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The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Index Page
1. College 2
2. The School of Biomedical Sciences 6
3. The School of Clinical Sciences 11
4. The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R(D)SVS) 14
5. The School of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences 17
Level 2
The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/medicine-vet-medicine
The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine traces its origins back nearly 500 years (Darwin, Simpson and Conan-Doyle were students here) and is internationally renowned for its research and teaching. Headed by Professor Sir John Savill, the only conjoint Medical and Veterinary Medical School in the UK employs over 2300 academic and support staff within the College and the four Schools; Biomedical Sciences ; Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences; Clinical Sciences and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/medicine-vet-medicine/about/medical-schools/biomedical
www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/medicine-vet-medicine/about/medical-schools/molecular-clinical-med
www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/medicine-vet-medicine/about/medical-schools/clinical-sciences
www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/medicine-vet-medicine/about/medical-schools/vet-school
The undergraduate medicine teaching programme in the College enjoys a high reputation nationally and internationally, with over 1,300 students enrolled on the MBChB and Intercalated courses and nearly 1000 on the Veterinary Sciences BVS and related programmes. In addition, approximately 2000 students are currently enrolled in the College’s taught and research post-graduate courses, including an extensive range of online distance learning diplomas and degrees. They are trained by over 1000 outstanding academic staff. Details of PhDs, research programmes and studentships are available through our interdisciplinary research institutes and centres (www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/medicine-vet-medicine/research/institutes/centres).
The academic disciplines within Medicine are largely concentrated in the two teaching hospital campuses, the Royal Infirmary at Little France and the Western General Hospital. Both have extensive new infrastructure with major research institutes and state of the art research facilities on clinical sites. Edinburgh hosts a number of prestigious MRC and BHF Research Centres. The approach is interdisciplinary, with basic and clinical researchers working together at the laboratory bench and in our clinical research facilities to address major themes in basic, clinical and translational medicine.
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science on the Easter Bush campus houses outstanding teaching and clinical facilities as well as the splendid Roslin Institute, one of the world’s leading veterinary research centres. The College offers outstanding opportunities to address ‘One Health’ and Global Health problems of the highest international priority.
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014
The College’s reputation as one of the world’s leading centres of medical and veterinary medical research has been reaffirmed by its UK REF2014 results. Medicine, the University’s largest submission, was ranked in the top 5 in the UK. Veterinary Medicine came 1st in the UK, and retained its position as the UK’s top Vet School. It made a joint submission with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). Neuroscience was ranked 3rd in the UK out of 82 submissions, representing a major advance. Overall, 84% of the College’s research activity was rated world leading or internationally excellent (3* and 4*). In terms of ‘one medicine’ research (human and animal medicine), the University of Edinburgh’s research power (quality x volume) is the strongest in the UK.
Level 5
Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility
The millennium funded Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (WTCRF) was established in Edinburgh in July 2001. Extensions opened at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE-CRF) in 2003, and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Children’s CRF) in 2009. This collaboration between the University of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, the Wellcome Trust and the Chief Scientist Office is dedicated to delivering high quality multi-disciplinary patient-orientated research. The Clinical Research Facilities comprise purpose-built clinical areas combined with highly trained research staff and integrated Information Technology services. In addition they offer specialist support in the form of Genetics, Mass Spectrometry and Image Analysis labs, Epidemiology and Statistics expertise, and a highly regarded Education Programme.
Level 5
Clinical Research Imaging Centre (CRIC)
The Clinical Research Imaging Centre, which opened in 2009, is a state-of-the-art centre for human integrated imaging, which includes a 320-multidetctor CT scanner (Aquilion ONE; Toshiba), a 3T MR system (Verio; Siemens), and a 128-multidetector PET-CT (mCT Biograph; Siemens). There is also a radiochemistry facility, incorporating a dedicated GE cyclotron. In collaboration with the Welcome Trust Clinical Research Facility there is an innovative Image Analysis Laboratory. Professor Edwin van Beek and Professor David Newby are the Centre Directors.
The Centre facilitates human clinical and research imaging in close collaboration with NHS Lothian and the SFC Brain Research Imaging Centre, Western General Hospital (BRIC), and in conjunction with the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility. The Centre is supported by a team of multidisciplinary imaging scientists who interface with research teams from all areas of the College and associated organisations to assist and advise on all aspects of the implementation and design of protocols for human imaging of patients and volunteers.
