Dr Laura Machin

Lecturer

Personal Introduction

Dr Laura Machin is social science trained, and has always been interested in medical ethics. In 2008, she completed her Ph.D. at the University of Leeds on the Social and Ethical Context of Embryo Donation, funded by a Wellcome Trust Biomedical Ethics grant. Laura went on to act as a research fellow at the University of York on the ESRC funded project exploring the Political and Moral Economy of Cord Blood Banking, and the NIHR funded project on the Implications for the NHS of Inward and Outward Medical Tourism.

Laura came to Lancaster during Summer 2011 to take up a Lectureship in Medical Ethics at Lancaster Medical School. She is the School's representative on the Faculty Research Ethics Committee, and Co-Director of Year 3. Laura has plans to establish a Social Seminar Programme on Medical Ethics involving colleagues at the local Hospitals and the University, as well as a setting up a Debating Society for students from across the University.

Laura currently offers modules on the social and ethical aspects of the donation of body parts, blood and tissues, as well as assisted conception. She is currently working with the National Gamete Donation Trust to research egg and sperm donor satisfaction. Laura wishes to expand her research and teaching interests to incorporate the social and ethical issues involved in transplantation.

Laura has a growing publication record in predominately medical-related practice journals, with articles on how the needs of IVF patients and embryo donors are perceived by those working within clinics, and how the roles of those working within assisted conception clinics or maternity units have responded to the introduction of embryo donation or cord blood banking respectively.

Laura is also the Co-Convenor for the British Sociological Association Human Reproduction Study Group, a long term member of the Association for Improvement in Maternity Services, and the Institute of Medical Ethics.