New Alzheimer’s clinical trials centre opens in Aberdeen


Scottish Brain Sciences (SBS) has opened a state-of-the-art clinical research centre at ONE BioHub, Aberdeen, expanding access to early-phase Alzheimer’s trials across north- east Scotland. The new facility complements SBS’s existing hubs in Edinburgh and St Andrews, strengthening Scotland’s life sciences ecosystem.


The Aberdeen centre will enable precision trials, early detection studies, and advanced assessments for people with Alzheimer’s or memory concerns. By integrating with ONE BioHub, SBS benefi ts from fl exible lab and offi ce space, tailored business support, and links to universities, NHS Grampian, and investors, enabling rapid scaling of operations.


Professor Craig Ritchie, CEO and Founder, said: “The people of the north-east deserve early access to breakthroughs in brain health


and dementia research. This new site ensures participants can contribute to discoveries that could transform Alzheimer’s care.”


SBS joins a growing network of research- driven companies at ONE BioHub, including NovaBiotics and Genomes.io. The expansion refl ects Scotland’s commitment to advancing innovative brain health research, supporting both scientifi c development and regional life sciences growth.


Dr Deborah O’Neil OBE FRSE, Chair, ONE Life Sciences and BioAberdeen, added: “SBS’s focus on neurological conditions enhances our life sciences cluster and demonstrates the impact of integrating clinical research with scalable lab infrastructure.”


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L-R: Professor Craig Ritchie, CEO and Founder, SBS; Dr Deborah O’Neil OBE FRSE, Chair, ONE Life Sciences and BioAberdeen Ltd; Lynne Carroll, Scottish Brain Sciences research participant; Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Business and Employment.


UK advanced therapy trials continue strong growth in 2025


The UK maintained a strong position in advanced therapy clinical trials in 2025, with 193 ongoing trials recorded in the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult’s (CGT Catapult) UK ATMP Clinical Trials Database. Early-stage trials remain high, making up 56% of the total, while 80% of trials were commercially sponsored.


The UK accounted for 9% of all global ATMP trials and 57% of European trials, refl ecting its competitive edge in this rapidly growing sector. Gene therapies dominate the landscape, representing over 80% of trials, split evenly between ex vivo and in vivo approaches. Oncology remains the leading focus, with 35% of trials in this area, alongside growing activity in infl ammation and immune system therapies.


Matthew Durdy, CEO of CGT Catapult, said: “With a supportive regulator and recent updates such as the increase to the NICE thresholds, the UK is well-positioned to benefi t from the health and economic impacts of advanced therapy clinical trials. These studies are essential for building the skills, infrastructure, and clinical environment needed to deliver innovative therapies safely and effi ciently.”


The data highlights the UK’s ongoing commitment to pioneering research in cell and gene therapies, positioning it for continued growth as these treatments move toward broader clinical adoption.


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UK life sciences face long-term planning and skills challenges


A new report from the House of Lords Select Committee has sounded the alarm on the UK’s life sciences sector, highlighting a worrying lack of long-term planning. Leading academics, however, say the issues run deeper than policy — it’s the workforce itself that needs urgent attention.


Professor Ivan Wall, Chair of Regenerative Medicine at the University of Birmingham, warned: “It’s not enough to invest in buildings and equipment. We need future generations of trained, motivated, and educated young people to work in the sector.”


Recent headlines have underscored the urgency: Merck scrapped a £1 billion UK investment, AstraZeneca paused key projects, and Eli Lilly put a £279 million investment on hold. The House of Lords report confi rms that government strategy is short-sighted and fragmented, but Professor Wall stresses that training and talent development are the foundation for a thriving life sciences ecosystem.


real-world laboratory skills without the costs or limitations of physical labs.


So far, Resilience has reached over 15,000 students across 170 events and developed 75 future sector leaders, with impressive diversity: 66% female and 45% from BAME backgrounds. Professor Wall, co-director of Resilience, noted:


Professor Ivan Wall. Credit: Innovate UK


“Skills are the engine of growth,” he said. “When companies can access world-class talent, they invest, expand, and innovate. Without a skilled workforce, even the best infrastructure goes to waste.”


One promising solution is Resilience, the UK Medicines Manufacturing Centre of Excellence. This two-year, £4.5 million programme uses advanced VR technology to train students and young professionals in


“The training allows repeated practice without limits, reduces lab waste, and offers a more sustainable route for the next generation of life scientists.”


With partners including UCL, Heriot-Watt, Teesside, and the University of Birmingham, Resilience is proving that tackling the skills gap is not only possible but transformative for the UK’s life sciences future.


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Genetics expert to lead Roslin Institute


Professor John Hammond has been appointed as the next Director of the Roslin Institute and will take up the role in May 2026. He joins from The Pirbright Institute, where he is currently Director of Research.


An expert in genetics, genomics and immunology, Professor Hammond brings extensive leadership experience from one of the UK’s leading centres for animal health research. At Pirbright, he also leads the Immunogenetics Group, where his research focuses on understanding how genetic variation infl uences immune responses in mammals.


Professor Hammond completed a PhD in comparative immunology at the University of St Andrews before moving to Stanford University in 2003. He joined The Pirbright Institute


in 2009 as a UK Research and Innovation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Institute Fellow.


He will succeed Professor Mark Stevens, who has served as Interim Director of the Roslin Institute since September 2025. Professor Stevens took on the role following the tenure of Professor Bruce Whitelaw, who led the institute from 2020 to 2025.


Welcoming the appointment, Professor Lisa Boden, Head of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, said the institute would benefi t greatly from Professor Hammond’s scientifi c expertise and leadership.


The Roslin Institute is a world-leading research centre within the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, based at the Easter Bush Campus


Professor John Hammond. Credit: The University of Edinburgh


- one of Europe’s largest concentrations of animal science expertise.


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