Institute for Regeneration and Repair

green snowflake and number four

"Forth Therapeutics, a new spinout from IRR, launched this March" microscopy of kidney fibrosis

4th Day of Research - Forth Therapeutics, a new spinout from IRR, launched this March 🦠

The biotech company builds on pioneering research into halting and potentially reversing the progression of fibrotic disease.

📰: edin.ac/4iyNgvX
Discover more IRR success stories: #12DaysOfResearch

Gold graphic of bauble and number 3

"Scientists compared 3 key methods for detecting mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) in endometrial cancer" illustration of womb covered in fibroids and cysts

Third Day of Research – Scientists compared 3 key methods for detecting mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) in endometrial cancer 🧬

Read our story: edin.ac/4c8iY1c

#12DaysOfResearch is just getting started. Stay tuned for more excellent IRR science!

red graphic of a wrapped present and '2'

infographic explaining how macrophage therapy helps repair liver cirrhosis

Second Day of Research - MATCH Phase 2 study, a therapy could offer hope to people suffering from liver cirrhosis, completed with positive results⚕️

Learn more: edin.ac/4pgJs5X

Keep an eye out for our #12DaysOfResearch campaign throughout December, highlighting a year of IRR research.

Job, vacancy, postdoctoral research fellow, closing 11th December 2025

📣Job opportunity: To analyse neuroimaging, cognitive, and biological data from the UKRI MRC-funded PREterm Neurodevelopment and COGnition study (PRENCOG), the Theirworld Edinburgh Birth Cohort (TEBC), and other early life image datasets available to the research community
More info: edin.ac/4pz9kux

Job vacancy research nurse closing 17 December 2025

📣Job opportunity: We are looking for a clinical research nurse to participate in an exciting research project aimed at understanding the molecular origins of abnormalities in human oocytes and embryos.
More info: edin.ac/48efslA

📣Job opportunity: To analyse neuroimaging, cognitive, and biological data from the UKRI MRC-funded PREterm Neurodevelopment and COGnition study (PRENCOG), the Theirworld Edinburgh Birth Cohort (TEBC), and other early life image datasets available to the research community.
More info: edin.ac/4pz9kux

Our new facility, the UK's only dedicated axolotl research colony, is an exciting next step into regenerative medicine.

"What we learn from axolotls could one day help us unlock new treatments for everything from spinal cord injuries to degenerative diseases." - @aidarodrigo.bsky.social

Hunter syndrome: Boy with rare condition amazes doctors after world-first gene therapy Oliver has an inherited condition called Hunter syndrome, which causes progressive damage to the body and brain.

In his previous role at @manchester.ac.uk, CRM Group Leader Brian Bigger led research on gene therapy for Hunter syndrome, which has just resulted in its first patient! edin.ac/49Av3wV

Read about his current work here: edin.ac/4q352LN

Pine tree and '1' graphic on green

One millimetre diameter biopsy forceps protruding from the Prothea micro-endoscope

#12DaysOfResearch is back again this December, sharing IRR research highlights from across 2025! ✨

For our first day of research, IRR Spinout Prothea enrolled its first patient to the the Precision Lung clinical trial

Read our full story: edin.ac/42wu648

[Image credit: Prothea Technologies]

Congratulations to all our postgraduate students who graduated this week. It was a real treat to help show some of their family and friends around the Institute and into the labs where they worked. Including MScR Reproductive Sciences and MScR Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Repair.

New study (Lu lab) shows reduced & unstable immune cells (regulatory T cells) damage bile duct and worsen chronic liver disease. Blocking Ox40L molecule whilst boosting regulatory T cell numbers improved bile duct repair and reduced scarring.

Summary 🔎: edin.ac/4incMW2
Full paper 📰: edin.ac/4ipDMnK

It’s World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week. We caught up with Prof @bachmanntill.bsky.social to tell us about his research and how he’s tackling antimicrobial resistance.

Find out more about antimicrobial resistance and how diagnostics research can help: edin.ac/48wzjfG

#WAAW @who.int

Congratulations to Prof @bachmanntill.bsky.social and the DOSA team on securing PACE funding to advance their UTI strip test. The award will help refine its properties and add an antibiotic susceptibility test - bringing it significantly closer to real-world use.

The project: edin.ac/3Mb7D7q

Pinprick blood test could detect disease 10 years before symptoms appear, study finds Molecular profiles will give detailed snapshot of person’s physiology and predict diseases from diabetes to cancer and dementia

Dr Edwards-Hicks is featured in The Guardian today, discussing why the @ukbiobank.bsky.social ’s new release of metabolic profiles is a major step forward for disease prevention.

