Xenotransplantation

Risk Identities and the Human/Nonhuman Interface

Supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (award: L218 25 2044)

Period of Study: Jan 2001 - June 2003

Research personnel: Dr Mike Michael & Dr Nik Brown

Research Administrator: Gillian Robinson

Expert Consultant: Prof. Robin Weiss

Abstract of the Project

Project Update (Oct 2002)

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This research examines how the risks and opportunities associated with xenotransplantation (XTP – use of nonhuman cells and organs in human transplantation) are negotiated between different constituencies. This process of negotiation can be seen to reflect and mediate changing formulations of the contemporary human/nonhuman interface. Xenotransplants are illustrative of much wider social questions about the regulation of transpecies disease risks, animal experimentation and new biological innovation. Four analytical themes inform the research. The first theme examines the dynamics of debate within expert networks (in such areas as immunology and virology, for example). Theme two, examines the basis of distinctions between ‘public’ and ‘expert’ discourse, including representations of experts by publics and visa-versa. The third theme analyses the temporal dynamics of risk including differences in the time frames of risk between different groups. Finally, the research will examine underlying models of regulatory governance present in the policy management of xenotransplantation.

Brown, N. & Michael, M. (2002) A Sociology of Expecta-tions: Retrospecting Prospects and Prospecting Retro-spects, Technology Analysis and Strategic Development, in press.

Brown, N. & Michael, M. (2002) From Authority to Authen-ticity: The Performance of Transparency in Biotechnology, Health, Risk and Society, in press.

Michael, M. (2002). Animals, publics and identities: uncer-tainty, ambivalence and policy making. In H. Von Troil (Ed). Transgenic Animals in Medicine. Report of the semi-nar, 8-10 October 2000 (p.4). European Federation of Biotechnolog/Task Group on Public Perceptions of Bio-technology.

Brown, N (2002) Containing Contradictions: Debating Na-ture, Controversy and Biotechnology, forthcoming in Peter Glasner (ed) Reconfiguring Nature: Issues and Debates in the New Genetics, Ashgate

Nik Brown and Michael, M. (2001) Transgenics, Uncer-tainty and Public Credibility. Transgenic Research, 10,4, 279-293.

Michael, M. (2001) Technoscientific Bespoking: Animals, Publics and The New Genetics, New Genetics and Society, 20, 3, 205-224

Nik Brown and Michael, M. (2001) Switching Between Science and Culture in Transpecies Transplantation. Sci-ence, Technology and Human Values, 26, 1, 3-22 .

Brown, N. & Michael, M. (Sept 18 2002) Transparency - the very idea. From authority to authenticity, Keynote address at the Royal Society of Arts (Transparency and Corporate Governance), London.

Brown, N. & Michael, M (Aug 2002) The Sociology of expectations (with Mike Michael), European Association for the Study of Science and Technology, University of York

Michael, M. & Brown, N. (Aug 2002) From Authority to Authenticity in biotechnical governance (with Mike Michael), European Association for the Study of Science and Technology, University of York

Michael, M. & Brown, N. (25-26 March 2002) Being and Becoming in xenotransplantation: Health, Politics and the 'Parahuman', British Sociological Association conference, Reshaping the Social,

Brown, N. and Michael, M. (Nov 1-4, 2001) Regulating species boundaries. Conference of Society for Social Studies of Science: Fashioning the Future. Camb, Mass. US.

Brown, N. (Sept, 2001) Xenotranspantation: Risk Identities and the Human / Nonhuman Interface. Seminar at the Dept Geography, UCL.

Michael, M. (Sept 2001) Communicating Genes: From 'Science to Society' to 'Ethno-Epistemics'. Keynote speech at Communicating Health and New Genetics, Department of Information Studies, Abo Akademi, Turku. 17-18 Sept.

Brown, N. (Jan 2001) Risk, Species Identity and Boundary Change. Seminar Series of CRICT (ESRC Centre for Research on Innovation and Competition. University of Manchester and UMIST

Brown, N. (Nov, 2000) Risk Identities and the Human/Nonhuman Interface. Seminar Series of the BIOS Group at Goldsmiths College (UCL)

Dr Mike Michael

Department of Sociology, Goldsmith's College, University of London, SE14 6NW, +44 (0) 207 919 7706 m.michael@gold.ac.uk

Dr Nik Brown

Science and Technology Studies Unit, Department of Sociology, University of York, YO10 5DD, +44 (0) 1904 434741 ngfb1@york.ac.uk

Gillian Robinson (admin)

Science and Technology Studies Unit, Department of Sociology, University of York, YO10 5DD+44 (0) 1904 432630

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