Medical Humanities Research Group
The Medical Humanities Research Group brings together researchers who work on the interaction of culture, medicine, health and disability, making the School of English at the University of Leeds a key national and international hub for medical humanities scholarship.
We have a core group of staff focused on medical humanities teaching and research and a number of other staff across the School working in related areas. Within the Medical Humanities Research Group, we have specialisms in disability, ageing and care studies, writing chronic illness, health and disability across postcolonial contexts, posthumanism and science fiction.
Our interdisciplinary interests mean we have strong connections with colleagues in the history and philosophy of science, medical engineering, health sciences and primary care, as well as service users, advocacy groups and arts organisations across the region.
The School’s reputation for medical humanities means that we have a vibrant postgraduate community who lead on many group activities and whose professional development is prioritised in our activities.
We welcome applications from prospective students with interests in medical humanities and related fields, including disability, ageing and care studies. To find out more, visit the staff profiles of our members and our postgraduate research pages.
Research projects
We have a strong record of collaborative research with national and international partners, and our research has been funded by the Wellcome Trust, Arts and Humanities Research Council, British Academy, Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering.
Significant funded medical humanities research projects in the School of English include:
Imagining Technologies for Disability Futures (itDf, 2020-25)
LivingBodiesObjects (LBO, 2022-25)
Stigma & Shame?: Challenging Menstrual Taboo Through Time (2022-2023)
Imagining Posthuman Care (IPC, 2021-2)
Events
We have regular events over the course of the academic year. We seek to balance networking with scholars in other institutions, showcasing medical humanities work happening at Leeds, and giving postgraduate researchers (PGRs) a lively research environment with the opportunity to contribute their work, find collaborators and get feedback on their academic practice.
Our events are hybrid unless otherwise indicated (field trips, for example).
We host ad hoc events, as well as:
- A welcome event early in the academic year focused on the state of the medical humanities field and followed by an opportunity for socialising
- PGR professionalisation and grant-writing events.
- A spring showcase where PGRs can show their work.
People
- Professor Clare Barker
- Professor Kimberly Campanello
- Professor Amelia DeFalco
- Dr Rachael Gillibrand
- Professor Stuart Murray
- Dr Caitlin Stobie
- Dr Emma Trott
Contact
For further information about the Medical Humanities Research Group, to join our mailing list, or to suggest your own ideas, please email Professor Amelia DeFalco.