Usher Institute

Launch of Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society

The new Wellcome Trust-backed University of Edinburgh Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society launches on 25 June 2018.

Launch event

The new University of Edinburgh Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society will be celebrated today at a launch event at St. Cecilia's Hall.  A short programme of presentations will include the Principal, Professor Peter Mathieson; Professor Christina Boswell, Dean of Research in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences; Professor Moira Whyte, Head of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine; and Dan O'Connor, Head of Humanities and Social Science at the Wellcome Trust.

The Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society

The Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society is a multidisciplinary research centre that builds on the University of Edinburgh’s unique history of leadership in social studies of science and medicine to scrutinise the complex social, cultural and technological landscape that characterises contemporary biomedicine and health care.

Bringing together established and emerging research leaders from across the University, the Centre aims to address the pressing problems currently facing biomedicine and society, and to effect lasting change in approaches to, developments from, and perspectives on global biomedical research. To that end, our work combines novel, integrative social science and humanities research with innovative approaches to collaboration, stakeholder and public engagement. 

The Centre is hosted by the Usher Institute, where Director Professor Sarah Cunningham-Burley is based, with Co-Directors Professor Graeme Laurie from the Edinburgh Law School and Professor Steve Sturdy from the School of Social and Political Science ensuring this is a truly interdisciplinary, cross-University Centre. The project team draws together expertise in the sociology of health and illness, science and technology studies, history of medicine, bioethics, medical law, and global health.

More about the Centre

The Centre is active on Twitter: @BiomedSelfSoc on Twitter

A website will include more information about the Centre

Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society website

Wellcome Trust

The centre is supported by a £1million grant from the Wellcome Trust.