Research

The work of staff and students at the Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society (CBSS) addresses a range of issues across health and society. Collectively,  our principal, interdisciplinary research themes are:

Beyond Bodies

We explore how ‘the body’ is understood and transformed through interaction between biomedicine and publics, and between human and health-related technologies.

Beyond Data

We examines how data and data practices are changing the epistemic, social, ethical, legal, and economic relations of biomedicine.

Beyond Disease

We analyse how developments in biomedicine challenge established ideas about particular diseases, and raises questions about what counts as disease and with what implications.

Beyond Engagement

We examine different approaches of public engagement with science, biomedicine, and governance, and how shifts in strategies of engagement can offer new ways of shaping health research and care.

Beyond Global

We explore how inequalities in power and resources affect the geographical and social distribution of health and illness as well as the development and implementation of health interventions across the globe.

Beyond Regulation

We analyse how law and governance operate in relation to research and care, and develop responsible and responsive regulatory approaches to innovation

Beyond Sex

We examine how and where sexual and reproductive rights and social justice intersect with biomedicine, health and wellbeing by paying attention to bodies, illness, technologies and mobilities.

View more about our research on the University of Edinburgh Research Explorer