SCI website content
1
Colours and general layout
We would like the general layout to be the same as the IHT website but using different
colours. This will provide continuity of identity but will be different enough to be viewed as
a separate initiative from the IHT Programme. Hopefully it will also mean less work
building the site.
To use all of the colours would probably make the site look cluttered so I suggest we
choose two and then have two accent colours if needed.
The SCI logo is made up of 6 colours
Purple Pantone 2607 CVC
(C70, M100)
(R92, G2, B122)
Teal Pantone 3282 CVC
(C100, Y45, K10)
(R0, G140, B130)
Red Pantone 485 CVC
(M100, Y100)
(R216, G30, B5)
Orange Pantone 1375 CVC
(M40, Y80)
(R249, G155, B12)
Lime Pantone 390 CVC
(C14, M12, Y100, K10)
(R186, G196, B5)
Light Blue Pantone 310 CVC
(C45, Y10)
(R114, G209, B221)
We would prefer the use of the bolder colours such as the purple with a contrasting colour
like the Teal. Then maybe use the red and orange again for contrast in the text or lines. I
guess whatever you think works best on the screen. Below is a reminder of what you used
on the IHT site.
2
The Menu Bar

News – Similar to IHT site. On the News page we will have a link to Bulletins (similar to
the Newsletters for the IHT Programme ie direct links to pdfs when they become
available). Also from the News page we will need a link to another page ‘For the Media’.
Bulletins and Media links/buttons will need to be at the top of the page.

Events – same as the IHT site

Research – this page will have multiple links leading off to the following
The Research Projects
Genomics Centres
International Visiting Fellowships
Stem Cells and the Media Fellowship
Translational Research Fellowships

Annex 1
Annex 2
Annex 3
Annex 4
Annex 5
Activities – this page will have multiple links leading off to the following
National/International Seminar Series
Public Engagement Events
Innovation Cafes
ESRC Social Science Weeks
Interdisciplinary Workshops with Stem Cell Scientists
Methodology Workshop
Genomics Forum 5-Day Training Course
Annex 6
Annex 7
Annex 8
Annex 9
Annex 10
Annex 11
Annex 12

Funding Opportunities – listing all activities funded by SCI office and links to pages of
further info about calls once available.
Annex 13

Participants – Same as IHT. I will add to this as we go along. In the mean time please
can you set up a page with the alphabet across the top with links to the relevant letter
down the page and space between to add info. Thanks.

Links – same as the IHT page. I will add stuff to this page at I go along – similar setup
as IHT site with logos and links.

Contact – as for IHT but more up to date photos!

Search – as for IHT

Text Only Version of Site – self explanatory
3
Introduction/Home Page Text
Please can we have the following text……
The ESRC Social Science Stem Cell Initiative (SCI) was set up in the autumn of 2005 with
the broad aim of supporting a range of activities during a three-year period, to the value of
£1.7million, to build research capacity and raise awareness within the UK social science
community, in regard to the emerging field of Stem Cell science. The ESRC has already
invested in a number of research projects (n=6) in the area (see Research link on menu
bar), as well as the cross-Council support for Career Development Fellowships. The
Initiative also will link to capacity building that the Genomics Centres propose to undertake,
both independently, and as a network, the latter in collaboration with the Genomics Forum.
Objectives
The principal strategic objective of this initiative is to build research capacity for high
quality, independent social science research on Stem Cell technologies, to deepen
interdisciplinary links to the biosciences, to foster translational research and activity
between social science and industry, and to demonstrate and publicise the important role
that ESRC work makes to the field as a whole
In achieving this objective, the Initiative aims to









