INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS

HeLEX (Centre for Health, Law and Emerging Technologies), the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford (UK) and HeLEX at Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne (Australia)
Professor Jane Kaye and her colleagues investigate the relationships between law, governance, and best practice in the area of emerging technologies in health. Examples of such technologies are genome sequencing, stem cell development, AI and patient-centric digital platforms such as Dynamic Consent. Some of the themes we are currently exploring are: citizen-centred engagement, data sharing, privacy, information governance and responsible research and innovation.
A collaborative article regarding genomic data sharing:
Jane Kaye et al. Including all voices in international data-sharing governance, Human Genomics, 12:13 (2018).

HVM (Hopkins Van Mil) (London, UK)
HVM focuses on facilitating engagement so that voices are heard, learning is shared and understanding achieved. In practice this means finding the process by which people can explore their hopes, fears, challenges and aspirations for the future. They create safe and trusted spaces for productive and emotionally engaging discussions on the complex issues.
Information about our visit:
Exchanging Views on Effective Societal Engagement (March 14, 2019).

Society and Ethics Research Group, Connecting Science at the Wellcome Genome Campus (Cambridge, UK)
Professor Anna Middleton and her colleagues are a group of academics working in a non-profit research institute, who explore the ethical, legal and social issues raised by genomics, and contribute a societal voice on the impact of genomics as well contribute to policy and teaching about genetic counselling.
Information about Japanese Branch of Your DNA Your Say:
Jusaku Minari, Go Yoshizawa, Megumi Kimura and Aiko Hibino lead on the Japanese branch of ‘Your DNA, Your Say’, the international study on DNA and Data Sharing
A collaborative article regarding genomic data sharing:
Anna Middleton et al. Global public perceptions of genomic data sharing: What shapes the willingness to donate DNA and health data?, The American Journal of Human Genetics, 107: 743-752 (2020).

Engineering Life Team, Science, Technology and Innovation Studies at the University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, UK)
Jane, Rob, Deborah and Thoko are part of the Engineering Life team at the University of Edinburgh. Together, they examine the social, political and epistemological dimensions of attempts to make biology easier to engineer. Their research has developed case studies of synthetic genomics (such as the Sc 2.0 project and 'Genome Project-write'), ideas of risk involved in emerging technologies, the roles of research funders in creating new scientific fields, as well as international spaces involved in the governance of synthetic biology. A substantial part of their work is reflexive, questioning the roles that social scientists play in each of these settings.

Emilia Tikka
Emilia Tikka is a designer and artist. Her interdisciplinary design and research practice explore philosophical dimensions and cultural implications of novel biotechnologies such as synthetic biology and genome editing technology CRISPR. Her methods of research vary from designing objects, constellations, concepts and future speculations to writing and hands-on laboratory experiments. Her design works – ranging from objects, scenarios, films – has been awarded and exhibited in several international design exhibitions and art museums.