The Centre for Inflammation Research (CIR) aims to promote the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases through interdisciplinary study of the initiation, regulation and resolution of inflammatory responses and provision of an outstanding environment for research training in the field.
CIR investigators aim to characterise and manipulate key control points in inflammation. We focus on:
We have particular interest in inflammatory diseases of the lung and kidney but the principles derived will have ready application to inflammatory responses in the liver, bowel, bone/joint and skin. There is also increasing development of research in the CIR into the links between inflammation and cancer.
The Centre was formally established in 1998.
Generic training in presentation skills, project management and writing skills is delivered through the University of Edinburgh's transferable skills programme.
The CIR is a multidisciplinary team of research groups under the directorship of Professor John Iredale. The CIR consists of more than 180 researchers, is equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus and is supported by external grant funding. The CIR is now located in the purpose-built Queen's Medical Research Institute along with the centres for Reproductive Biology and Cardiovascular Sciences.
This one-year, full time programme provides an excellent grounding for PhD or other academic study in the Biomedical Sciences. You will learn valuable research skills, biomedical laboratory techniques and a wide range of other transferable skills that will give you an advantage for the rest of your career. You can also choose two themes that best suit your interests and career goals.
The programme includes seminars, taught modules and two research projects in our world-recognised research laboratories. We will also cover a range of valuable transferable skills including critical analysis of research papers, learning how to write a project grant application and literature review, and data presentation and statistical analysis.
The programme includes core skills, seminars, taught modules and laboratory projects in our well-resourced laboratories which are at the cutting-edge of Biomedical research.
Students will carry out two 20-week long research projects selected from the themes available. An assessed research proposal is also required for the second project.
Project 1 (September to February)
Project 2 (April to August)
Students may also be able to undertake projects in Integrative Neuroscience or in other areas of Biomedical Sciences, with the permission of the Programme Director. These students would be required to attend the taught element of one of the above Themes as appropriate.
Students are also required to attend the taught element of another theme as appropriate.
In March, students submit a research proposal based on the work to be performed for Project 2. This takes the form of a grant application, as would be prepared for a research organisation, and is assessed.
This programme is an excellent stepping-stone to a PhD, or a career in Biomedical research or industry.
In addition, every year there are vacancies for PhD studentships in the School of Biomedical Sciences and staff are always on the lookout for the outstanding postgraduate students who are on this Programme to encourage them to apply.
Read testimonials from some of our successful students:
The aim of this programme is to give you a broad-based training in biomedical research, with a focus on cardiovascular science. This includes an introduction to cardiovascular development, the development of cardiovascular disease, organ function and dysfunction, and the cardiovascular system in reproduction and inflammation.
You will gain an integrated view of the physiology and pathology of cardiovascular system from both basic and clinical scientists.
You will attend research seminars and tutorials by senior clinicians and basic scientists, and conduct three research projects in the internationally renowned laboratories of the Centre for Cardiovascular Science.
You will also deliver research-orientated presentations and gain skills in critical reading of scientific literature and in the writing of scientific reports.
Students produce written reports from each of their research projects, which are assessed by two of the Centre’s PIs. The research supervisor also contributes a mark based on performance in the laboratory.
This is the ideal programme for high-calibre students who wish to progress to a PhD in cardiovascular science.