encourage a wide range of social science disciplines to engage with the field
generate interdisciplinarity across both social and natural science, especially in light
of recommendations made by the current Pattison review of the area
exploit new opportunities for translational research
produce a new cohort of doctoral students and Fellows to strengthen the science
base
deploy the expertise of the ESRC’s Genomics Centres in this area
anchor social science in policy-focused stem cell networks
ensure excellent media coverage of social science activity in this area
strengthen links between social science and users including the medical research,
clinical, patient, health policy and commercial constituencies and
provide new opportunities to raise the profile of UK social science internationally, to
contribute to and take the lead on international debate in the area.
A number of activities will take place related to both awareness raising and profiling the
role of the ESRC within the wider Stem Cell field, including a series of workshops and
seminars around different aspects of Stem Cell science and technology. These
workshops/seminars would take different themes, draw on the wider resources of the Stem
Cell Initiative, and engage national and international participants, as appropriate. Beyond
the seminar series organised by the Initiative, provision will be made for competitive bids
to series proposals made from the wider UK social science field, especially those that
include participation from clinicians and industry.
Links to non-social science constituencies
The SCI will ensure an ongoing liaison with and dissemination to various users, including
the other Research Councils, government, the NHS, private corporations, medical
research and patient charities, interest groups and the wider public.
4
Research
Please can we have the following text……
All underlined items to be hot linked to a new page (see Annex for contents of each of
those pages)
This page lists all the research funded, or due to be funded by the SCI. Details on dates
and how to apply for funding will be posted on these pages when further information
becomes available.
The Research Projects
Genomics Centres
International Visiting Fellowships
Stem Cells and the Media Fellowship
Translational Research Fellowships
Funding now closed
Funding now closed
From Spring 2006
From Autumn 2007
From Autumn 2006
Activities
Please can we have the following text……
All underlined items to be hot linked to a new page (see Annex for contents of each of
those pages)
This page lists all the activities the SCI is due to run. Details on dates will be posted on
these pages when further information becomes available. Information can also be found
on the ‘Events’ page where non SCI run activities will also be advertised.
National/International Seminar Series
Public Engagement Events
Innovation Cafes
ESRC Social Science Weeks
Interdisciplinary Workshops with Stem Cell Scientists
Methodology Workshop
Genomics Forum 5-Day Training Course
From Spring 2007
From Spring 2006
From Autumn 2006
From 2007
Spring 2007
Spring 2007
Spring 2008
5
Annex 1
Research Projects
Titles to be hotlinks to a new page – project pages to have same layout as IHT site ie
internal links jumping to the following: Abstract, Contacts, Outputs (just those 3, not news
etc). I don’t think we will be putting images on to the page – just want something simple
RES-340-25-0001
The Global Politics Of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Regulation
Prof Brian Salter University Of East Anglia
Dr Catherine Waldby Brunel University
Expert Consultancy - Professor Herbert Gottweis University of Vienna
Expert Consultancy - Dr Stephen Minger Kings College London
Annex 1.1
RES-340-25-0002
Annex 1.2
Forgotten Fetuses - A Sociocultural Analysis Of The Use Of Fetal Stem Cells
Dr Julie Kent University Of The West Of England, Bristol
Prof Naomi Pfeffer London Metropolitan University
Prof Wendy Purcell Univ. Of The West Of England
Prof Gordon Stamp Imperial College London
RES-340-25-0003
Mapping Stem Cell Innovation In Action
Dr Clare Williams King's College London, University Of London
Prof Alan Cribb King's College London
Dr Bobbie Farsides King's College London
Mr Nigel Heaton King's College Hospital, London
Prof Mike Michael Goldsmiths College, London
Mr Steven Wainwright King's College London
Annex 1.3
RES-340-25-0004
Annex 1.4
Quality Assured Science: The Role Of Standards In Stem Cell Research
Prof Andrew Webster University Of York
Prof Peter Andrews University Of Sheffield
Prof Henry Moore University Of Sheffield
Dr Lena Eriksson University Of York
RES-340-25-0007
Annex 1.5
Haematopoietic Stem Cells: The Dynamics Of Expectations In Innovation
