Former NASA astronaut Kathy Sullivan recently visited the University as it marked the launch of the new Edinburgh Space Hub.
During her visit, Ms. Sullivan – the first American woman to perform a spacewalk – learned about the growing importance of space data for a range of industry sectors and Edinburgh’s long-standing excellence in the area.
The new Hub will bring together academics and industry to harness the power of space data to address key global challenges, including climate crises and economic inequality.
Kathy Sullivan also toured the University’s collection of materials from the pioneering marine research expedition undertaken by HMS Challenger in the 1870s.
FoI request spotlights the UK’s leading universities for building repair and remediation works
The University of Edinburgh is among the top ranking institutions for investment in building repair and remediation, according to a new national study, with an overall score of 59.56.
To investigate the state of building maintenance across UK universities, SFG20, the industry standard for facility management, submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to universities across the country. They received responses from 61 universities, who were asked to provide information on: total costs spent on repair and remediation works in the most recent financial year; completed repair projects; outstanding projects; and total budgets.
Leading UK universities for investment in building upkeep and maintenance
As part of their overall ranking, Edinburgh University invested just over £22 million on building repair and remediation projects, the second highest out of the 61 universities that responded. Similarly, in 2023, the university completed the second highest amount of maintenance projects, totalling just under 47,000.
The ‘gold tier’ saw two other Scottish universities, the Universities of St Andrews and Dundee. These three institutions were all some of the first UK universities to discover RAAC in some of their buildings.
They have, since, had to invest significant time and money into prioritising the removal of RAAC and the maintenance of their student buildings and ensure they are doing so in the most cost-effective way, without compromising on quality and compliance.
Paul Bullard, Product Director at SFG20, on the issue of building maintenance in UK Universities, has said: “Staying significantly under budget on maintenance costs and keeping a low cost per repair request are both strong indicators of a well-structured, proactive maintenance strategy – one that prioritises efficiency and minimises more serious and costly unexpected downtime.
“To attract and retain the best calibre of staff and students, universities must provide outstanding learning environments, supported by high-quality leisure facilities and living conditions.
“Even before Covid, we saw a shift towards improving indoor air quality to enhance student focus and well-being. Now, more than ever, delivering a great experience is critical. Well-maintained facilities not only create inspiring spaces for learning but also play a vital role in university recruitment and retention.”
The University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection has partnered with Gracemount High School to give pupils hands-on hospitality experience through the Hospitality Connect programme.
The initiative aims to reshape perceptions of hospitality careers while providing students with real-world training in a professional hotel environment.
Since launching last November, the partnership has enabled 30 Gracemount students, aged 14 to 16, to explore daily operations at The Scholar, a 4-star hotel run by The University of Edinburgh, through four immersive workshops. Participants gained practical insight into core hospitality functions including housekeeping, reception services, kitchen operations, and food & beverage management.
Hospitality Connect, founded by UK Hospitality, delivers six bespoke career experiences annually, including workshops, employer-led events, and hands-on training. By connecting classroom learning with real-world industry expertise, the programme helps bridge the gap between education and employment, offering students a tangible pathway into hospitality careers.
The programme culminated on Thursday, 27th March, with a special event at the hotel’s restaurant The Brasserie, rebranded by the students as “The Mount” for the day. Students took full control of the lunch service, overseeing everything from menu design and marketing to food preparation and front-of-house service.
This hands-on experience not only contributed to their year-end assessments but also provided them with practical skills and a deeper understanding of the industry – an invaluable stepping stone toward future career opportunities.
Gavin MacLennan, Group General Manager for Operations at the University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection, said: “We have loved opening our operations to support students who have already demonstrated a keen interest in the hospitality sector.
“By providing real-world insights and experiences, we’ve sought to equip them with the practical skills and knowledge required to excel in this field and to demonstrate the career opportunities it brings.”
Morven Langley, Teacher at Gracemount High School, added: “This initiative really brings classroom learning to life.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our students to see the inner workings of a busy Edinburgh hotel, enhancing their learning and preparing them for exciting career opportunities in this growing sector.”
This partnership marks the start of what is hoped to be a long-term collaboration, inspiring the next generation to view hospitality as an exciting and rewarding career choice.
To find out more about theUniversity of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection, please visit:
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The development of 75 affordable, ‘net-zero ready’ homes at Granton Station View, led by the City of Edinburgh Council, has reached its final phase now that rigorous testing is underway to validate performance standards.
Across three pilot projects, including the Granton site, the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator (EHD) programme is set to deliver 324 homes designed to achieve a ‘net-zero ready’ standard. This is achieved by improved building fabric performance that exceeds the current Building Regulations coupled with a zero-emissions heating system. Granton Station View was built by construction and manufacturing group, CCG (Scotland).
The University of Edinburgh is now conducting detailed, in-situ performance tests to measure and monitor the performance standard before occupancy, with results expected in Spring 2025. The University is measuring the u-value and airtightness of the buildings as well as thermal imaging the homes, to name a few.
A 12-month monitoring period following occupancy will further assess the homes’ performance. During this time, occupants will also be asked to participate in surveys to understand behaviour that influences energy efficiency and to capture insights into the impact of and experiences with zero-direct-emissions heating systems.
The University will also be capturing the electricity usage via the property distribution board, monitoring the efficiency of the communal heating system and internal air temperature analysis using surface-mounted sensors.
Now that the EHD programme is well underway with the delivery of its pilot projects, the six local authority partners of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City region Deal have committed to establish and manage the Regional Delivery Alliance (RDA) to apply the lessons learned from the EHD programme to refine and scale the performance standard.
By consolidating outputs from the EHD programme, the RDA is applying a cohesive approach to procurement, housing typologies, and performance specifications across the six local authority areas.
The Regional Delivery Alliance has secured funding and endorsement from regional partners for an initial two-year term, running until March 2026. The RDA will play a vital role in supporting local authorities, registered social landlords, and the private sector in the South East of Scotland, ensuring the successful delivery of affordable, energy efficient housing.
City of Edinburgh Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, Lezley Marion Cameron said: “Thanks to the collaborative efforts with our partners at the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator programme, we’ve been able to deliver high-quality, energy efficient homes that will provide much needed housing for individuals and families.
“The testing being performed will verify that the homes achieve the high standard expected and I look forward to seeing the results.
“The homes at Granton Station View are designed with the latest technology to keep energy bills low, ensuring that families can live comfortably while benefitting from a sustainable, future-proofed living environment. Not only will they reduce carbon emissions, but they also provide another avenue for tackling the housing emergency.”
Dr Julio Bros-Williamson, Chancellor’s Fellow in Net Zero Buildings at the University of Edinburgh said: “The evaluation of the homes is the culmination of a lot of hard work from the stakeholders of this pilot project, from the initial design and energy aspirations to the construction and delivery on site.
“The tests we are conducting will help to verify and provide in-depth knowledge of the initial performance of a sample of flats representative of the whole development. Projects like this provide a beacon of knowledge to transition to net zero homes of the present and future.”
CCG Managing Director, David Wylie, said: “Granton Station View is a pioneering development that will help to shape the future of affordable, net zero housebuilding in the Edinburgh and South East City Region.
“As main contractor, CCG led its delivery through use of our advanced, offsite methods of construction – a key strand of the EHD initiative’s philosophy and an integral component to achieving the rigorous design standard and future operational net zero carbon capability.
“We look forward to receiving the results and once again give thanks to The City of Edinburgh Council, the design team and wider delivery partners for their support throughout the project’s journey.”
To keep up to date about the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator and Regional Delivery Alliance, follow the EHD LinkedIn page:
The University and College Union (UCU) Scotland has warned the principal of the University of Edinburgh that strikes and other forms of industrial action are a real possibility if senior management don’t roll back on threats of £140million cuts and take compulsory redundancies off the table.
