The Roslin Institute hosts Royal Visit

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Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal met researchers at The Roslin Institute to find more about the ground breaking research that is being carried out.

It was the Princess Royal's first visit to The Roslin Institute since it became was incorporated with the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

The Princess Royal, who is patron of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, visited laboratories where she was shown high tech genome sequencing equipment.

The Roslin Institute has been involved in international collaborations to sequence and analyse genomes for chicken, pig, sheep and cattle with a view to better understanding disease.

The Institute undertakes research focussed on the health and welfare of animals, and applications of basic animal sciences in human and veterinary medicine, the livestock industry and food security.

HRH The Princess Royal was greeted on arrival by Principal of the University of Edinburgh, Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea before being introduced to The Roslin Institute's director, Professor David Hume.

She heard about plans for The Roslin Institute to move to a £60 million building, being funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, on the University's Easter Bush campus.

The building, which is due to be completed in 2011, forms part of a £100 million development on the campus, which includes a new teaching building for the Royal (Dick) School  of Veterinary Studies.

During the visit to The Roslin Institute on Thursday (5th November), HRH Princess Royal learned about pioneering work involving the manipulation of genes to create chickens resistant to infectious diseases.

It is hoped that this approach will lead to development of chickens resistant to avian influenza infection.

Professor Hume said of the visit,

It has been wonderful to show Princess Anne round The Roslin Institute and we hope to repeat the honour in the future as we expand the new Easter Bush site.

Professor David Hume

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