An £8.5 million ($10.6m) research initiative aimed at improving the health, welfare, and productivity of farmed salmon in Scotland has been launched.

The five-year project, led by the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute in collaboration with the Scottish division of Mowi, the world's largest salmon farming company, seeks to combat the impact of chronic diseases -- particularly heart and gill problems -- in salmon populations.

The project will focus on enhancing resilience to disease throughout the salmon lifecycle. By better understanding the genetic factors that influence disease susceptibility, researchers hope to breed healthier, more robust salmon, ultimately reducing the welfare and economic costs associated with disease in the industry.

Key areas of focus include fish heart and gill health, as well as studies into the species' DNA, immune response, and vaccination efficacy. 

The study, funded through the BBSRC Business and Academia Prosperity Partnership program, is expected to also provide valuable insights into the links between early developmental conditions and later disease resistance.