UCU members at the university were asked in a consultative ballot if they would be willing to take strike action if the university didn’t rule out compulsory redundancies. In a turnout of 59%, easily beating the anti-trade union threshold, 75% of members voting said that they would be willing to strike.
85% said that they would also take part in action short of strike which could include working to contract and refusing to cover for absent colleagues or undertake voluntary duties. If the same vote was repeated in a statutory ballot, which could open in the coming weeks, then the university will face the possibility of strikes and other action on campus.
The consultative ballot result follows the announcement on 25 February by the university principal, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, that the university was looking to make cuts of £140million, and that cuts of this scale could not be made by voluntary redundancy alone.
The announcement, sent by email, left university workers fearful that senior management are planning to sack staff using compulsory redundancies.
The union said that cuts of this size are unknown in Scottish higher education and questioned the role of management and the decision making at the university given there is currently no deficit, and to date, unions have not been shown any evidence that there is the prospect of one.
The union cast doubt* on the necessity of the cuts, and said that, instead, the university should look to using some of its reserves to mitigate job cuts, as well as cutting back on capital expenditure. Recent accounts for the university show net assets of over £3billion.
Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: “Edinburgh University management need to listen to their staff. The consultative ballot results show a clear willingness to take action against cuts and to defend jobs.
“Instead of pressing on with plans to make the biggest cuts ever seen in Scottish higher education, Peter Mathieson needs to work with UCU, use the university’s reserves and rule out compulsory redundancies.
“Politicians need to up their game as well and make clear that cuts of this scale are completely unacceptable, unnecessary and will cause lasting harm to one of Scotland’s most respected universities.”
Branch president, Sophia Woodman, said: “This is a strong vote for industrial action by members in this consultative ballot. Senior managers at the university should be under no illusion about the strength of feeling of staff.
“Instead of manufacturing a crisis, senior managers should be sitting down with the union for talks and looking to resolve this dispute before it escalates further. Members have been clear that they strongly oppose compulsory redundancies and we expect the principal to heed that message.”
‘Scotland’s education system being allowed to crumble’ – NUS Scotland President
NUS Scotland is deeply concerned about the growing crisis in education across Scotland, highlighted by the recent announcement that the University of Edinburgh is planning to make £140m of cuts due to financial difficulty.
The University Vice Chancellor’s announced plans to explore ‘radical action’ to reduce costs including potential staff cuts, restructuring, and possible course closures, are part of a wider trend threatening the future of education in Scotland.
Commenting, President of NUS Scotland Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan said: “This isn’t unique to the University of Edinburgh.Our education system in Scotland is crumbling, and it’s being allowed to happen. It’s becoming all too common to hear from university or college management that course closures are necessary and staff redundancy schemes unavoidable.
“Year after year of higher and further education cuts in public funding is taking its toll, including the real terms cuts just passed in the recent Scottish budget. We need to see recognition that education is a public good that enriches our society, and public investment to match.
“The long term damage that these kind of cuts will have cannot be understated – students, staff, and Scotland will all suffer as a result. NUS Scotland stands in solidarity with all students and staff across Scotland facing an uncertain future, and calls on the Scottish Government to intervene to halt damaging cuts in Edinburgh and elsewhere.
“Edinburgh University is one of Scotland’s richest institutions, and we join the UCU in calling for the University to use its significant wealth to protect jobs and courses, and echo the Edinburgh University Students Association’s call for management to prioritise students.
“However, not even our richest universities can fix this crisis alone. The Scottish Government must act to reverse the trend of falling education funding and fix our broken education system so that students and Scotland can thrive.”
Study reveals drug combination can effectively tackle tumours
A discovery by Cancer Research UK-funded scientists in Scotland could finally offer hope to patients with a particularly hard to treat cancer.
