 | Alan Petersen Professor of Sociology - Monash University |
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03.11.2014-28.11.2014
The global market of stem cell treatments: a study of the regulatory role of international organizations
The objectives of this research are: (i) To advance understanding of how international regulatory agencies regulate or potentially could regulate the global market of stem cell treatments. It will increase the knowledge base of how the agencies (namely, WHO, WTO, and WMO) currently respond (or not) the global medical tourism phenomenon and how they may better respond to stem cell tourism. (ii) To establish links with other scholars (early career and established), international agencies, and policymakers and regulators, and other social scientists who have an interest in the field of stem cell science and treatments. The project aims to make these groups aware of my research—which is the first sociological study of the dynamics of so-called stem cell tourism—and its relevance to them. (iii) To produce outputs that will shape regulatory policies that are needed to reap the benefits and reduce the risks to patients and families who are seeking treatments. During my stay I will produce draft articles that will be submitted to a ‘high-impact’ peer-reviewed journals; e.g. Sociology of Health and Illness, Science, Technology and Human Values.
Alan Petersen is Professor of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. His work spans the sociology of health and illness, science and technology studies, and gender studies. He is interested in the socio-political implications of new and emerging biotechnologies, and has published on various related topics, including the new genetics and the public's health, biobanks, nanotechnologies, stem cell treatments, and the anti-ageing treatment market. He is currently leading 2 Australian Research Council Discovery projects, one focusing on stem cell tourism; the second, on the anti-ageing treatment market. His most recent work is Stem Cell Tourism and the Political Economy of Hope (Palgrave) (with collaborators on the stem cell tourism research project). He is writing another book on digital health, to be published by Routledge.
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