College of Humanities and Social Science

Planning and Resources Committee, 13 June 2011

The Mason Institute

The J Kenyon Mason Institute for Medicine, Life Sciences & Law

Shawn H.E. Harmon

(for the Mason Institute Founding Committee)

CONTEXT

Human wellbeing, or flourishing, is an important social, moral, and legal matter. Described as a ‘fundamental freedom’, a phenomenon of ‘special meaning’, and a right ‘fundamental to the attainment of peace and security’, human health – which is more than the absence of disease – is essential for the enjoyment and maximisation of almost all human activities, from child-bearing and child rearing, to knowledge-generation and innovation, to labour and production, to political action and cultural manifestation/advancement, and more. Without some level of good health, social structures would atrophy and fail, and valuable social pursuits would remain unfulfilled. As such, the legal and regulatory structures that enable and promote good health are vital.

Against this reality, biomedical science and medical technologies are rapidlyevolving, raising new social, legal and ethical dilemmas which have both theoretical and practical implications. Past practices and assumptions are increasingly questioned, and new challenges and issues are identified almost daily with respect to medical and life science practice and governance. And while the interconnectedness of human health and other areas of human activity is now much better appreciated, the complex relationships that exist are not at all well understood. All of thismeans that we are placing much greater and much more diverse demands on medicine and health systems, the life sciences and their technologies, and the law and other humanities. For example, national and international development is increasingly linked to health and health-related and biotechnological innovations, and the law is expected to both promote innovative development and protect individual and community health and rights.

Serious consideration of, and investigation into, the interface between medicine, the life sciences and technological innovation, and law, ethics and social norms is needed, both locally and internationally. We have a responsibility to contemplate and to resolve these interdisciplinary challenges and questions in a reflexive and timely manner, recognising thatthe individual and the public good are merging and diverging, and the scientific, the commercial and the medical are converging. While members of the School of Law are more engaged with other disciplines than ever before, there remain notable gaps in cross-university and international linkages. It behoves us to do more to close those gaps and to raise the profile of, and build important capacities within, both the School of Law and the University of Edinburgh more generally.

MISSION

The Mason Institutewill serve as an integrated, international, interdisciplinary institute founded in the School of Law at the University of Edinburgh,but operative across several Schools and beyond, and serving as the vanguard for knowledge-generation and evidence-based investigations into critical and emerging issues regarding thetechnical, social, legal, and ethical dimensions of health, medicine, life sciences and related technologies.

The mission of the Mason Institute is tofoster both proactive and responsive research of the highest calibre which is genuinely interdisciplinary and which generates profound real-world impacts. In pursuing this objective, the Mason Institute will undertake the following functions:

  • Research: The Mason Institute will pursue a strong and innovative programme of high quality disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, some proactive and some responsive. It will serve as a resource and source of expertise to bring new disciplinary and interdisciplinary dimensions to the work of its members, which dimensions might be built into a project from the beginning (ie: research undertaken by an interdisciplinary team), or applied subsequently (ie: new disciplinary input to published findings so as to realise greater impact and expand the reach and richness of findings and publications). It will capitalise on the research strengths that exist across the University and in its international networks.
  • Impact: The Mason Institute will pursue an ambitious impact agenda which wil be realised across disciplines and jurisdictions. It will produce high-quality publications, both scholarly andpolicy, which will stand out as a result of our collaborative efforts. Through its innovative programme of theoretical and practical/applied research,it will forge an innovative and exciting teaching programme comprising a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary courses appropriate to law, sociology, science and technology studies, public health, and medicine. It will disseminate its findings to academic and stakeholder communities,engaging proactively with a range of stakeholder communities in the UK, Europe, and internationally.

In doing the above, the Mason Institute will observe, analyse, evaluate, and consider desirable changes and new pathways of action in the practice and governance of health, medicine, and the life sciences and related technologies.

CLASSIFICATION

The University of Edinburgh defines an institute as the framework for the collaborative identity of networked interdisciplinary academics involved in many broadly related sub-projects, some externally funded.[1] An institute must have the following core features:

  • Physical Presence: a physical space to cluster its members and perform its work;
  • Foundational Documents: a Constitution outlining its rationale and structure, including a Advisory Committee, Director, Co-Directors, Members, and capacity for the management of resources;
  • Review System: a process for the periodic review of (1) rationale, (2) research activities, (3) communication and knowledge-exchange strategies, and (4) further research/funding/networking opportunities within and outwith the university, with Annual Reports; and
  • Web Presence: a website which is appropriate and regularly updated, making clear that the activity originates in the University of Edinburgh, indicating partnerships as appropriate, and containing links to and from university and School(s) websites.

