School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition - University of Aberdeen

🔬 Considering studying medicine or a medical science?

A reminder that we have an Undergraduate Open Day taking place tomorrow, Tuesday 25 August! Come along to explore our campus, meet current students and staff and find out what life at Aberdeen is really like.

Whether you already know what you want to study or are still exploring your options, we'll help you picture your future here.

🔗 Book your place today: abdn.ac.uk/openday

🏆 Prestigious national award for University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian team!

A team from Biostatistics and Health Data Science at the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian has won the Royal Statistical Society’s Florence Nightingale Award for Excellence in Health and Care Analytics.

Their research explored who is most affected by elective care waiting times and revealed significant inequalities, with people in the most deprived areas more likely to wait longer, attend A&E while waiting and experience greater healthcare needs.

The findings highlight how NHS data can help us better understand patient journeys, reduce health inequalities and identify people who may need additional support while waiting for care.

👏 Congratulations to everyone involved in this important work!

🔗 Read more: http://abdn.io/2mW

🌱 To tackle climate and sustainability challenges in Scotland, Scotland Beyond Net Zero has funded three projects, each focusing on one of three key areas of net zero research: sustainable diets, renewable energy and the circular economy.

In the sustainable diets category, the funds are going to the project, ‘Fairness, Feasibility, and Acceptability of Diets-Free Transition Policies in Scotland.’ The research will be led by Dr David McBey of the The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen and Dr Stuart King of The University of Edinburgh. The project will examine how people across Scotland view potential policies to reduce consumption of red and processed meat, which are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

Read more ➡️ http://abdn.io/2mN

BRCA mutations increase the likelihood of developing breast and ovarian cancer in women, and prostate and breast cancer in men. Previously, researchers across Scotland identified ancestral links to specific variants of this gene in people from Westray in Orkney and Whalsay in Shetland.

Now, eight charities across Scotland are funding a two-year project costing over £365,000, which will offer testing for specific BRCA variants to people with Westray and Whalsay ancestry using a simple saliva test. Friends of Anchor, a cancer and haematology charity based in North-east Scotland, will contribute £137,000 to the project.

By identifying people who carry these specific variants before getting cancer, the project will offer patients and their families access to genetic counselling, screening and preventative care.

The project is led by Professor Zosia Miedzybrodzka, Service Clinical Director of Genetics at NHS Grampian and Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of Aberdeen who was recently made an OBE for her services to genetic medicine and research.

Read more ➡️ http://abdn.io/2mG

🧬 Could bowel cancer screening samples help unlock new health discoveries?

New research from the University of Aberdeen’s Rowett Institute has shown that surplus samples from Scotland’s NHS bowel cancer screening programme could be used to study the gut microbiota 🦠.

With around half a million samples collected each year, this could open the door to large-scale research into conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer.

🔬 A small sample today could help shape better understanding and treatments for tomorrow.

👉 Read more: http://abdn.io/2md

Not one, not two but three celebrations! On 2 July, Charles Bain and his wife, Carol, had three reasons to celebrate. 🙌

1️⃣ Since 2011, Charles and Carol have made an outstanding contribution to dementia research, raising more than £235,000 for the University of Aberdeen. In recognition of his dedication, Charles was awarded an honorary degree from the university.

2️⃣ The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, a milestone made even more special by the years they have spent working together to support dementia research.

3️⃣ Their fundraising has helped to fund PhD scholarships, extending the reach of the university’s work in dementia research even further. Olivia Soper completed her PhD in Neuroscience thanks to the funding.

Read more ➡️ http://abdn.io/2m5

Good luck to everyone receiving their A-level results today. Our Clearing Hotline opens at 8:00am, so whether your results were not what you were hoping for - or you do much better than expected - call us on 01224 274525 or check out http://abdn.io/2lS to explore your opportunities or apply online for a quick decision today.

Medical student Kai was awarded the opportunity to attend the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) Conference after being selected as the University of Aberdeen representative for winning the RCPCH Medical Student Annual Prize.

🏆 The prize is awarded to an outstanding medical student from each medical school across the UK and Ireland who is committed to and passionate about paediatrics.

📚 In his blog, Kai shares that one of the highlights of the conference was the opportunity to meet paediatricians working across a wide range of specialities and ask questions to gain insight into life as a paediatrician. He also attended a range of lectures, particularly enjoying those on neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, which he has a personal interest in.

Read more about Kai’s experience in his blog here ➡️ http://abdn.io/2lN

🔬 Considering studying medicine or a medical science?

Join us at one of our Undergraduate Open Days on Tuesday 25 August or Saturday 3 October to explore our campus, meet current students and staff and find out what life at Aberdeen is really like.

Whether you already know what you want to study or are still exploring your options, we'll help you picture your future here.

🔗 Book your place today: abdn.ac.uk/openday

We are glad to share that Professor Clare McNaught has been appointed as an Honorary Chair at the University of Aberdeen.

Clare is a University of Aberdeen graduate and consultant general surgeon who made history in 2025 by becoming the first female President of the The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Her recent appointment as Honorary Chair recognises her contributions to the surgical profession, as well as her dedication to education and training.

Read more ➡️ http://abdn.io/2lD