Centre for Biomedicine & Society
Print versionIntroduction
The Centre for Biomedicine & Society (CBAS) is an exciting new centre for social science research on Medicine, Science & Society. We focus particularly on translational research issues relating to the shift of innovative therapies from ‘the bench to the bedside’ and on the politics of the global bioeconomy. CBAS hosts a prestigious Wellcome Trust Biomedical Ethics Strategic Award which funds LABTEC - The London & Brighton Translational Ethics Centre (2009-2014), which explores the ethics of translational research: from ‘unnatural entities’ to experimental treatments. Much of the interdisciplinary research of CBAS combines Medical Sociology, Science Studies and Politics in novel ways to explore the far-reaching personal and socio-political effects of what have been described as ‘biomedical revolutions’ in fields such as stem cells and genomics. CBAS was founded in May 2007 and the official launch of CBAS took place in June 2009.
CBAS builds on a highly successful research programme, funded primarily through prestigious Research Council and Wellcome Trust grants, which examines four interelated research themes: bioethics, innovations, identities and biopolitics. As part of our innovative interdisciplinary teaching programme we provide a stimulating and supportive research environment for BSc, Masters and PhD students which includes hosting Seminars, Colloquium, Workshops, a Reading Group and Visiting Fellows. King’s is a leading international centre for biomedical science and clinical research, which enables our MSc and MA to examine cutting edge science and novel clinical treatments, through, for example, our collaborations with the National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, the Health Schools and our Associate Fellows. King's is one of the top 25 universities in the world.
CBAS builds on a highly successful research programme, funded primarily through prestigious Research Council and Wellcome Trust grants, which examines four interelated research themes: bioethics, innovations, identities and biopolitics. As part of our innovative interdisciplinary teaching programme we provide a stimulating and supportive research environment for BSc, Masters and PhD students which includes hosting Seminars, Colloquium, Workshops, a Reading Group and Visiting Fellows. King’s is a leading international centre for biomedical science and clinical research, which enables our MSc and MA to examine cutting edge science and novel clinical treatments, through, for example, our collaborations with the National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, the Health Schools and our Associate Fellows. King's is one of the top 25 universities in the world.
Research
CBAS is a leading international centre for social science research on biomedicine, translational research and the political forces driving the global bioeconomy. Since 2001 this group of Professor Clare Williams, Professor Steven Wainwright, Professor Brian Salter and Dr Barbara Prainsack has been awarded over £5 million in research funding (with £1.3 million from the ESRC, £1.5 million from the Wellcome Trust, and €2.3 million from European sources) for their interdisciplinary research programme on new medical technologies, and has published over one hundred papers in leading international journals.
CBAS is the world’s foremost centre for social science research on stem cells gaining more than a quarter of the grants in the ESRC Stem Cell Initiative. Our recently completed ESRC stem cell project was rated ‘outstanding’. With over 40 publications, many in leading journals, CBAS has made a major international contribution to the social science literature on the field of stem cell research.
Clare and Steve are Co-Editors of Sociology of Health & Illness - one of the worlds leading UK Sociology journals. Clare is one of six Editorial Committee Members for an innovative Royal Society of Medicine journal Clinical Ethics, with responsibility for Empirical Ethics.
CBAS is the world’s foremost centre for social science research on stem cells gaining more than a quarter of the grants in the ESRC Stem Cell Initiative. Our recently completed ESRC stem cell project was rated ‘outstanding’. With over 40 publications, many in leading journals, CBAS has made a major international contribution to the social science literature on the field of stem cell research.
Clare and Steve are Co-Editors of Sociology of Health & Illness - one of the worlds leading UK Sociology journals. Clare is one of six Editorial Committee Members for an innovative Royal Society of Medicine journal Clinical Ethics, with responsibility for Empirical Ethics.
New MSc
The rapid global development of the bioeconomy of the life sciences has produced a demand from those wishing to understand, analyse and engage with the scientific, social and ethical implications of this powerful new knowledge domain. In response, CBAS has developed a MSc in Medicine, Science & Society. This interdisciplinary social science MSc focuses on innovations in biomedicine, particularly new medical technologies. The CBAS course is unique in emphasising the processes of translational research through its focus on the interactions between the lab, the clinic and beyond.
King’s is a global leader in health science research, hosting more MRC Research Centres (five) than any other University. The MSc therefore examines the social science dimensions of innovative biomedicine in a unique supporting context. The course also allows students to expand a specialist interest by selecting from an impressive range of Masters Options. There are clear career trajectories and exciting PhD prospects for those graduating from this course. Developing academic curiosity, discovering new insights and the sheer fun of cross-disciplinary collaboration are amongst the many intellectual benefits of studying at CBAS.
King’s is a global leader in health science research, hosting more MRC Research Centres (five) than any other University. The MSc therefore examines the social science dimensions of innovative biomedicine in a unique supporting context. The course also allows students to expand a specialist interest by selecting from an impressive range of Masters Options. There are clear career trajectories and exciting PhD prospects for those graduating from this course. Developing academic curiosity, discovering new insights and the sheer fun of cross-disciplinary collaboration are amongst the many intellectual benefits of studying at CBAS.
CBAS & King's
CBAS promotes social science research that brings together academics in the social sciences, humanities, medicine and the biomedical sciences from both within King’s and beyond (see Useful links). For instance, CBAS has a long standing research collaboration with the Centre of Medical Law & Ethics at King’s which links sociological with philosophical approaches to biomedical ethics, for example, in our LABTEC programme and through our new joint MA in Bioethics & Society.
King’s is the only UK University to be awarded each of the three types of NHS Department of Health Biomedical Centres of Research Excellence, namely ‘Comprehensive’, ‘Specialist (Mental Health)’ and ‘Patient Safety & Service Quality’. These are held with our partnership hospitals of Guy's & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. In addition, the three NHS Trusts and King's plan to develop a world class Academic Health Sciences Centre together. The interdisciplinary focus of CBAS reflects the broader research ethos of King’s.
King’s is the only UK University to be awarded each of the three types of NHS Department of Health Biomedical Centres of Research Excellence, namely ‘Comprehensive’, ‘Specialist (Mental Health)’ and ‘Patient Safety & Service Quality’. These are held with our partnership hospitals of Guy's & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. In addition, the three NHS Trusts and King's plan to develop a world class Academic Health Sciences Centre together. The interdisciplinary focus of CBAS reflects the broader research ethos of King’s.
CBAS Website
The CBAS website is produced and maintained by Professor Steven Wainwright. If you have suggestions for improvements, or find any links that do not work, then please send an email to: steven.wainwright@kcl.ac.uk
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