Dr Paul Martin University Of Nottingham
Dr Nik Brown University Of York
Dr Alison Kraft University Of Nottingham
Prof Philip Bath Univ Nottingham Medical School
Professor Joan Fujimura University of Wisconsin
Professor Arie Rip University of Twente
RES-340-25-0008
The Social Dynamics Of Public Engagement In Stem Cell Research
Dr Sarah Parry University Of Edinburgh
Dr Sarah Cunningham-Burley University Of Edinburgh
Dr Wendy Faulkner University Of Edinburgh
Prof Austin Smith University Of Edinburgh
Ms Catherine Henderson University Of Edinburgh
Annex 1.6
6
Annex 1.1
RES-340-25-0001
The Global Politics Of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Regulation
Prof Brian Salter University Of East Anglia
Dr Catherine Waldby Brunel University
Expert Consultancy - Professor Herbert Gottweis University of Vienna
Expert Consultancy - Dr Stephen Minger Kings College London
Regulatory policy is a key political site where competition for the social, scientific and
industrial future of human embryonic stem cells takes place at the national, regional and
international levels. That competition is driven by global political forces which transcend
national boundaries as they seek to influence the future shape of regulatory policy. The
aim of the project is to develop an analysis of these political forces, to identify their impact
on the UK ESC regulatory regime, and explore their implications for UK policy making.
Firstly, building on the existing work of the project team, the legislative, organisational and
ideological components of the regulatory models currently in use will be mapped in detail
and an initial understanding established of the political dynamic at work in this field.
Secondly, approximately 100 semi-structured interviews will be used to identify (a) the
major pressures for regulatory change from the national and transnational policy networks
of civil society, science and industry and (b) further develop the understanding of the
political dynamic shaping the likely regulatory response. Finally, the implications for
regulatory policy of the analysis thus constructed will be explored with UK policy makers.
7
Annex 1.2
RES-340-25-0002
Forgotten Fetuses - A Sociocultural Analysis Of The Use Of Fetal Stem Cells
Dr Julie Kent University Of The West Of England, Bristol
Prof Naomi Pfeffer London Metropolitan University
Prof Wendy Purcell Univ. Of The West Of England
Prof Gordon Stamp Imperial College London
The objective of this research is to contribute to the development of UK policy and practice
in relation to fetal stem cells, and to provide some data on which comparisons of the
various sources of stem cells may be based. Although UK law and practice around the
collection and distribution of aborted fetuses for research are permissive and wellregulated, there are implications for the collection of fetal stem cells, and there is pressure
for change. Centred at the MRC [Fetal] Tissue Bank at Hammersmith Hospital, the
research will investigate and analyse the social worlds where fetal material is located. In
particular, development in regulatory arrangements, especially in relation to tissue banks
and tissue engineering, will be observed; and how the use of fetal material as a source of
stem cells might affect women's willingness to donate or clinicians' willingness to ask for
donations, will be explored.
8
Annex 1.3
RES-340-25-0003
Mapping Stem Cell Innovation In Action
Dr Clare Williams King's College London, University Of London
Prof Alan Cribb King's College London
Dr Bobbie Farsides King's College London
Mr Nigel Heaton King's College Hospital, London
Prof Mike Michael Goldsmiths College, London
Mr Steven Wainwright King's College London
This interdisciplinary collaboration draws together expertise in the sociology of science and
technology, medical sociology, medicine/biological science, biomedical ethics and public
policy, in a study tracking the development trajectory of innovative stem cell research and
clinical treatment. An ethnography of an international centre at the forefront of fetal and
adult stem cell research for the treatment of liver disease and diabetes will be
contextualised more broadly by interviews with key UK stakeholders. A social science,
scientific, medical and ethics literature and policy document analysis will map discourses,
debates and shifts in the area of stem cell research. Through early engagement with these
important areas in stem cell research and treatment, the study will explore how a new
technology might be encouraged or prevented from diffusing from 'bench to bedside', and
potentially to market place. It will investigate how discursive and practical procedures and
resources are aligned in the process of routinisation of stem cell treatments, and identify
