The Roslin Institute

The Roslin Institute stands on the University of Edinburgh’s Easter Bush campus in Midlothian, Scotland. It began in 1917 as the Institute of Animal Genetics and later became a leading centre for animal science research. The site at Roslin replaced earlier laboratories on the King’s Buildings campus and the Bush Estate. In 1996, scientists here created Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell. The institute merged with the Neuropathogenesis Unit in 2008 and moved to its present location in 2011. Today it is part of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council funds its work. The institute is best known for Dolly, but its research spans genetics, immunity and livestock improvement. Teams have produced genetically modified chickens that lay eggs containing cancer-fighting proteins. Research is organised into divisions such as Functional Genetics and Infection and Immunity. Three strategic programmes focus on healthy animals, disease control and animal welfare. Directors have included figures like David Hume and Eleanor Riley. The work has earned international recognition and shaped modern biotechnology. Visitors find modern laboratories and seminar rooms set among landscaped grounds. A visitor centre explains the institute’s history and current projects. The campus links to the wider Easter Bush estate, which also houses veterinary facilities. Exhibits describe cloning techniques and genetic advances. The atmosphere is quiet, with a focus on science rather than tourism. The surroundings offer views across Midlothian’s gentle hills.