The Mason Institute will be a tightly-knit, interdisciplinary team grounded in a variety of Schools at the University of Edinburgh but operated and physically located within the School of Law. It will identify substantive and practical challenges and gaps in existing knowledge, explore issues and innovations in medicine and life sciences, and develop and deliver new knowledge and relevant, timely, and realistic solutions to pressing and emerging issues. In short, the Mason Institute will meet all the requirements of an ‘institution’ as defined by the University.

MEMBERSHIP

While the Mason Institute will strive be open, reflecting the aim of being inclusive and accessible,[2] only those individuals committed to being cooperative, collaborative, communicative, and collegial will be accepted. Membership will fall into twodistinct categories:

  • Members:Members will be drawn from the faculty and staff of relevant Schools within the University of Edinburgh and associated relevant public and private bodies. Members will be regular and consistent (core) contributors to the Mason Institute’s daily activities, outputs, and culture. In short, their involvement will not be nominal; they will be active and engaged, and they will participate jointly in research, publication, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building. The following are Members of the Mason Institute:
  • Director: The Director, who must be based in the School of Law, will provide leadership and have daily responsibilities for the Institute. The Director can make decisions individually where appropriate, and will have final authority over, and responsibility for, the budget.
  • Deputy Directors: There will be between three and five (3-5) Deputy Directors who collectively represent, and will be drawn from, a number of Schools across the University. In the first phase of the Mason Institute, the Lecturer in Regulation and Risk (Law) will be one of the Deputy Directors. They will be core contributors tothe Mason Institute’s activities, outputs, and culture.
  • Members at Large: The Mason Institute will maintain a vibrant and active community of Members at Large, who are regular, active, core academic and/or policy Members from Edinburgh who do not hold any specific Member position (as identified herein).
  • Mason Fellows: The Mason Institute will strive to maintain one or two standing research fellowships at the post-doctoral for terms of 1- to 2-years. In addition to monitoring trends and emerging issues, providing teaching and consultation on an as-directed basis, and contributing to policy-development and client-services, they will design their own small project for which they will be Principal Investigator (PI), and they will conduct research on a range of assigned Mason Institute projects for which various Members and Associates are PI.
  • Doctoral Students: The Mason Institute aims to secure a number of domestic and international studentships to advance and diversify the work of the Institute, on a strategic and ad hoc basis. Doctoral Students supervised by one or more Members will be expected to be core contributors tothe Mason Institute’s activities, outputs, and culture, and, as such, will be classified as Members.
  • Development Officer: The Development Officer will be a post-doctoral position dedicated to (1) monitoring trends and emerging issues, (2) managing and co-writing funding proposals, (3) managing external communications and knowledge exchange actions, (4) organising events and specified Programme of Activities pursuits, and (5) providing marketing support.
  • Technical Officer: The Technical Officer will maintain the Institute’s website, and will provide multi-media support and development, and technical troubleshooting services.
  • Administrative Officer: The Administrative Officer will provide logistical support to the Institute and all Members, financial management services, and reportingfunctions, and will assist the Development Officer as directed.
  • Associates: While Associates are also expected tobe regular and consistentcontributors to the Mason Institute’s activities and outputs,and while they will be expected to participate jointly in research, publication, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building, their involvement will not be as regular. The following are Associates of the Mason Institute:
  • Edinburgh Associates:Edinburgh Associates will be drawn from various schools within the University of Edinburgh, some of whom may be ‘seconded’ via teaching buy-out.
  • Distance Associates:Distance Associates will be key individuals drawn from outside of Edinburgh, with emphasis on Scotland, the UK, Europe, and beyond. They will be similarly involved in activities, outputs, and culture-creation – channels of communication will be open, and opportunities for collaboration will be frequent – but they will,by necessity, have a more limited physical presence. Distance Members will be strategically chosen to enhance the Mason Institute’s international and development mandate in a range of disciplines.
  • Research Fellows: By securinga range of funded projects, the Mason Institute will support, on a more ad hoc basis, project-specific Research Fellows under Member and Associate PIs. Like the standing Mason Fellows, these project-based Members will be core contributors tothe Mason Institute’s activities, outputs, and culture.
  • Doctoral Students: The Doctoral Students supervised by one or more Associates andwho endeavour to core contributors tothe Mason Institute’s activities, outputs, and culture, will be considered Associates.

Membership Reviews and appraisals will be conducted periodically.

