MOREDUN RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Their core work

Moredun Research Institute is a dedicated animal health research centre based near Edinburgh, Scotland, specializing in livestock diseases, parasitology, and veterinary vaccines. They develop practical solutions to protect farm animals — from anti-parasite vaccines to natural antimicrobial alternatives — with a strong focus on sheep and small ruminants. Their work spans from high-containment infectious disease research to precision livestock farming technologies, bridging fundamental veterinary science with on-farm application.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Moredun's early H2020 work (2015–2017) centred on classical veterinary science: parasite vaccine development and high-containment biosafety research for emerging and zoonotic diseases. From 2020 onward, their focus shifted markedly toward precision livestock farming, digital monitoring for small ruminants, and natural bioactive compounds as antibiotic alternatives. This evolution reflects a broader move from lab-based disease research toward technology-driven, sustainable on-farm solutions.

Moredun is moving toward technology-enabled sustainable livestock management, making them a strong partner for projects combining animal health with precision agriculture or antibiotic reduction strategies.

How they like to work

Moredun primarily operates as a specialist partner (4 of 5 projects), though they have demonstrated coordination capability with PARAGONE, their largest funded project. With 90 unique consortium partners across 24 countries, they maintain a broad and diverse collaboration network rather than relying on a small circle of repeat partners. This breadth suggests they are adaptable collaborators who integrate well into different consortium configurations.

Moredun has built an extensive European network of 90 unique partners across 24 countries through just 5 projects, indicating participation in large, multi-partner consortia. Their reach spans well beyond the UK, with strong connections across continental Europe.

What sets them apart

Moredun combines deep expertise in livestock parasitology and veterinary vaccines with growing capability in precision farming technology and natural antimicrobial alternatives — a rare combination in a single institute. Their dual strength in both traditional animal health science (BSL3 facilities, vaccine R&D) and modern digital livestock management makes them particularly valuable for projects that need to bridge laboratory research with practical on-farm application. As a well-established UK research institute with strong European networks, they bring credibility and scientific rigour to any livestock-focused consortium.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PARAGONE
  Their only coordinated project and largest grant (EUR 2.17M), focused on anti-parasite vaccines for livestock — directly aligned with their core institutional mission.
• NeoGiANT
  Their second-largest grant (EUR 1.3M) and a clear signal of their strategic shift toward natural antimicrobials using grape polyphenols to reduce antibiotic use in animals.
• SmaRT
  Represents Moredun's push into digital technology and precision livestock farming specifically for small ruminants, marking a new capability direction.