Regenerative medicine research group wins Euro funding
Posted on 7 November 2007
Over the next three years, experts from the Worldwide Universities Network will host a series of high-level workshops. They will discuss the social, ethical and political implications of cutting-edge technologies like stem cell therapy, tissue engineering and bio-imaging.
This project ... will provide a major opportunity to understand how global developments in regenerative medicine will need to be addressed in Europe
Professor Andrew Webster
Professor Andrew Webster, Director of the Science and Technology Studies Unit (SATSU) at the University of York, co-ordinated the grant proposal. SATSU is a specialist unit dedicated to rigorous analysis of the social dynamics informing contemporary and prospective science and technology.
Partners in the project include British, US, Australian and Chinese universities. Core members of the international advisory group include Professor Cathy Waldby of the University of Sydney, and Professor Linda Hogle of the University of Madison Wisconsin, site of the US stem-cell bank and a new Regenerative Medicine Institute.
One of the project’s aims is to recommend what political decisions need to be made by countries in the European Union so that Europe can maintain its current global advantage in the field of regenerative medicine.
Researchers also hope to build a new database that captures patterns of investment, clinical application, patenting, and regulatory changes. The work will make use of the University of York’s new state-of-the-art Spatial Informatics Laboratory to develop graphic representations of data.
Professor Webster said: "This project, which was rated extremely highly by the European Commission, will provide a major opportunity to understand how global developments in regenerative medicine will need to be addressed in Europe.
"The participation of Worldwide Universities Network colleagues and other researchers will strengthen social science in this area. It will also provide a basis for collaboration with the WUN bioscience stem cell network."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The Science and Technology Studies Unit, in the Department of Sociology, at York has an established international reputation as a centre of excellence in three areas: the sociology of the biosciences, mobilities, informatics and space, and science and technology governance.
- The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) is a partnership of 17 research-led universities from Europe, North America, South East Asia and Australia. The alliance exists to make significant advances in knowledge and understanding in areas of current global concern. By fostering and encouraging collaboration between members, WUN brings together the experience, equipment and expertise necessary to tackle the big issues currently facing societies, governments, corporations and education.