The Roslin Institute

02/06/2026

Genomic tools could help support the long-term management of critically endangered eastern black rhinos in Kenya.

Roslin scientists are collaborating on an international project to develop DNA-based resources that could make it cheaper and easier to monitor genetic diversity.

This will help conservation teams make evidence-based decisions as rhino numbers continue to recover.



Find out more: https://edin.ac/43dFy4O
International Rhino Foundation

01/06/2026

Roslin Reels - The Roslin Institute’s Tim Connelley talks about his team’s work on developing animal vaccines.

For more information on our research, check out our website, linked in our bio.

01/06/2026

A bacteria linked to mastitis in dairy cattle has evolved to access nutrients in milk, enabling it to sustain infection in cows' udders, scientists have shown.

Their findings help explain how mastitis adapted after moving from humans into cattle, and highlight potential ways to control the infection in livestock.



https://edin.ac/463lu7b

28/05/2026

Breeding poultry to shed less virus through feather dust could help improve flock-level protection against Marek’s disease, research suggests.

Roslin scientists found that vaccination reduced virus shedding and helped protect susceptible flock mates, while genetic resistance protected individual birds but did not reduce spread.

Feather viral load could provide a practical measure to guide future breeding and vaccine strategies.

Find out more: https://edin.ac/4wU6eVT

Breeding poultry according to their capacity to shed virus from feathers could improve flock-level protection against a costly infectious disease.

27/05/2026

Efforts to expand woodland in Scotland should consider potential disease risks linked to increased contact between wildlife and livestock, research suggests.

Our researchers used economic modelling, land use data, cattle movement records and wildlife distribution estimates to explore how woodland expansion could affect contact between wild deer and cattle.

The findings highlight the importance of careful planning to support environmental goals while minimising unintended risks to livestock health.

Read more: https://edin.ac/4uFPv7m

22/05/2026

Roslin scientists are joining a UK initiative to study Andes hantavirus, following an outbreak of disease on a cruise ship.

The team will use an established protocol to enable rapid, standardised data and sample collection, and will combine their findings with other datasets to aid understanding of the disease and inform patient care.

https://edin.ac/4f2AI1y

22/05/2026

Scientists from Roslin will join a multi-disciplinary effort to address a major gap in pandemic preparedness around the world.

The Edinburgh Pandemic Research Forum aims to improve understanding of the broader impacts of pandemic outbreak on people, communities, businesses, services, and the environment.

Research network unites broad expertise to target widespread impacts of disease outbreaks.

18/05/2026

Pig studies could help scientists better understand toxoplasmosis, a common parasitic infection that can cause serious illness in vulnerable people.

Our researchers found that pigs and humans use similar immune responses to fight Toxoplasma gondii, strengthening the case for pigs as a model for studying the disease.

The study also highlights the potential for a One Health approach, supporting advances in both human and animal health.

Read the full news story: https://edin.ac/49Sdt6E

13/05/2026

Artificial light during darkness can have significant effects on animals’ biological functions, research shows.

A study of lizards from wild urban habitats looked at the impact of light pollution across several organs, and found it disrupted the body’s 24-hour circadian rhythms, as well as physiological processes.

The results add to growing evidence that all living things benefit from natural light and dark cycles, and this should inform conservation efforts, the team says.

https://edin.ac/4nsMrbF

12/05/2026

Roslin Reels - The Roslin Institute's Mizeck Chagunda talks about his team's work on tropical livestock challenges.

For more information on our research, check out our website: https://www.roslin.ed.ac.uk/