Roslin LabCamp | ELISA Masterclass: Flu Fighters

A full day, hands-on workshop for Higher Biology and Advanced Higher Biology students at high school or college, working with proteins and antibodies. A chance to work with our scientists and use real lab equipment. The session will also include a chance to talk to our scientists about their work and career paths, and take a tour of our campus

Learning Level:  Higher Biology, Higher Human Biology and Advanced Higher Biology pupils, S5, S6 or college students (+16 years old only) 

Location: Easter Bush Science Outreach Centre, University of Edinburgh Easter Bush Campus, EH25 9RG. Bus travel to the EB Campus with a Young Scot Card is free. Please also see our "How to Find Us" page.

Time: 10am to 4pm 

Dates: 

  • Tuesday 7 April 2026
  • Wednesday 8 April 2026
  • Thursday 9 April 2026

Cost: Free of charge

Apply by completing our short form here

All applications will be considered after the closing date and will not be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

We expect these sessions to be popular, and if we receive more applications than there are places we will need to use what is written in the applications to select our participants, so please complete your form with care.

Availability: 24 places available in each workshop

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the structure, lifecycle and modes of transmission of avian flu
  • Understand how ELISA can be used to detect influenza infection
  • Will do a quantitative ELISA of flu antibody levels to detect signs of infection
  • Make a dilution series and create a standard curve of known antigen concentrations
  • Use micropipettes and microplate reader
  • Interpretation of experimental results
  • To reveal the world of work in scientific research

Techniques Used

  • ELISA - working with proteins and antibodies
  • Quantification of protein concentrations- using a microplate reader
  • Centrifugation
  • Micro-pipetting

Workshop outline

  • ELISA jigsaw activity to teach/reinforce the ELISA technique
  • Introduction to influenza virus and avian flu
  • Introduction to micropipettes
  • Serial dilution to generate dilutions of known antigen concentration.
  • Quantitative ELISA to assay infection status of several chickens
  • Analysis and interpretation of results
  • Discussion with scientists from The Roslin Institute 

Getting here

Free parking is available at Easter Bush Campus in The Roslin Institute and Veterinary Teaching Building car parks. Please provide your car registration at Charnock Bradley Building reception when you check in for the event.

The campus is well-served by Lothian buses, please see www.lothianbuses.com. For more information, please download our How to Get Here  document

Accessibility and inclusion

We are keen to make our events as inclusive as possible, please email us at ebsoc@ed.ac.uk or call the Roslin Public Engagement team on 0131 651 9679 before booking if you would like to find out more about accessibility or usability.

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