Governance-by-standards in the field of stem cells: managing uncertainty in the world of ‘basic innovation’

Andrew Webster; Lena Eriksson

doi:10.1080/14636770802077009

Governance-by-standards in the field of stem cells: managing uncertainty in the world of ‘basic innovation’

Andrew Webster, Lena Eriksson

Sociology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This paper explores the role of the International Stem Cell Initiative (ISCI) in its attempt to develop biological standards and experimental protocols for the embryonic field as a whole. Drawing on empirical research derived from UK and other labs and fieldwork within ISCI meetings, we describe the way standards have emerged and the difficulties in stabilizing them at the local level. The paper discusses the ways in which this form of governance-by-standards acts to manage uncertainty - to a degree - and suggests that this requirement to manage uncertainty is becoming a key characteristic of what we call "basic innovation". We conclude by drawing out the implications of this for the management of uncertainty and the increasingly diverse regulatory space that will be needed to oversee the eventual clinical application of hESC.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	99-111
Number of pages	13
Journal	New Genetics and Society
Volume	27
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/14636770802077009
Publication status	Published - Jun 2008

Keywords

governance
stem cells
standards

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10.1080/14636770802077009

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14636770802077009

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title = "Governance-by-standards in the field of stem cells: managing uncertainty in the world of {\textquoteleft}basic innovation{\textquoteright}",

abstract = "This paper explores the role of the International Stem Cell Initiative (ISCI) in its attempt to develop biological standards and experimental protocols for the embryonic field as a whole. Drawing on empirical research derived from UK and other labs and fieldwork within ISCI meetings, we describe the way standards have emerged and the difficulties in stabilizing them at the local level. The paper discusses the ways in which this form of governance-by-standards acts to manage uncertainty - to a degree - and suggests that this requirement to manage uncertainty is becoming a key characteristic of what we call {"}basic innovation{"}. We conclude by drawing out the implications of this for the management of uncertainty and the increasingly diverse regulatory space that will be needed to oversee the eventual clinical application of hESC.",

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AB - This paper explores the role of the International Stem Cell Initiative (ISCI) in its attempt to develop biological standards and experimental protocols for the embryonic field as a whole. Drawing on empirical research derived from UK and other labs and fieldwork within ISCI meetings, we describe the way standards have emerged and the difficulties in stabilizing them at the local level. The paper discusses the ways in which this form of governance-by-standards acts to manage uncertainty - to a degree - and suggests that this requirement to manage uncertainty is becoming a key characteristic of what we call "basic innovation". We conclude by drawing out the implications of this for the management of uncertainty and the increasingly diverse regulatory space that will be needed to oversee the eventual clinical application of hESC.

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Governance-by-standards in the field of stem cells: managing uncertainty in the world of ‘basic innovation’

Abstract

Keywords

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