how different discourses about stem cells may be mobilised and interpreted by key
stakeholders. Theoretically, the study will contribute to sociological literature in the areas
of Science and Technology Studies, Time, and the Body. It will also contribute to the
development of a more socially embedded account of ethical deliberation and decision
making about policies and their effects, as well as to the social and policy contexts of
professional and research ethics. This research will produce an insightful social scientific
analysis that is commensurate with the pace of contemporary scientific stem cell research.
The information gained will be of direct benefit to government and statutory advisory
bodies and user groups. It will also contribute to the development of a UK/European legal,
regulatory and policy framework, in addition to more general public debate about stem cell
research and treatment.
9
Annex 1.4
RES-340-25-0004
Quality Assured Science: The Role Of Standards In Stem Cell Research
Prof Andrew Webster University Of York
Prof Peter Andrews University Of Sheffield
Prof Henry Moore University Of Sheffield
Dr Lena Eriksson University Of York
This project examines the socio-technical processes shaping the current development of
Embryonic Stem Cells research and innovation, specifically with regard to the establishing
of new quality control and safety standards developed and overseen by intermediary
institutions. These play a crucial social and scientific role between the science base and
end-users, primarily in ensuring the quality of SC lines. This is a key issue on which the
future development and stability of the field will depend. Through international and
interdisciplinary research including collaboration with other European based social
scientists, the project will track the development of standards, their mobilisation across SC
socio-technical networks and their stabilisation in the medium term. Five case study sites
in the UK and overseas have been identified that play a key intermediary role. This
research will have value for policy agencies seeking to operationalise and monitor
standards as well as academic and commercial actors entering the field. In addition it will
add to the currently limited work in social science on standards and their meaning and
mobilisation in contemporary science. This collaborative project brings together
researchers in the sociology of science and bioscience to undertake analysis of this
process. It adopts a research design where theory building and practice are closely
integrated. This is seen as a key ambition of the ESRC's initiative on Stem Cells.
10
Annex 1.5
RES-340-25-0007
Haematopoietic Stem Cells: The Dynamics Of Expectations In Innovation
Dr Paul Martin University Of Nottingham
Dr Nik Brown University Of York
Dr Alison Kraft University Of Nottingham
Prof Philip Bath University Nottingham Medical School
Professor Joan Fujimura University of Wisconsin
Professor Arie Rip University of Twente
The project will focus on haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for the treatment of cancer and
now other conditions. HSCs reside in the bone marrow and are the immortal progenitors of
many tissues in the blood and immune system. Unlike all other stem cell therapies, only a
few of which have even been experimentally tested, HSCs have been routinely used as an
alternative to bone marrow transplantation since the late 1990s. Novel applications of
HSCs are currently being developed for the treatment of other conditions, such as stroke.
Their adoption may therefore represent a paradigm for emerging stem cell technologies.
Despite the success of HSCs as an important cancer therapy, there has been very little
commercial exploitation of this technology. There was an unsuccessful, and now largely
forgotten, 'first wave' of industrial interest in HSC technology in the US in the mid 1990s.
However, in recent years there has been renewed interest in the commercial potential of
the field. The main research question will therefore be: how has haematopoietic stem cell
technology been developed as a therapy, to what extent has it been commercially
exploited, and what are the prospects for its future development? The project will: 1.
Explore how HSC technology has entered the clinic, the creation of research networks, the
expectations that shaped clinical development, and the main factors influencing its
diffusion; 2. Analyse the industrial development of HSC technology, firm strategies and the
expectations that guided them, and the key issues facing attempts to establish
commercially viable businesses; 3. Assess the prospects for the future development of