Researchers found a new combination of drugs was able to almost completely eradicate hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer.
Led by Professor Tom Bird of the University of Edinburgh and the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, the laboratory research focused on specific areas where genetic alterations can cause liver cancer to begin.
Cancer is often caused by a breakdown in DNA, our genetic blueprint, causing cells to grow in the wrong place or out of control.
This new study, published in Nature yesterday (Wednesday 19 February), was able to take these specific areas, where genetic instructions go wrong in people, and replicate them in mice creating genetic avatars which could be targeted with a range of treatments.
An existing cancer drug, commonly used to treat leukaemia and multiple sclerosis, was found by the team to be effective at targeting difficult to treat hepatocellular carcinoma tumours.
The drug, called cladribine, is from a group of drugs called antimetabolites. These interfere with DNA synthesis and stop the cancer cells in their tracks.
Funded by Cancer Research UK and Wellcome, the study found cladribine notably reduced the number of tumours but was most effective when combined with another drug called lenvatinib when almost all the tumours were completely eradicated.
Next steps would be to run a clinical trial over a period of years to confirm the results in liver patients over a long-term period.
Lead author on the study, Professor Tom Bird of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute and the Institute for Regeneration and Repair at the University of Edinburgh, said:“This exciting discovery provides new hope for the thousands of people living every day with a liver cancer diagnosis.
“Finding new and effective ways to combine and use treatments already approved for other cancers may be a faster way to achieve successful outcomes for future patients.
“Taking a precision approach to treatment by tailoring therapies to the particular types of tumours based upon their genetic alterations, has the potential to transform how we understand, and treat, cancer.”
There are around 6,600 new liver cancer cases in the UK every year, with around 630 in Scotland, and the number diagnosed is increasing.* Liver cancer incidence rates are also significantly higher in Scotland than the UK average.**
Less than half of those diagnosed with liver cancer in Scotland survive their disease for a year or more making finding new ways to tackle this disease vital.***
Survival across the UK varies, but in all cases, fewer than half of those diagnosed with liver cancer survive their disease for a year or more.****
Diagnosis of liver cancer is often late with many patients diagnosed only when already receiving treatment for existing diseases such as cirrhosis or fatty liver disease. Late diagnosis makes liver cancers hard to treat as, due to the function of the liver, the disease often responds poorly to chemotherapy drugs.
Cladribine helps to stimulate the body’s own immune system to clear tumours but had never been used for liver cancer before.
Cancer Research UK’s Science Engagement Lead, Dr Sam Godfrey, said:“We are delighted to have funded this exciting research which could lead to new treatments and improved outcomes for patients with liver cancer.
“Liver cancer is a difficult cancer problem – it’s the fastest rising cause of cancer death in the UK and it can be hard to diagnose it at an early stage when treatment can be more effective.
“That’s why research like this is so important – it lays the foundations for improved cancer treatment, driving us towards a time when no one fears cancer.”
This new research offers potential for broader and more complex treatment regimes, known as precision medicine, to treat patients for their individual liver cancers, improving their chances of successfully treating tumours.
This personalised medicine approach which aims to tailor treatments to specific patients is a growing area of cancer research.
John O’Donnell from Glasgow welcomed the new research. The 75-year-old was just about to leave for a three-month break in Spain when he was diagnosed with liver cancer two and a half years ago.
The retired health and safety manager was only referred for an ultrasound after a routine blood test for his type 2 diabetes showed an abnormality in his liver function.
John said: “They told me the GP had no real reason for referring me – I’m lucky she was so diligent as otherwise I would never have known.”
John was told he had an 8.5cm tumour on his liver and his hopes for his holiday, and his future, were put on hold.
He said: “The only advice my GP could give me was to get a power of attorney. I was told chemotherapy only has a 30 per cent chance of reducing liver cancer tumours and surgery wasn’t an option as the tumour was considered too big to operate.”
