water was the primary reason for the majority of their visits, highlighting the importance of water itself.

The next step is making sure everyone can benefit from accessing blue spaces across Scotland, particularly those who currently face the greatest barriers to accessing them.

Read more to learn about the wide range of benefits researchers found blue spaces can offer ➡️

Scotland's rivers, lochs and coastlines deliver health benefits worth up to £123m a year in the Forth region alone, according to new research from the University of Aberdeen that puts a monetary value on the impact of blue spaces.

02/09/2026

Previous studies have shown an association between inflammation and infection during pregnancy and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental conditions in the developing human brain. However, understanding exactly how inflammatory signals affect the developing human brain has remained a major challenge until now.

The team, co-led by Dr Eunchai Kang and Dr Daniel Berg from the University of Aberdeen’s Institute of Medical Sciences and funded by UK Research and Innovation (BBSRC) developed a new 3D human brain tissue model called a cerebroid. Using this model, they were able to find out that inflammatory signals can directly act on neural stem cells, changing how neurons are produced and mature during the development of the cerebral cortex.

It doesn’t just stop there. The researchers say the new cerebroid model could also be used to study the effects of other environmental influences on the developing human brain.

Read more ➡️ http://abdn.io/2oJ

28/08/2026

We were delighted to welcome the Medical Class of 1991 back to campus for a weekend of reunion celebrations.

During their visit, the class enjoyed a tour of the Anatomy Department, where fourth-year medical students demonstrated some of the latest teaching technologies, including the Anatomage dissection table and virtual reality headsets.

The visit ended with a guided tour of the Cruickshank Botanic Garden 🪴.

26/08/2026

New research from the University of Aberdeen and Keele University has been the first to identify how s*x affects the relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. To achieve this, they looked at data from over 20,000 people over a 25-year period to find out how the outcomes of people living with cardiovascular disease differed between the s*xes.

They found that males living with cardiovascular disease had a higher chance of developing cancer and subsequently dying from it than females. This was noticeable across all types of cancers, but most prominently in lung and oesophageal cancers.

Understanding these differences between males and females could help inform public health strategies, with the aim of achieving more equal health outcomes between the s*xes.

Read more ➡️ http://abdn.io/2nN

25/08/2026

Heavy menstrual bleeding affects one in three women in the UK. There are current treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding, but many are ineffective and come with side effects. As a result, a lot of women resort to surgery to remove the uterus, leading to infertility.

A new study funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) which will be led jointly by Professors Siladitya Bhattacharya from the University of Aberdeen and Hilary Critchley from The University of Edinburgh will investigate whether a new medication called relugolix-CT could improve heavy menstrual bleeding in comparison to current treatment options through a clinical trial. Relugolix-CT is a daily pill which contains relugolix, which temporarily stops the menstrual cycle and contains hormone replacement therapy to prevent any menopausal symptoms from relugolix.

Previous research has been done using relugolix on women with fibroids, and it improved their symptoms significantly without some of the side effects associated with other treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding. Therefore, this treatment could provide a breakthrough for women experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding, offering a potential alternative to current treatment options and preserving fertility.

Read more ➡️

Researchers from the Universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh have been awarded just under £2 million to lead a major clinical trial investigating a promising new treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding, which could transform the lives of millions of women around the world who live with the debilitati...

24/08/2026

🔬 Considering studying medicine or a medical science?

A reminder that we have an Undergraduate Open Day taking place tomorrow, Tuesday 25 August! Come along to explore our campus, meet current students and staff and find out what life at Aberdeen is really like.

Whether you already know what you want to study or are still exploring your options, we'll help you picture your future here.

🔗 Book your place today: abdn.ac.uk/openday

21/08/2026

🏆 Prestigious national award for University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian team!

A team from Biostatistics and Health Data Science at the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian has won the Royal Statistical Society’s Florence Nightingale Award for Excellence in Health and Care Analytics.

Their research explored who is most affected by elective care waiting times and revealed significant inequalities, with people in the most deprived areas more likely to wait longer, attend A&E while waiting and experience greater healthcare needs.

The findings highlight how NHS data can help us better understand patient journeys, reduce health inequalities and identify people who may need additional support while waiting for care.

👏 Congratulations to everyone involved in this important work!

🔗 Read more: http://abdn.io/2mW