HSC technology and identify key barriers to its further diffusion; 4. Recommend public
policies to stimulate further clinical development and diffusion, improve the
competitiveness of the UK stem cells industry; 5. Examine the utility of using the 'dynamics
of expectations' methodology for technology assessment and policy-making.
11
Annex 1.6
RES-340-25-0008
The Social Dynamics Of Public Engagement In Stem Cell Research
Dr Sarah Parry University Of Edinburgh
Dr Sarah Cunningham-Burley University Of Edinburgh
Dr Wendy Faulkner University Of Edinburgh
Prof Austin Smith University Of Edinburgh
Ms Catherine Henderson University Of Edinburgh
This project aims to (i) to investigate views and concerns of diverse social groups about
Stem Cell Research (SCR) and (ii) to explore the scope for increasing public engagement
in the developing field. SCR evokes a wide range of social concerns relating both to the
development of the technology and its potential application in human medicine. 'Public
engagement' seeks to extend the scope and franchise of participation in science,
technology and medicine. As a newly emergent technology, SCR is already propelling
participants into public debate and raising concerns amongst scientists about the risk of
mistrust and hostility. This proposed research will make a practical and analytical
contribution to the development and investigation of public engagement techniques,
drawing on qualitative research and dialogic techniques, underpinned by conceptual
contributions from the sociology of scientific knowledge and public understanding of
science. The research team is multi-disciplinary and will act as a mutual learning
community through reflexive practice. The research design involves the participation of
specialist and non-specialist groups in diverse forms of public engagement, to discuss
issues about SCR. We adopt a symmetrical approach to researching scientists and publics,
focussing on diversity and convergence. Building on 20 focus groups in the first stage of
the study, we will utilise a range of established and experimental forms of public
engagement as both topic and resource: 20 follow-up focus groups; 9 dialogic
conversations; educational activities and a final public event. Feedback will be through
web-based interactions, interviews and questionnaires. Analysis will address themes such
as the situated nature of expertise; the construction of social issues in relation to SCR;
perceived value of different forms of public engagement; ambivalence in the context of
SCR. There will be a wide programme of academic and user dissemination.
12
Annex 2
Genomics Centres
Text to be included…
Page under construction.
Further details to be confirmed
13
Annex 3
International Visiting Fellowships
Up to 10 fellowships, lasting 3 months each, will be available for short visits to recognised
UK social science centres to build collaborative links.
Visiting Fellows will be attached to a research centre or project to exchange research
results, develop a better understanding of host/visitor research activity in the field, and to
establish longer term collaboration beyond the duration of the visit itself.
Further details to follow.
14
Annex 4
Stem Cells and the Media Fellowship
A ‘Stem Cells and the Media’ Fellowship will be offered in the final year to enable an
academic working in areas such as media studies, science communication, or public
engagement to join the Initiative for a period of up to twelve months, to liaise with those
funded by the Initiative and the SCI Co-ordinator and to prepare a specially commissioned
report on the field and the findings.
15
Annex 5
Translational Research Fellowships
The recent report by the Health Committee (April 2005) noted that, while there is a history
of slow/late adoption of new medical technologies (such as tissue engineering and stem
cell therapies) by the NHS, the projected 43% increase in NHS funding between 2003 and
2008 is likely to accelerate this process, but only if there is a more robust and holistic
understanding of the problems translating research from the lab to both industry and the
clinic. Fellowships would be especially welcomed, therefore, in providing opportunities to
explore these problems, especially in regard to:
 legal and economic evaluation and review of the field
 implementation in clinical settings
 business modelling and future options for UK firms (both large and small)
 the contrasting socio-economic dynamics of adult and embryonic stem cell research
 the role of the media and other information sources in shaping publics’ perceptions
of SC and how people decide what information is to be regarded as more valuable
and more trusted
 the new skills base that will need to be developed (via medical schools, biosciences,
