Regenerating Bodies: Tissue and Cell Technologies in the 21st Century
Abstract
The key aim of the Fellowship is to synthesise and consolidate research from two projects one on the regulation and governance of tissue engineering, the other on the collection and use of fetal stem cells. This work will assist in building capacity within the social science of stem cells in three ways. First by developing analytical tools for understanding the social and political dynamics of tissue engineering and stem cell science, second by providing a basis from which to develop international collaboration and a comparative study of abortion and stem cell science in Europe and thirdly by promoting dialogue between bioscientists, tissue engineers, clinicians and health professionals and social scientists around the 'regenerative body' and regenerative medicine.
The research focuses on tissue and cell technologies and the book will explore themes relating to the emergence of regenerative medicine and the 'regenerative body'. Themes will include tissue collection and donation, the growth of new knowledge and expertise in tissue engineering and stem cell science, the emergence of new markets for cell based therapies and tissue engineered products, regulatory policy and ethical issues shaping debates around governance and regulation.
There are different sources of tissues used in tissue engineering and cell based therapies. Different products use tissues and cells from different parts of the body and may be collected from a single donor for use in the same person or for use in many patients. So for example there are skin and cartilage products already available which use cells collected from a patient, expanded and grown in the laboratory and re-implanted into the same patient (autologous products). There are also similar products which use donated cells to produce 'off the shelf' products that can be used in many patients (allogeneic products). Stem cell therapies may also be autologous or allogeneic. Bone marrow transplantation uses donated stem cells but bone marrow is also being used as a source of autologous cells in trials to repair the heart. Aborted fetuses are a potential source of stem cells for the development of allogeneic therapies in the treatment of diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. The book will discuss the therapeutic use of fetal tissue and fetal stem cells. This will lead to a discussion of gender relations within the new 'tissue economy'.
The growth of new knowledge and expertise in the biosciences is at the heart of the emergence of tissue and cell technologies. Drawing on interviews with scientists working in both areas the research examines the shift from body repair and transplantation to tissue regeneration and growing body parts. It also considers the convergence between the social worlds of tissue banking and tissue engineering. This leads to investigation of the biotech industry and conflicts between the banking, pharma and device sectors.
New European and national regulation relating to donation and storage of human tissues for therapeutic use and for placing on the market new tissue engineered products and cell based therapies is emerging. These regulations focus on risk and safety. Ethical issues and how they have shaped policy debate are also important especially in relation to the use of embryonic and fetal stem cells. These are analysed to highlight the difficulties of achieving international consensus.
In addition to the book the fellow will develop international networks with the Scanbalt Stem Cell Network, the Fraunhofer Institute and others to build capacity for future collaborative research and lead a seminar series on 'Regenerative Bodies' in collaboration with the Faculty of Health & Social Care (UWE), the Royal College of Nursing and the Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Bath.
Contacts
Outputs
Events
12 June 2008
Regenerative Bodies Seminar Series, No. 4: Commercialisation and the Market for Tissue Engineered and Stem Cell Technologies.
Further details here - pdf
9 April 2008
Regenerative Bodies Seminar Series, No. 3: Regulation and Governance of Emerging Tissue and Cell based Technologies.
Further details here - pdf
23 January 2008
Regenerative Bodies Seminar Series, No. 2: From Bench to Clinic: Embryology and the New Biosciences.
Further details here - pdf
11 October 2007
Regenerative Bodies Seminar Series, No. 1: Tissue Collection and Tissue Donation
Further details here - pdf