Academic expertise

The power of Scotland’s world class life science capabilities has been amplified by the formation of a number of pioneering collaborations.  The outstanding medical research carried out by our universities in collaboration with their NHS partners has been one of the fundamental building blocks in establishing a successful life sciences sector in Scotland. This collaborative approach ensures that all our scientists can rapidly take advantage of new scientific advances from many different scientific disciplines.

Collaborations provide an unrivalled resource to support the spectrum of drug discovery and development research and commercialisation, bringing together expertise in such disparate skills as genetics, imaging, informatics, clinical trials.

The collaborations also provide a streamlined point of entry for those global pharmaceutical and biotech companies looking to take advantage of our world class science base and expert clinical practice.

Some of our major collaborations, funded by the Scottish Government, are listed here.

Generation Scotland

The aim of Generation Scotland is to create an ethically sound, family- and population-based infrastructure to identify the genetic basis of common complex diseases. Generation Scotland is establishing multi-disciplinary skills networks in genetic epidemiology, statistical genetics and health informatics. Social scientists have been involved from the start, conducting a public consultation process and addressing ethical, legal and social issues.

Generation Scotland is a multi-institution, cross-disciplinary collaboration between all 5 Scottish University Medical Schools (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and St. Andrews); the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh; the MRC Social and Public Health Science Unit, Glasgow; the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Edinburgh; the National e-Science Centre; the Scottish School of Primary Care; and the Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland. Generation Scotland is also collaborating with UK Biobank.

NHS Research Scotland Co-ordinating Centre

The NHS Research Scotland Coordinating Centre (NRSCC) provides a contact point for those wishing to conduct multicentre clinical research - both commercial and non-commercial within Scotland.  Its main focus is to coordinate the NHS R & D approval process for multicentre research in Scotland and to make the process as effective and efficient as possible.

Scottish Academic Health Sciences Collaboration

The Scottish Academic Health Sciences Collaboration (SAHSC) is a partnership between scientists and academics. It aims to provide a single point of contact for pharmaceutical and biotech companies to develop translational medicine “bench to bedside” research programmes, to speed up the development of drugs in collaboration with university medical schools and clinicians in the NHS. These programmes will help to develop the latest scientific medical research and speed up its delivery to patients through clinical trials to develop new drugs and treatments. This SAHSC partnership brings together NHS Boards and associated university medical schools in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow and will see new posts created across a range of clinical disciplines, including imaging, pharmacy, radiology and tissue banks over the next three years.

The Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA)

The Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA) maintains and strengthens Scotland’s global position in the life sciences by recruiting international research leaders, improving research infrastructure and access to facilities, and establishing a new, Scotland-wide doctoral training network. Through these investments, SULSA will enhance research excellence and generate new opportunities for knowledge exchange, creating new synergies between research groups. SULSA’s initial investments are focused in three broad interrelated research themes: cell biology, systems biology and translational biology.

SULSA is strategic partnership in which expertise and resources are shared between the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews and Strathclyde, supported by the Scottish Funding Council.

Imaging Network – A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE)

The Scottish Imaging Network (SINAPSE) is a strong dynamic network for a shared environment for strategic research development in brain imaging. The focus is primarily on the technologies of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and electrophysiology (EEG). The network enables the sharing of skills and education via e-learning, seminars and other key events. SINAPSE is a consortium of six Scottish universities; Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St. Andrews, and Stirling. It is funded by the Scottish Funding Council, the Chief Scientific Office and the Universities.

Translational Medicine Research Collaboration (TMRC)

The Translational Medicine Research Collaboration (TMRC) is a world class centre of excellence in biomarker discovery and utility. Its core Research Laboratory links with four major clinical academic centres, utilising the proximity to primary clinical material, together with the expertise of leading clinicians, to characterise and implement biomarkers of therapeutic effect or safety, with clinical utility and demonstrated impact in the drug development decision making process. The TMRC is a unique collaboration partnering the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, the NHS in Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Wyeth, a top ten global pharmaceutical company.