Dr Tineke Broer
Research Fellow, The University of Edinburgh
I am a researcher in Science and Technology Studies. My research considers the ways in which science and everyday life are intertwined, such as neuroscience, psychology and post-genomics, with a particular interest in what this means for ideas on normality.
Tineke has left the project and is now an Assistant Professor within the Law School at the University of Tilburg, The Netherlands
Dr Choon Key Chekar
Research Fellow, The University of Leeds
Before joining this Wellcome Trust project, I was based in the Centre for Bionetworking at the University of Sussex, where I still am affiliated as a Research Associate. My two main research strands were: 1) partnership between patient groups and other key stakeholders such as the pharmaceutical industry and medical research groups 2) the relation between religions and the field of stem cell science. I am interested in the role of the South Korean Catholic Church in supporting of adult stem cell research as well as the evangelical churches’ involvement in endorsing stem cell therapies and products.
Sue Chowdhry
Research Assistant, The University of Edinburgh
I joined the Edinburgh team in October 2018. I’m a qualitative researcher within the field of sociology of health and illness. I have a background in nursing, counselling and teaching and a passion for research involving underrepresented societal groups. I’m interested in how the notion of risk shapes people’s experience of their bodies and also how risk configures healthcare practitioner practice.
My previous research includes a narrative study exploring pregnant women and maternal healthcare professional experience of high-risk pregnancies. I’ve also been involved in research investigating patient and practitioner experience of clinical research trials. My ambition is to develop engaging and creative ways of sharing and discussing research findings through storytelling, photography and performance.
Professor Sarah Cunningham-Burley
Professor of Medical and Family Sociology, The University of Edinburgh
My research interests span medical and family sociology and include the social aspects of genetics and stem cell research, as well as research on families, health and illness across the lifecourse. I am Dean of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences.
My particular focus is on lay perspectives, understandings and experience, as well as on lay/professional relationships particularly in relation to public involvement and engagement in science and medicine. Much of my work has used and developed qualitative methods; it contributes to sociological knowledge in addition to being directly relevant to a range of practitioners and policy makers.
Dr Emma Doyle
Research Fellow, The University of Edinburgh
I am a medical sociologist with an interest in people’s experiences of using health care services and health systems. My previous research was about people’s use of NHS 24, which is a 24-hour telephone advice and triage service. I am also interested in health inequalities and understanding the barriers that can make it difficult for people to access and use services.
In my current role I lead on Patient and Public Involvement (PPI). This means that I organise the PPI panel and support people to be involved in our research.
Emma has now left the project and is a Senior Health Improvement Officer at NHS Health Scotland
Professor Anne Kerr
Professor of Sociology, The University of Leeds
I work in the fields of science and technology studies and the sociology of health and illness, with a special focus upon gender, genetics and biomedicine. I am Director of the Centre for Health, Technologies and Social Practice and Head of School.
I have researched and written widely on the social and ethical aspects of science and technology, especially with respect to issues of public understanding and engagement with genetics and professional discourses of responsibility and choice. I have ongoing research and writing projects on responsible innovation, work and care in bioscience and medicine.
Dr Emily Ross
Research Fellow, The University of Edinburgh
I am a qualitative researcher based in the Centre for Population Health Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. I work in the field of medical sociology, but also draw on social anthropology and science and technology studies in my work. My past research has considered women’s experiences of pregnancy including accounts of ultrasound scanning, engagement with antenatal advice, and women’s efforts to keep their pregnancy a secret during the first trimester.
My research interests include diagnostic and screening technologies, the communication of risk and related experiences of uncertainty, and the role of patients and the public in shaping scientific research agendas. I am also enthusiastic about ethical issues in qualitative research, particularly with regards longitudinal methods (those following participants over time).
Dr Julia Swallow
Research Fellow, The University of Leeds
I completed my ESRC funded PhD at the University of Leeds in January 2016. My doctoral research investigated the role of cognitive screening tools in the process of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease in clinical practice.
My research interests range widely and include medicines, health and illness; age and the ageing process; (bio)medical technologies and genetics, and professional practice in healthcare.