The new Wellcome Trust-backed Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society held an official launch event on Monday 25 June. Image The Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society team The Centre was launched with a gathering in the elegant St Cecilia’s Hall. The Centre (CBSS) will explore the challenges raised by biomedicine, biotechnology and health care in society. Cross College Centre This is a cross College centre, between Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and Arts, Humanities and Social Science. It is located within the Usher Institute. The Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society draws together experts in the sociology of health and illness, science and technology studies, history of medicine, bioethics, medical law, and global health. It builds on the very strong history of these disciplines in both Colleges by bringing them together to develop new ways of work at the intersection of medicine, health and society. Upstream focus With support from the Wellcome Trust to develop its initial programme of work, CBSS aims to build a vibrant, collaborative, interdisciplinary environment that engages with science and medicine ‘upstream’ – rather than only focussing on ‘downstream’ consequences of novel developments. The Centre Director is Professor Sarah Cunningham-Burley with Dr Sarah Chan, Dr Gill Haddow, Professor Graeme Laurie, Dr Martyn Pickersgill, Professor Devi Sridhar, and Professor Steve Sturdy forming the rest of the executive team which will adopt a collegiate management structure. Professor Cunningham-Burley explains that "this feminist leadership approach will promote a non-hierarchical and inclusive work environment that will support the intellectual interactions that inspire new research ideas and collaborations." We are delighted to have four outstanding Chancellor’s Fellows in the Centre from across the social science and humanities disciplines - Dr Lukas Engelmann, Dr Agomoni Ganguli-Mitra, Dr Ellen Stewart and Dr Ingrid Young – and we are currently recruiting our professional support team and the first two of six funded postodoctoral positions. Professor Sarah Cunningham-BurleyDirector of Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society Related links Visit the Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society website Follow the Centre on Twitter @BiomedSelfSoc This article was published on 2024-09-09