CRIC work closely with well-established centres of research excellence within the University of Edinburgh, such as the Centre for Inflammation Research, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, the SFC Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Informatics and Academic Radiology, and SINAPSE (Scottish Imaging Network, A Platform for Scientific Excellence), and also has strong collaborations with other institutions nationally, and internationally.
Level 5
Biomedical Research Resources
The Department of Biomedical Research Resources (BRR) is an established Department within the internationally renowned College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (MVM) of The University of Edinburgh and provides services for over 600 end-users and oversees all rodent breeding, husbandry and experimental procedures licensed under UK Home Office regulation.
Learning Technology Section (LTS)
The Leaning Technology Section (http://www.lts.mvm.ed.ac.uk) is part of the Directorate of Undergraduate Learning and Teaching and is responsible for delivering the College’s academic support service. Established in 1999 LTS, which has a staff complement of 29 split across 4 sites in the City, comprises three Units: e-learning; IT Services; and Graphics Lab. Together they provide a wide range of technological and graphic design support services for the core teaching and research business of the College and also carry out development projects for other university clients and external customers. LTS also has a strong educational research and development profile.
e-Learning Unit (15 staff)
The e-learning unit provides support services in the form of in-house developed, maintained and hosted Managed Learning Environments and a broad and extensive range of electronic tools, services and resources underpinning teaching, learning, assessment and administration. Staff have a broad range of learning technology skills including educational and research database design and development, media rich learning object creation, Virtual Learning Environment design and development, system integration and interoperability. The majority of the applications that LTS build and support are hosted and maintained on our own dedicated twin-site server suite with shadow backups of all data taken daily. In addition to the core services provided locally, the e-learning Unit undertakes a number of high profile external projects. At present the team develops, hosts and supports a portfolio of 20+ online environments, applications and resources. It has earned an international reputation for the quality of its work, the innovative approaches taken to developing projects, and the strong collaborative bond formed with stakeholders and clients. The excellence of their work was recognised with a prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education for ‘The Virtual Hospital Online – transforming medical and veterinary education’
IT Services Unit (8 staff)
IT Services provides a broad-ranging expert, proactive and influential, IT and AV support service for the College, its four schools and other organisational sub-divisions. This includes:
- provision of the infrastructure and hosting service, on which many of MVM’s network applications are hosted;
- provision and support for IT and AV in the College’s teaching spaces, seminar rooms, computer labs and lecture theatres;
- consultancy and project management for IT and AV aspects to College projects
- alignment of University-wide IT and AV strategies, including those of central services, with College IT and AV strategies.
Graphics Lab (5 staff)
Graphics Lab is a well-established and highly skilled graphic design team providing a huge range of services for University and external clients including:
- Large format (A0+) poster design and printing
- Graphic design and print management of material such as brochures, leaflets, newsletters and flyers
- Website design and maintenance
- Exhibition material
- Logo and corporate identity creation
- Illustrations and diagrams
Level 5
Edinburgh BioQuarter
Edinburgh BioQuarter is an Academic Medical Centre that combines outstanding bio-medical research from the University of Edinburgh with the clinical expertise of NHS Lothian and a seasoned team of industry professionals, all based at the BioQuarter campus three miles from Edinburgh City Centre. We aim to accelerate the development of new treatments for human and animal diseases, working with researchers, industry and investors to create new drugs, diagnostic tools and medical devices. Key areas of research excellence in Edinburgh include regenerative medicine, inflammation and oncology.www.bioquarter.com
Level 5
Centre for Medical Education [CME]
The Centre for Medical Education [CME] is based in the Chancellor’s Building at Little France, and is a section within the Directorate of Undergraduate Learning and Teaching, in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine [CMVM]
The Centre was set up in 1996 as the Medical Teaching Organisation to design and implement a completely new integrated systems-based undergraduate medical programme termed ‘Vision 2000’, launched in 1998.
