27 September 2025 (11:00 - 16:00)
The mission of the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC) is to improve the lives of people living with genetic disease and cancer through research.
We love opening the doors of our institute to the public for special events. Our institute is the central hub of our 3 research centre buildings – the Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, the MRC Human Genetics Unit (HGU) and the Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine (CGEM). Each research centre has its own unique history, but the powerful synergy emerging from their common research strengths led to the formation of the Institute in 2009. The Institute of Genetics and Cancer brings together 600 people, including approximately 200 PhD students, in a single, scientific endeavour, enabling exciting multi-disciplinary collaborations in biomedical research.
In October 2024, we opened the newest extension to our institute – the 4D Cellular Medicine Wing. This provides the facilities to investigate the structure and function of cells in 3-dimensions (within living tissues and tumours) and over time (4-dimensional). We are excited to let the local community see what’s been going on behind the scaffolding!
IGC Researchers tackle one of the greatest biomedical challenges of today – explaining how changes in our DNA lead to disease. Our multidisciplinary teams of world-class scientists and leading clinicians work together under one roof with access to cutting-edge facilities. Our researchers work across scale, from molecules to populations, and are paving the way to more targeted treatments and therapies for people living with genetic conditions and cancers, involving patients and the public every step of the way.

Activities
A full programme of building tours, talks, videos, lay posters and drop-in activities.
Our family-friendly activities include crawling inside a giant cell, learning about genetic engineering, viewing samples through a microscope, and more.
Our talk sessions will include highlighting some of the research going on in the institute along with ways to get involved, showcase the work of our graduate students in flash talks, and discuss life as a scientist in our ‘Day in the life’ session.
We will also have building tours running throughout the day. Visitors will have a chance to view the labs and research facilities, including our newly-completed 4D Cellular Medicine Building.
Our staff and students will provide insights into the lives of researchers and technicians at various stages of their careers.

2025 Theme - Architectural Heritage: Windows to the Past, Doors to the Future
Our institute’s story of biomedical research stretches back to the post-war period, with the facilities and remit of the institute evolving in response to new scientific discoveries and population health needs. We are also pleased to welcome visitors to the newly opened 4D Cellular Medicine building, which represents our own ‘Door to the future’ of research and healthcare.
Visit our 2021 Doors Open Days website where we will take you behind the scenes and show you some of our cool tools!
An accessible toilet is located on the ground floor. (This is not a Changing Places toilet.)
The main entrance to the building is fully accessible to wheelchair users; it is step-free and the door is opened with a touch-button. The main lecture theatre is fully accessible to wheelchair users, and contains spaces for up to X wheelchairs users. The accessible bathroom is located on the ground floor. The upper floors are accessed via lift.
In the event of a fire, anyone above the second floor who is not able to use the stairs will be evacuated using an evacuation chair. This requires the individual to be able to self-transfer to the evacuation chair. Visitors who are unable to use the stairs or self-transfer to the evacuation chair will not be able to take part in tours of the upper levels, but will be able to attend talks on the ground floor and take part in activities on the first floor.
There is a men’s bathroom, women’s bathroom, gender neutral bathroom, and accessible bathroom on the ground floor, with step-free access.

Address
University of Edinburgh, Crewe Rd South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU