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Anne Pollock

Professor Anne Pollock

Head, Department of Global Health & Social Medicine

  • Professor of Global Health & Social Medicine

Research interests

  • Biomedical and life sciences
  • Equality
  • Medicine
  • Policy

Biography

Anne Pollock is Professor and Head of Department of Global Health & Social Medicine. Prior to moving to London to join King's in 2018, Anne spent a decade based at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

She holds degrees in Science, Technology & Society from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD) and in Sociology from Brandeis University (BA).

Anne’s research explores feminist, anti-racist, and postcolonial engagements with science, technology, and medicine. She is the author of three books: Medicating Race: Heart disease and Durable Preoccupations with Difference (Duke 2012), Synthesizing Hope: Matter, Knowledge, and Place in South African Drug Discovery (Chicago 2019), and Sickening: Anti-Black Racism and Health Disparities in the United States (Minnesota 2021).

She is an Editor of BioSocieties, and President-Elect of the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S).

Research

  • Science and technology studies (STS)
  • Anti-racism and health
  • Feminist theory and biomedicine
  • Social studies of pharmaceutical research & development
  • Science and social justice movements, especially in the United States and South Africa

PhD supervision

Anne supervises PhD students with aligned research interests, typically in the areas of anti-racism and health and/or feminist science and technology studies.

Further details

See Anne's research profile

    Research

    Q@K banner
    Queer@King's

    Centre for research and teaching in gender and sexuality studies and a hub for collaborative work with queer activists, artists, and communities.

    CMP Logo-72dpi
    Culture, Medicine & Power research group

    Delving into the interdisciplinary study of social, cultural, political and historical dimensions of health and illness.

    Reproduction research cluster logo
    Reproduction Research Group

    Our interdisciplinary group examines the complex social, cultural, and political dimensions of reproduction.

    LGBTQ+ policymaking
    LGBTQ+ policymaking in the UK

    Establishing an interdisciplinary network of academic, policymaking, and civil society stakeholders to address the policy needs of the UK’s LGBTQ+ population.

    Project status: Ongoing

    black-history-month-lsm
    GHSM Anti Racism Steering Group

    The Anti Racism Steering Group is a staff-student led initiative in the Department of Global Health & Social Medicine (GHSM).

    News

    Careful Whisper: a new installation exploring the intersection of art, heart and feminist science

    The project, displayed at Science Gallery London, draws on Professor Anne Pollock’s 2015 article ‘Heart feminism’.

    A person wearing headphones looking at a display with text on

    King's-Australia Partnership Seed Fund fostering collaborations with Australian researchers

    In late 2023, the Menzies Australia Institute awarded 11 research grants to support collaboration between King’s staff and academics in Australia.

    Graphic of Australia on the globe

    IWD 2022: Women leading the way within SSPP

    The Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy has its research endeavour entirely led by women and four women academics from the faculty have just been...

    SSPP's title and a montage of images relevant to the faculty's teaching and research

    Sickening: Anti-Black Racism and Health Disparities in the United States

    Professor Anne Pollock’s new book, “Sickening: Anti-Black Racism and Health Disparities in the United States”, will be launched at a virtual event in Atlanta...

    US flag rippling

    How COVID-19 has highlighted racism as a health risk

    It is discriminatory social and economic structures that are determining how sick patients become from the virus, argue academics in latest WORLD: we got this...

    No visitors sign at hospital during COVID-19

    Events

    12JulCareful Whisper Science Gallery London Heart Sense Event

    Heart Sense: Anne Pollock & Nina Wakeford in dialogue with Nassim Parvin

    How can the creation, rendering, and experiencing of heartbeat data and cardiovascular research be done in ways that are distinctly feminist?

    Please note: this event has passed.

    08JulCareful Whisper, Science Gallery London Heart Science (1)

    Careful Whisper/Heart Science: Anne Pollock & Nina Wakeford with Sue Brain

    What is the generative potential of thinking across the domains of art, feminist science and technology studies, and cardiovascular science?

    Please note: this event has passed.

    05JunAerial view of the City

    A collaborative discussion about Global Capitalism research at KCL

    A platform for academics to explore setting up a multi-disciplinary, trans-departmental Center for Global Capitalism at King's.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    18JunProfessor Susan Brain analysing samples to determine levels of markers associated with heart failure

    Careful Whisper

    Careful Whisper is a new feminist intervention at Science Gallery London, King's flagship exhibition space, that brings together the expertise of artist and...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    25MarBook cover Haunting biology by Emma Kolvin_resized

    Book talk: 'Haunting Biology: Science and Indigeneity' by Professor Emma Kowal

    The book explores the troubled history of Western biological studies of Indigenous Australians.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    26Margaybies1

    Book Talk - 'Making Gaybies: Queer Reproduction and Multiracial Feeling'

    Making Gaybies is a vital account of racialised intimacy in contemporary queer family making in multiracial Australia.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    15Febzika book1

    Book launch: 'Viruses and Reproductive Injustice: Zika in Brazil'

    Launch of a book by Professor Ilana Löwy, exploring health disparities and reproductive injustice revealed by the Zika outbreak in Brazil.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    30MarColombia Abortion Protests 780 x 440 shutterstock_1823577533

    From Court to Clinical Trials: the Impact of New Technologies of Life on Women’s Sexual Rights in Mexico and Latin America... and Vice Versa

    This presentation critically looks at clinical reproductive trials (MRTs and Uterine Lavage) and court cases involving new reproductive technologies (i.e.,...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    06MarCOVID and RBC

    Keynote: Global Public Health and Innovation in Africa

    This keynote will examine the significance of African scientists' development of a COVID19 Vaccine in Nigeria in response to the pandemic.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    07MarGlobe of Health

    Age of Health: Inequalities and Social Justice

    Professor Camara Jones and Professor Sir Michael Marmot will present and discuss on 'Health inequalities and social justice'.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    Black History Month 2020: Resisting oppression, structural barriers and attainment gaps

    In conversation with Professor Anne Pollock and Dr Eka Ikpe of the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy for Black History Month 2020

    BHM 20 updated hero sized image

    Gender translations: bringing together disciplines to explore gender and the world

    Professor Anne Pollock and artist Dr Nina Wakeford discuss their collaboration on the recent GENDER exhibition at Science Gallery London.

    Gender Exhibit Launch-11

      Research

      Q@K banner
      Queer@King's

      Centre for research and teaching in gender and sexuality studies and a hub for collaborative work with queer activists, artists, and communities.

      CMP Logo-72dpi
      Culture, Medicine & Power research group

      Delving into the interdisciplinary study of social, cultural, political and historical dimensions of health and illness.

      Reproduction research cluster logo
      Reproduction Research Group

      Our interdisciplinary group examines the complex social, cultural, and political dimensions of reproduction.

      LGBTQ+ policymaking
      LGBTQ+ policymaking in the UK

      Establishing an interdisciplinary network of academic, policymaking, and civil society stakeholders to address the policy needs of the UK’s LGBTQ+ population.

      Project status: Ongoing

      black-history-month-lsm
      GHSM Anti Racism Steering Group

      The Anti Racism Steering Group is a staff-student led initiative in the Department of Global Health & Social Medicine (GHSM).

      News

      Careful Whisper: a new installation exploring the intersection of art, heart and feminist science

      The project, displayed at Science Gallery London, draws on Professor Anne Pollock’s 2015 article ‘Heart feminism’.

      A person wearing headphones looking at a display with text on

      King's-Australia Partnership Seed Fund fostering collaborations with Australian researchers

      In late 2023, the Menzies Australia Institute awarded 11 research grants to support collaboration between King’s staff and academics in Australia.

      Graphic of Australia on the globe

      IWD 2022: Women leading the way within SSPP

      The Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy has its research endeavour entirely led by women and four women academics from the faculty have just been...

      SSPP's title and a montage of images relevant to the faculty's teaching and research

      Sickening: Anti-Black Racism and Health Disparities in the United States

      Professor Anne Pollock’s new book, “Sickening: Anti-Black Racism and Health Disparities in the United States”, will be launched at a virtual event in Atlanta...

      US flag rippling

      How COVID-19 has highlighted racism as a health risk

      It is discriminatory social and economic structures that are determining how sick patients become from the virus, argue academics in latest WORLD: we got this...

      No visitors sign at hospital during COVID-19

      Events

      12JulCareful Whisper Science Gallery London Heart Sense Event

      Heart Sense: Anne Pollock & Nina Wakeford in dialogue with Nassim Parvin

      How can the creation, rendering, and experiencing of heartbeat data and cardiovascular research be done in ways that are distinctly feminist?

      Please note: this event has passed.

      08JulCareful Whisper, Science Gallery London Heart Science (1)

      Careful Whisper/Heart Science: Anne Pollock & Nina Wakeford with Sue Brain

      What is the generative potential of thinking across the domains of art, feminist science and technology studies, and cardiovascular science?

      Please note: this event has passed.

      05JunAerial view of the City

      A collaborative discussion about Global Capitalism research at KCL

      A platform for academics to explore setting up a multi-disciplinary, trans-departmental Center for Global Capitalism at King's.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      18JunProfessor Susan Brain analysing samples to determine levels of markers associated with heart failure

      Careful Whisper

      Careful Whisper is a new feminist intervention at Science Gallery London, King's flagship exhibition space, that brings together the expertise of artist and...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      25MarBook cover Haunting biology by Emma Kolvin_resized

      Book talk: 'Haunting Biology: Science and Indigeneity' by Professor Emma Kowal

      The book explores the troubled history of Western biological studies of Indigenous Australians.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      26Margaybies1

      Book Talk - 'Making Gaybies: Queer Reproduction and Multiracial Feeling'

      Making Gaybies is a vital account of racialised intimacy in contemporary queer family making in multiracial Australia.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      15Febzika book1

      Book launch: 'Viruses and Reproductive Injustice: Zika in Brazil'

      Launch of a book by Professor Ilana Löwy, exploring health disparities and reproductive injustice revealed by the Zika outbreak in Brazil.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      30MarColombia Abortion Protests 780 x 440 shutterstock_1823577533

      From Court to Clinical Trials: the Impact of New Technologies of Life on Women’s Sexual Rights in Mexico and Latin America... and Vice Versa

      This presentation critically looks at clinical reproductive trials (MRTs and Uterine Lavage) and court cases involving new reproductive technologies (i.e.,...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      06MarCOVID and RBC

      Keynote: Global Public Health and Innovation in Africa

      This keynote will examine the significance of African scientists' development of a COVID19 Vaccine in Nigeria in response to the pandemic.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      07MarGlobe of Health

      Age of Health: Inequalities and Social Justice

      Professor Camara Jones and Professor Sir Michael Marmot will present and discuss on 'Health inequalities and social justice'.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      Black History Month 2020: Resisting oppression, structural barriers and attainment gaps

      In conversation with Professor Anne Pollock and Dr Eka Ikpe of the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy for Black History Month 2020

      BHM 20 updated hero sized image

      Gender translations: bringing together disciplines to explore gender and the world

      Professor Anne Pollock and artist Dr Nina Wakeford discuss their collaboration on the recent GENDER exhibition at Science Gallery London.

      Gender Exhibit Launch-11