News
Exciting development in Equine Grass Sickness case reporting
Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a devastating and complex disease of equines, which unfortunately can occur anywhere in the UK, where sadly 80% of animals suffering from it will die. In a new approach for answers, the Equine Grass Sickness Fund (EGSF) and Moredun Research Institute (MRI) launched a new project three years ago.
Second round of bio-based manufacturing fund opens
Businesses in Scotland’s bio-based manufacturing industry have been invited to apply for support packages of between £25,000 and £1m, as Innovate UK opens the second round of its Launchpad funding programme. A total of up to £5.25m is being channelled into the Launchpad for Scotland in this round, with grant funding available for projects from micro to small or medium-sized enterprises, or consortia.
Source: Business Insider
Hutton hunts for soil ambassadors across Scotland to help dig deep
Scientists at The James Hutton Institute are leading a nationwide soil sampling campaign to help major European project, ECHO, to collect a total of 16,500 samples across Europe.
This call to participate in a citizen science project may be of interest to individuals in Midlothian Science Zone.
If you’d like to become involved as a soil ambassador, find out how you can participate here > https://echosoil.eu/become-an-echo-ambassador
Source: The James Hutton Institute
Insights into bone health to aid poultry welfare
Fresh insight into bone health in egg-laying chickens could support their health and welfare, by offering a simple way to assess risk and damage to their vulnerable breastbones, also known as sternum or keel bone.
£4.5 million Edinburgh skills project will boost life sciences sector and NHS
Edinburgh is to become a base for a multi-million-pound project to help address an “acute” skills shortage in the life sciences sector.
The new initiative, known as Resilience, aims to tackle the skills shortage faced by the medicines manufacturing industry in the UK, and the capital’s Heriot-Watt University will be one of the partners delivering the programme.
Source: The Scotsman
A step in the right direction for treatment of Cryptosporidiosis
A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Dundee in collaboration with Moredun Scientific has revealed a potential breakthrough in the treatment of Cryptosporidiosis in calves. This parasitic infection, caused by Cryptosporidium parvum, is a significant concern for farmers, particularly as it leads to severe diarrhoea in young livestock and can result in substantial losses including reduced weight-gain.
Edinburgh Space Testing Facility relaunches after major investment
Following nine months of renovations and over £400,000 investment via the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Higgs Centre for Innovation’s space testing facility at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh is reopening for business.
Introducing the time machine for plants
Biodiversity loss, food security, and changing climates are among pressing challenges both at home here in Scotland, and globally. If we hope to solve them, we need tools and resources built to meet these challenges.
Source: The Herald
Japan trade envoy shows Scotland aims high in investment
"Scotland is open for business. We have phenomenal talent, abundant natural resources and a world-renowned reputation for innovation on which to capitalise." says Minister for Business, Richard Lochhead, on the appointment of Scotland's first trade envoy to Japan.
Source: The Herald
Scottish female-led companies set to leverage £4.5m funding
Investing Women Angels (IWA) has announced it will back a series of investment rounds over the next four months that is set to raise more than £4.5 million for four female-founded companies in Scotland.