bioethics, the social sciences) to meet the needs of SC innovation and
implementation
These Fellowships will be encouraged to develop formal links to the UK’s Regional
Development Agencies and the centres they have established such as the “Centres of
Industrial Collaboration” (e.g., Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials) in Yorkshire and
Humberside, ‘BioNow’ in the North West, Health Enterprise East in the Cambridgeshire
region, and the Intermediary Technology Institute (ITI Life Sciences) established by
Scottish Enterprise.
The fellowships will be awarded with funds direct from the ESRC therefore ESRC
application rules will apply.
16
Annex 6
National/International Seminar Series
These events will be run by either the SCI office or The Genomics Forum which will draw
on the research strengths of the Genomics Centres to build links to a wider network of
social and natural scientists, policy makers and so on. The aim is to raise awareness and
profile the role of the ESRC within the wider Stem Cell field.
These workshops/seminars would take different themes, involve the researchers
envisaged as being in place in the Centres and elsewhere, draw on the wider resources of
SCI, and engage national and international participants, as appropriate. The Genomics
Forum workshops will be run early on in Years 2 and 3, while a similar meeting, run by the
SCI office will take place at the end of Year 3. The SCI seminar will place particular
emphasis on disseminating results of an international nature.
Beyond the seminar series organised by the Forum and SCI, provision will be made for
competitive bids to series proposals made from the wider UK social science field,
especially those that include participation from clinicians and industry.
Dates and further information will be posted here and on the ‘Events’ page.
17
Annex 7
Public Engagement Events
Page under construction.
Further details will be posted here and on the ‘Events’ page.
18
Annex 8
Innovation Cafes
SCI will run a series of ‘Innovation Cafés’, in part based on the Café Scientifique format
but in contrast will exclusively focused on SC innovation and translation and more
importantly involving presenters from social science, industry and the biosciences, rather
than just the social sciences.
Further details will be posted here and on the ‘Events’ page.
19
Annex 9
ESRC Social Science Weeks
Page under construction.
Further details will be posted here and on the ‘Events’ page.
20
Annex 10
Interdisciplinary Workshops with Stem Cell Scientists
Page under construction.
Further details will be posted here and on the ‘Events’ page.
21
Annex 11
Methodology Workshop
Methodological development in the field will be encouraged through a workshop on
methodological innovation in the social science of stem cells focussing on modelling within
and between the sciences. This would be hosted by the ESRC National Centre for
Research Methods, Manchester which provides support for methodological innovation and
excellence in the UK. The workshop will be aimed at post graduate students and research
fellows from the social sciences.
Further details will be posted here and on the ‘Events’ page.
22
Annex 12
Genomics Forum 5-Day Training Course
The Genomics Forum proposes to offer a short (5-day) training course in Year 3, for
Bioscience postdoctoral students to explore the social sciences and their contribution to
the understanding of Stem Cell science and technology. The objective would be to build
capacity amongst post doc scientists to appreciate and benefit from engagement with
social scientists.
Further details will be posted here and on the ‘Events’ page.
23
Annex 13
Funded Opportunities
Please link each item to the relevant page. Some of this may seem a bit repetitive but it
will be useful to have this separate page to direct people more specifically to upcoming
funding – other items might yet be added.
The ESRC have so far funded 6 Projects (please link to projects page) and the Genomics
Centres (link to Genomics Centres).
Future research and activities are due to be funded. Please visit the link below for further
information about when funding will be made available and how to apply.
Research
International Visiting Fellowships
Stem Cells and the Media Fellowship
Translational Research Fellowships
From Spring 2006
From Autumn 2007
From Autumn 2006
Activities
National/International Seminar Series
Public Engagement Events
Innovation Cafes
ESRC Social Science Weeks
Interdisciplinary Workshops with Stem Cell Scientists
Methodology Workshop
Genomics Forum 5-Day Training Course
From Spring 2007
From Spring 2006
From Autumn 2006
From 2007
Spring 2007
Spring 2007
Spring 2008
24