Social Anthropology Seminar - Theodoros Kyriakides (University of Manchester)
| Dates: | 14 March 2016 |
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| Times: | 16:00 - 18:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | School of Social Sciences |
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| Speaker: | THEODOROS KYRIAKIDES |
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Title : A question of form: Gene therapy and thalassaemia in Cyprus.
Abstract:
Thalassaemia is a recessive blood disorder prevalent in countries situated around the Mediterranean basin. Gene therapy is a therapeutic method utilising the manipulation and insertion of viral vectors in the human organism in order to replace faulty genes with therapeutic ones.
Gene therapy is still in a preliminary, experimental stage yet, if successful, carries the potential of providing a permanent cure for thalassaemia patients. Cyprus is a country which has been particularly struck by austerity politics and economic problems in the last few years.
How do patient expectations and hopes of Cypriot thalassaemia patients persevere amid such widespread scientific and political uncertainty? How can hopes of gene therapy remain legible? This is what I perceive to be a question of form.
This paper critically explores the relevance of biomedical promises surrounding gene therapy through the politics and patient activism of thalassaemia in Cyprus. I do so by bringing in conversation humanist and post-humanist anthropological perspectives on technology.
I make the case that humanist and post-humanist perspectives on technology should not be treated as analytic lenses, but ethnographic realities, evoked and animated through the practices and narratives of the people involved,
scientifically or politically, in the construction of technology.
2.016/2.017, Second Floor Boardroom, Arthur Lewis Building
(Tea and Coffee will be available outside the boardroom at 4pm)
All welcome.
Speaker
THEODOROS KYRIAKIDES
Role: Speaker
Organisation: University of Manchester
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
2nd Floor Boardroom 2.016 / 017
Arthur Lewis Building
Manchester