Fortunately, John who lives in Muirhead, was accepted onto a clinical trial for people with advanced liver cancer through the Cancer Research UK Experimental Cancer Medicines Unit led by Professor Jeff Evans.
After just a few months on a new immunotherapy drug combination, John’s tumour had reduced by 35 per cent and it’s now less than half the size with no change in a year.
John said: “I’m living with liver cancer and I feel perfectly well now treatment has finished.
“It was hard at times but I’m absolutely delighted with the result and I’m proud that I was able to contribute in a small way to helping find new ways to tackle liver cancer.
“There lots of exciting things happening in cancer research and I hear about it every time I am in for a check-up.
“I’ve been told that if the treatment I’m on stops working there are other options so I’m delighted to hear of new developments like this.”
John and his wife Jeanette, 73, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year are now hoping to go on that holiday with a trip to France also planned soon.
He said: “I feel good, my wife has been a great support throughout, and the hospital said I can perhaps miss one check-up appointment so we can take that long holiday at last.”
This vital initiative aims to investigate how environmental factors, such as sunlight exposure, temperature variations, and air pollution, impact the risk of stillbirth.
Around 13 babies die shortly before, during or soon after birth every day in the UK and 2,680 of these deaths were stillbirths in 2022. More children die around the time of birth than at any other time of childhood, yet only 2.4% of UK health research funds go to reproductive health and childbirth.1
Philanthropic funding is vital in enabling Sands to fulfil its mission to end baby deaths and help families rebuild their lives. For over a decade, Teddy’s Wish has been committed to supporting Sands in memory of Jen and Chris Reid’s beloved baby, Eddie.
Through their generosity, Sands has been able to advance research aimed at understanding why some babies die unexpectedly. The Environmental Influences on Stillbirth project will explore how the environment a woman is exposed to during pregnancy affects both maternal and fetal health.
Jen Reid,Co-Founder and CEO of Teddy’s Wish said: “Teddy’s Wish is committed to funding research that brings us closer to understanding and preventing baby loss. We are delighted to be jointly funding this important research project with Sands to explore the impact of environmental influences on stillbirth with the hope that more babies will be delivered safely.”
The link between environmental factors and stillbirth has not yet been studied in-depth in UK populations. This research will link environmental data with comprehensive Scottish maternity records, providing a robust dataset to study potential environmental risk factors.
Dr Murray, Consultant in Maternal and Fetal Medicine and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This work is a step forward in understanding the complex and unknown factors that may contribute to stillbirth.
“Our findings could inform future public health guidelines and targeted interventions, especially in areas with high levels of air pollution.”
The research has the potential to reduce stillbirth rates across the UK by providing clinicians with clearer understanding of how the environment impacts on pregnancy and the baby’s wellbeing. The research insights could help people in government and the NHS improve maternity care for pregnant women and babies.
Janet Scott, Sands’ Head of Saving Babies’ Lives team, said: “Through this research, Sands and Teddy’s Wish aim to support advances in the health of babies and mothers, reducing the devastating impact of stillbirth on families across the country.
“Thank you to Teddy’s Wish for your unwavering support in helping save more babies’ lives and transform the life of future generations of families.”
This project, a collaboration between Universities in Edinburgh, Paris, and Madrid, in addition to granton:hub and Edinburgh World Heritage, explores:
-How we can balance new development with the protection of cultural heritage.
-How local people make cultural heritage.
-How this making can improve lives.
-How the edges of cities hold them together.
The days leading up to the event, a wide range of community representatives will share views on why and how these ‘elements’ are valuable – as heritage in Granton, but also to the city of Edinburgh and the world beyond.
In addition, school teachers, after-school providers, and workers in further and lifelong education, will also explore their contribution to local learning.
On Saturday 14th December, we shall be sharing our discussions with the general public through an exhibition.
We would like to invite anyone to come along and share their views.
https://edin.ac/3G2j5iG
