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Professor Adam Hedgecoe
Professor
- Media commentator
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I am a sociologist of science with an interest in biomedical science (especially genetics) and its regulation. I have published widely on the impact on professional practice of genetic tests and decision making in research ethics committees.
Publication
2024
- Hedgecoe, A., Job, K. and Clarke, A. 2024. Taking after a parent: phenotypic resemblance and the professional familialisation of genomics. Sociology of Health & Illness 46(2), pp. 257-275. (10.1111/1467-9566.13699)
2023
- Hedgecoe, A., Job, K. and Clarke, A. 2023. Reflexive standardization and the resolution of uncertainty in the genomics clinic. Social Studies of Science 53(3), pp. 358-378. (10.1177/03063127231154863)
2020
- Hedgecoe, A. 2020. Trust in the system: research ethics committees and the regulation of biomedical research. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
2016
- Watermeyer, R. and Hedgecoe, A. 2016. Selling ‘impact’: peer-reviewer projections of what is needed and what counts in REF impact case studies. A retrospective analysis. Journal of Education Policy 31(5), pp. 651-665. (10.1080/02680939.2016.1170885)
- Hedgecoe, A. 2016. Scandals, ethics, and regulatory change in biomedical research. Science, Technology, and Human Values 42(4), pp. 577-599. (10.1177/0162243916677834)
- Hedgecoe, A. 2016. Reputational risk, academic freedom and research ethics review. Sociology 50(3), pp. 486-501. (10.1177/0038038515590756)
2013
- Hedgecoe, A. 2013. A deviation from standard design? Clinical trials, research ethics committees and the regulatory co-construction of organizational deviance. Social Studies of Science n/a (10.1177/0306312713506141)
2012
- Hedgecoe, A. 2012. Trust and regulatory organisations: The role of local knowledge and facework in research ethics review. Social Studies of Science 42(5), pp. 662-683. (10.1177/0306312712446364)
2010
- Hedgecoe, A. 2010. Bioethics and the reinforcement of socio-technical expectations. Social Studies of Science 40(2), pp. 163-186. (10.1177/0306312709349781)
2009
- Hedgecoe, A. 2009. Geneticization: Debates and controversies. [Online]. Wiley. Available at: http://www.els.net/WileyCDA/ElsArticle/refId-a0005849.html
- Stark, L. and Hedgecoe, A. 2009. A practical guide to research ethics. In: Bourgeault, I., Dingwall, R. and de Vries, R. eds. The SAGE handbook of qualitative methods in health research. London, UK: Sage, pp. 589-607.
- Hedgecoe, A. 2009. "A form of practical machinery”: The origins of research ethics committees in the UK. Medical History 53(3), pp. 331-350. (10.1017/S0025727300000211)
- Lock, M. and Hedgecoe, A. 2009. Apoe genotyping, risk estimates, and public understanding of susceptibility genes. In: Ballenger, J. F. et al. eds. Treating Dementia : Do We Have a Pill For It?. Baltimore, USA: Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 231-249.
