Over 1,200 staff and students collaborate across our core research areas, bringing together expertise that spans the body and life course. As part of driving progress in our core research areas, we host several leading research centres and house state-of-the-art technologies, which you can explore on this page. Want an introduction to our research first? Visit our Research page Explore the centres and units within our institute Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic A globally leading, patient-centred, integrated care-research facility. The Clinic seamlessly integrates the best NHS health care with the best University health research, as key to discovering and trialling new treatments for neurological conditions. Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research Pioneering vital research into motor neuron disease and unitiing over 300 scientists, doctors and healthcare professionals across Scotland, this centre is home to Europe’s largest clinical drugs trial for MND, MND-SMART. Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory A group working to improve understanding of what causes early labour, how we can develop treatments to prevent it and how we can better help newborn babies in those first crucial hours and days after birth. Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre A centre dedicated to investigating the causes of childhood-onset epilepsy. Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain Discovering the biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders - a research centre bringing together research groups across multiple sites. UKRI Mental Health Platform A network of researchers with the shared aim of accelerating research into severe mental illness and improving the diagnosis and treatment of those affected. British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence A world-leading centre of excellence working to improve lives for people with cardiovascular, neurovascular, or metabolic health conditions. Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility State of the art facilities to support multidisciplinary clinical research locally, nationally and internationally. MRC/BHF Centre of Research Excellence in Advanced Cardiac Therapies (REACT) REACT unites academic, healthcare, industry and public partners to develop innovative DNA and RNA-based therapies capable of regenerating injured hearts and reversing established damage. It is co-led by King’s College London, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Oxford. Patrick Wild Centre A research centre that aims to better understand genetic conditions affecting brain development, and to improve the care and treatment available for people with these conditions. UK Dementia Research Institute at Edinburgh A centre of excellence that aims to elucidate the interactions within and between the brain vasculature, neurons, macroglia and microglia which control the trajectory of neurodegenerative disorders leading to dementia, and exploit this knowledge for therapeutic benefit. Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention A research and policy initiative working to reduce the number of pesticide suicides worldwide. Edinburgh Imaging World class imaging for research and diagnostic needs, working with academic researchers, NHS clinicians and commercial imaging organisations, including biotech, pharmaceutical & private medical industries. MS Society Edinburgh Centre for MS Research A multidisciplinary centre-without-walls funded by the MS Society, dedicated to laboratory, translational and clinical research into multiple sclerosis. Row Fogo Centre for Research into Ageing and the Brain Researchers working together to improve the understanding of how blood vessel diseases can damage the brain, leading to stroke, cognitive decline, dementia and mobility problems. UKRI Hub for Metabolic Psychiatry Part of the Mental Health Platform, this Hub brings together six interdisciplinary workstreams operating in concert to advance our understanding of the connection between metabolic and mental health. This article was published on 2026-03-17
