About us

The University of Edinburgh has almost 50,000 students and around 9000 academic staff, spread across five campuses. Within this vast institution, Edinburgh Neuroscience connects those interested the workings of the brain and mind to foster a collaborative and collegiate community, combining forces to drive forward advances in research to improve health outcomes. From molecular, cellular, circuit and behavioural neuroscience; to social and clinical psychology, cancer, genetics, psychiatry, medicine, engineering, biological sciences, veterinary sciences and so many more... Edinburgh Neuroscience research encompasses the study of the human brain from conception to old age, in disease and in health.

Our key research focus

We have 600 fundamental and clinical researchers, based in 200 laboratories. Our key research focus attempts to answer the fundamental questions

• how does the brain develop and function across the lifespan?
• how can it be protected and repaired?

To this end our research takes place within a range of centres that work closely together. 

We support, maintain and enhance our research environment through a range of activities:

• Providing an efficient communication hub and central point of contact through our website, weekly email digests and social media
• Organising whole-community meetings and networking opportunities (e.g. Neuroscience Day and EN Afternoons)
• Providing training opportunities for PhD students
• Espousing a supportive, equitable and progressive research culture
• Supporting members delivering outreach activities for schools and the public
• Supporting the development of strategic research grants
• Coordinating the Wellcome Trust PhD Programme in Translational Neuroscience
• Administering funding schemes to support our students, early years and established researchers (e.g. RS MacDonald Seedcorn Fund)
• Coordinating the University's submission to REF2029 for Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience (UoA4)