2008
- Hedgecoe, A. M. 2008. Research ethics review and the sociological research relationship. Sociology 42(5), pp. 873-886. (10.1177/0038038508094567)
- Hedgecoe, A. M. 2008. From resistance to usefulness: sociology and the clinical use of genetic tests. BioSocieties 3(2), pp. 183-194. (10.1017/S1745855208006108)
Articles
- Hedgecoe, A., Job, K. and Clarke, A. 2024. Taking after a parent: phenotypic resemblance and the professional familialisation of genomics. Sociology of Health & Illness 46(2), pp. 257-275. (10.1111/1467-9566.13699)
- Hedgecoe, A., Job, K. and Clarke, A. 2023. Reflexive standardization and the resolution of uncertainty in the genomics clinic. Social Studies of Science 53(3), pp. 358-378. (10.1177/03063127231154863)
- Watermeyer, R. and Hedgecoe, A. 2016. Selling ‘impact’: peer-reviewer projections of what is needed and what counts in REF impact case studies. A retrospective analysis. Journal of Education Policy 31(5), pp. 651-665. (10.1080/02680939.2016.1170885)
- Hedgecoe, A. 2016. Scandals, ethics, and regulatory change in biomedical research. Science, Technology, and Human Values 42(4), pp. 577-599. (10.1177/0162243916677834)
- Hedgecoe, A. 2016. Reputational risk, academic freedom and research ethics review. Sociology 50(3), pp. 486-501. (10.1177/0038038515590756)
- Hedgecoe, A. 2013. A deviation from standard design? Clinical trials, research ethics committees and the regulatory co-construction of organizational deviance. Social Studies of Science n/a (10.1177/0306312713506141)
- Hedgecoe, A. 2012. Trust and regulatory organisations: The role of local knowledge and facework in research ethics review. Social Studies of Science 42(5), pp. 662-683. (10.1177/0306312712446364)
- Hedgecoe, A. 2010. Bioethics and the reinforcement of socio-technical expectations. Social Studies of Science 40(2), pp. 163-186. (10.1177/0306312709349781)
- Hedgecoe, A. 2009. "A form of practical machinery”: The origins of research ethics committees in the UK. Medical History 53(3), pp. 331-350. (10.1017/S0025727300000211)
- Hedgecoe, A. M. 2008. Research ethics review and the sociological research relationship. Sociology 42(5), pp. 873-886. (10.1177/0038038508094567)
- Hedgecoe, A. M. 2008. From resistance to usefulness: sociology and the clinical use of genetic tests. BioSocieties 3(2), pp. 183-194. (10.1017/S1745855208006108)
Book sections
- Stark, L. and Hedgecoe, A. 2009. A practical guide to research ethics. In: Bourgeault, I., Dingwall, R. and de Vries, R. eds. The SAGE handbook of qualitative methods in health research. London, UK: Sage, pp. 589-607.
- Lock, M. and Hedgecoe, A. 2009. Apoe genotyping, risk estimates, and public understanding of susceptibility genes. In: Ballenger, J. F. et al. eds. Treating Dementia : Do We Have a Pill For It?. Baltimore, USA: Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 231-249.
Books
- Hedgecoe, A. 2020. Trust in the system: research ethics committees and the regulation of biomedical research. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Websites
- Hedgecoe, A. 2009. Geneticization: Debates and controversies. [Online]. Wiley. Available at: http://www.els.net/WileyCDA/ElsArticle/refId-a0005849.html
Research
Expertise:
- Sociology of biomedical science (especially genomics)
- The social shaping of socio-technical expectations
- Sociology of bioethics
I am a sociologist of science and technology, although my work sits at the intersection of STS, medical sociology and bioethics.
I have two main areas of interest. The first is the impact on professional practice of genetic tests, which I have published on since 1996, and which I have explored through my Ph.D. (which looked at the geneticization of medical discourse), a Wellcome trust funded postdoc (on the clinical uptake of pharmacogenetics) and my previous role as Associate Director of the ESRC Cesagen centre. Currently I am running a Wellcome Trust funded project looking at the challenges around clinical uncertainty raise by new sequecning technologies.
My second area of interest is in the relationship between sociology and biothics, both in terms of what empirical sociology can offer bioethicists (sociology in bioethics) and the sociological exploration of bioethics as a social phenomenon (sociology of bioethics). In this latter area, I ran a four-country comparative ethnography of Research Ethics Committees (RECs), and have a particular interest in the history and sociology of RECs in the UK.
Biography
Career Overview
Education and qualifications
Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science. 1996 – 2000: Department of Science & Technology Studies, University College London. 'Narratives of Geneticization: Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes and Schizophrenia': sociological critique of the concept of geneticization.
M.A. in Applied Philosophy (Distinction). 1993 – 1994: Department of Philosophy, University of Hull. Distinction in dissertation on effects of genetic testing on private health insurance.
B.A. (Hons.) in Philosophy and Psychology (2.1). 1990 – 1993: University of Durham, UK.
Supervisions
I have supervised PhD students looking at parents' attitudes to vaccination in the wake of the MMR debates, the development of IVF services in Mexico, amniocentesis for Downs Syndrome, the impact of Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis technologies, and the personal and professional challenges raised by personal genomics amongst others.
I am interested in supervising anyone interested in the sociology of biomedical science or the public understanding of science.