The Centre works in partnership with academic and NHS staff, educational technologists, and administrative colleagues to ensure our undergraduate medical programme meets the standards laid down by the General Medical Council (‘Tomorrow’s Doctors’ 2009) and the Quality Assurance Agency, and goes beyond these requirements to deliver a world-class education. The Centre’s principal contributions to this goal are in curriculum development with direct oversight of some elements, faculty development and educational research and evaluation. In addition the postgraduate Masters in clinical education and international consultancy and projects contribute to excellence in clinical education locally and beyond.
Level 5
MVM Academic Administration
MVM Post Grade Directorate
Clinical Research Governance
All of the above - text not required at this stage.
Level 4
The School of Biomedical Sciences
The School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS), which is headed by Professor Gareth Leng, employs around 220 staff mostly located in the central George Square area. The School hosts the Centre for Integrative Physiology (CIP, Head: Professor Mike Shipston), the Centre for Neuroregeneration (CNR, Head: Professor Peter Brophy), the Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems (CCNS, Director: Professor Richard Morris FRS) and the Division of Pathway Medicine (DPM, Head: Professor Peter Ghazal) and also has strong links with Edinburgh Infectious Diseases (EID, Head: Professor Rick Maizels). Research themes within the School include: Genes and Development; Membrane Biology; Neural Control Systems; Cognition, Learning and Synaptic Plasticity; Neuropharmacology; Basic and Clinical Virology; and Bacterial Pathogenesis and Chemotherapy.
Also within the School is the Biomedical Teaching Organisation (BMTO) which plays a vital role in the administration, coordination and implementation of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. The BMTO is responsible for the BSc Medical Sciences programme, twelve BSc Biological Sciences Honours Programmes, eight Bachelor of Medical Sciences Honours programmes, four BSc Veterinary Sciences Honours Programmes and fourteen Biomedical Sciences courses delivered to first to third year undergraduates. In addition the BMTO has responsibility for the taught postgraduate programmes run by the School.
The School is located across a number of sites: the Chancellor’s Building and Queen’s Medical Research Institute at Little France; the Medical School extension in Teviot Place; the Hugh Robson Building, George Square; No 1 George Square and the Ashworth Building at Kings Buildings.
In RAE 2008, our staff were entered in 2 main categories of assessment. In Neuroscience & Psychiatry 65% of our staff were rated at 3*/4* (internationally excellent/world-leading), which is 6th in the UK. In Hospital-based Clinical Subjects 80% of our staff were rated at 3*/4*, which is 1st overall. We currently attract 76 research grants, worth a combined £37m.
The School holds a Silver Athena SWAN award, in recognition of excellence in science, engineering and technology employment in higher education relating to supporting women in science.
Level 5
Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems (Director: Professor Richard Morris FRS)
The University has recently created a new tri-College Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems. Presently, this consists of three interacting but independent groups Human Cognitive Neuroscience (in Psychology), Adaptive and Neural Computation (in Informatics) and the Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience (in Medicine). What connects these three groups is a shared interest in information processing by the nervous system. The systems neuroscience component of this Centre, the Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience (LCN), is based in the JIF refurbished laboratories of 1 George Square, close to colleagues in Psychology and Informatics at 7 George Square and in the new Informatics Forum building next door.
The mission of the Centre is to foster research aimed at improved understanding of biological information processing systems and the development of biologically-inspired artificial information processing systems. It will also encourage interactions between basic neuroscience research in animals and humans and useful applications in the domain of human cognitive neuroscience and cognitive engineering.
Understanding the human nervous system is one of the greatest challenges of 21st century science. Its abilities perception, decision-making, cognition and reasoning dwarf any manufactured system. Its functioning spans many scientific disciplines, from molecular biology to informatics to behaviour. Moreover, significant progress in assessment and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases will require a multidisciplinary approach that maximises the probability that fundamental discoveries can be translated into clinical application. At the University of Edinburgh, research in basic and clinical neuroscience, cognitive science, differential psychology, cognitive psychology/ neuropsychology and neuroinformatics seeks to meet this grand challenge through linked interdisciplinary programmes and research centres. Supporting and extending our capability in this area is a key strategic aim for the University, contributing to our overall strategy of integrating the physical with the life sciences. It is anticipated that the Fellow appointed will have research interests in cognitive neuroscience, with a preference for someone with experience in some aspect of human imaging neuroscience. The specific field of research is open, but applicants may wish to note the growing strengths in various aspects of human and animal research on learning and memory.