Read the article: edin.ac/3LHM6Dr

AJ Boyland at her desk

“I could be contributing to helping someone get their vision back. That’s awesome.”

IRR student AJ Boyland discusses her research project into cornea infection therapies with the charity Fight for Sight, who are funding her PhD.

Read AJ's blog post: www.fightforsight.org.uk/news-and-ins...

Job opportunity postodoctoral research fellow closing 18th November 2025

📣Job Opportunity: Develop machine learning of cellular automata models with applications to in vitro developmental biology.
More info: edin.ac/49Mr7ZQ

Researchers from the Cash lab have identified a drug that activates a special protein and improves wound healing. This identifies potential therapies for non-healing chronic wounds that could benefit millions of patients worldwide.

Paper: edin.ac/3JPI37a
Summary: edin.ac/3JVZgfm

Professor Ramachandran awarded grant to transform liver fibrosis treatments

This multi-institution £3.5 million MRC grant will fund the development of a multi-organ lab model that replicates the make-up of fatty liver disease and evaluate potential treatments.

edin.ac/4qTS9oc

Sarah Morel with her winning certificate

Colleagues networking post event

A three-quarter full seminar room at the event

Attendees enjoying post-event pizza

Well done to everyone who took part in our Research in a Flash event last Thursday⚡

10 IRR researchers showcased their current projects in rapid-fire talks, followed by a quiz, networking and pizza lunch. Congratulations to Sarah Morel for her winning flash talk on escape rooms and liver disease!

Well done to all our CIR PhD students for their brilliant presentations at last week's Annual Poster Day 🎉! Congratulations to our award winners:

Best Presentation: Marcin Maniak (left)
Best Science: Broc Drury (middle)
Best Poster: Saule Zubyte (right)

@cmvm-edinburghuni.bsky.social

Potential non-hormonal treatment shows early promise for endometriosis | Institute for Regeneration and Repair Researchers at the Centre for Reproductive Health have carried out a clinical trial to test dichloroacetate as a potential non-hormonal treatment for endometriosis.

Potential non-hormonal treatment shows early promise for endometriosis 🩸

Researchers at the Centre for Reproductive Health have carried out a clinical trial to test dichloroacetate as a potential non-hormonal treatment for endometriosis.

Read our article: edin.ac/4nJgL0l

@cmvm-edinburghuni.bsky.social @crick.ac.uk

IRR's Dr Güneş Taylor joins Professor Brian Cox to explore the science of fertility in the latest episode of A Question of Science.

Joining an expert panel, Taylor discusses the role of the ovary when it comes to fertilisation, pregnancy, and development.

🎧Listen now: www.lnk.to/AQOSFertilit...

We recently held our third Inaugural Lecture Showcase. We got to hear from two professors, Katrin Ottersbach and Brian Bigger, Chair in Advanced Therapeutics.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this event and to our speakers for sharing their research journeys and insights with such passion!

An encouraging new study by @publichealthscot.bsky.social, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and @unistrathclyde.bsky.social, confirms the HPV vaccine provides strong and sustained protection against cervical disease that can develop into cancer.
edin.ac/47zVAYn

Job vacancy Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics closing 8th december 2025

📣Job Opportunity: Play a central role in supporting researchers using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics approaches at the Institute for Regeneration & Repair.

More info: edin.ac/3Wuxlpt

Job Vacancy Lab Services Lab Technician closing date 4th November 2025

📣Job Opportunity: We are seeking a dedicated individual to join our Lab services team providing day-to-day technical support for IRR’s research.
More Info: edin.ac/4qFIJwL

vacancy senior research technician closing 18 November 2025

📣Job Opportunity: To provide comprehensive support and manage all technical aspects for a clinical research project entitled ‘Protecting spermatogonial stem cells from chemotherapy-induced damage for fertility preservation in childhood cancer'.
More Info: edin.ac/49ni8hx

The @fengfishlab.bsky.social lab have found that mutation in the Ras gene can change normal cells and trigger an immune response that promotes cancer formation - all within 24 hours. This may offer new ways to detect or prevent cancer before it becomes established.

edin.ac/47h6bZq

Device that measures blood oxygen levels on the finger of an elderly individual

How low blood oxygen can affect your body's immune defences 🛡️

A new study reveals that neutrophils have their genetic material modified by hypoxia and how the BCG vaccine may reverse this immune response.

Our article: edin.ac/49nENu4
Nature Immunology paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...