ORGANISATION

The Mason Institute will adopt a dual ‘hub-and-spokes’ framework intended to dramatically enhance its capacity, reach, and effectiveness. The first ‘hub-and-spokes’ relationship is that between theMason Institute in Edinburgh (the ‘hub’) and its non-Edinburgh Members (the ‘spokes’).[See Figure 1] Within that framework, the hub will facilitate, support, foster, and collaborate with the spokes’ activities in other parts of the UK and the wider world. The second ‘hub-and-spokes’ relationship is that between theMason Institute (the ‘hub’) and the policy and user communities (the ‘spokes’).[See Figure 2] Within that framework, the hub, together with its Partner Institutes, will provide a variety of services (ie: high-level expertise, policy and education resources, consulting services, research support, data on international and jurisdictional situations, conference hosting capabilities) to the spokes (ie: front-line services, hospitals, other existing healthcare entities), who will feed both needs and information into, and develop close ties with, the hub.

Importantly, in all substantive and practical matters that are appropriate, the Mason Institute will adopt a consensus-based mode of operation and decision-making. Having so said, the Mason Institute will reflect the following organisational and decisional structure:

  • Advisory Committee: The Mason Institute will be assisted by an Advisory Committee comprised of eleven(11) committed and active volunteers who are internationally respected leaders in their field. The Advisory Committee will be provided with the Annual Report and may offer non-binding advice on a range of matters including thematic development, resource development, knowledge exchange, and so on.
  • International Committee: The Mason Institute will secure a number of internationally-based ‘partner’ organisations aimed at (1) augmenting the Institute’s global reach and influence, and(2) fostering closer ties through collaborations that lead to an expanded research capacity, expertise base, and deliverables. The director or head of each Partner Institute,[3] together with the Director and Deputy Directors of the Mason Institute, will comprise the International Committee, whichwill meet quarterly,[4] contribute be the Annual Report, jointly identify emerging issues and develop collaborative work packages (inquiries and projects) on an ongoing basis, and work cooperatively to organise the Biannual Mason Institute Conference.
  • Executive Committee:The Executive Committee will confirm or make (in the last instance) all strategic and practical/day-to-day decisions, the former with the advice of the Advisory and International Committees, and the latter with the advice of the Secretariat. The Executive Committee will be comprised of the Director,the Deputy Directors, and the Development Officer. It will meet bimonthly.[5]
  • Secretariat: The Mason Institute and its Members will be supported by the Secretariat, which, in addition tothe Director, Deputy Directors, and Development Officer, will include the Technical Officer, and the Administrative Officer.

The Mason Institute will hold informal Strategy Lunches on a monthly basis at which activities will be reviewed, possibilities will be considered, and actions will be determined. The Mason Institute website will also contain a Members’ Forum so as to keep lines of communication and accessibility open at all times.

For more on the Mason Institute’s structure and organisation, and the position of its Members therein, see Figures3 and 4.




ACTIVITIES

As foreshadowed by the Mission outlined above, the Mason Institute’s mandate will be to contemplate, investigate, and generate new knowledge in relation to all matters relevant to the practice and governance of, and innovations in, medicine, healthcare, and medical/biotechnological research, and to the equitable realisation of good health. In fulfilling this broad and important remit, the Mason Institute, drawing upon the reservoir of expertise that exists in its Members at the University of Edinburghand beyond, will undertake the following three Core Activities:[6]

  • Research & Policy: The Mason Institute will provide nationally and internationally-recognised academic leadership in the socio-legal, medical and life science governance, and bioethics fields. It will do so through the identification of issues and the pursuit of funded original research, joint and individual publications and conference presentations, the generation of original, ground-breaking texts and practice guides reflecting a range of key socio/legal/medical/bioethical issues, and therein, the shaping of discourse in these focus areas within the UK and beyond. The Mason Institute’s research will serve as strong evidence in its regular input into healthcare and research policy development and improvement. [See below, Core Activity 1: Research & Policy]
  • Training & Support: The Mason Institute will provide ‘best-in-class’ professional development; in-person and online educational programmes and courses for front-line healthcare professionals (HCPs), including physicians, residents, nurses, researchers, and allied practitioners (e.g.: incoming members of research boards, health services organisations, and hospital/agency board members).[7] This will be leading-edge capacity-building education delivered directly into health systems.[8] Related to this, the Institute will provide practical support/advice to medical and bioethics practitioners and policy-makers (medical schools, hospitals, RECs, etc), as well as coordination between universities, health authorities/services, and other external organisations. Its input will be particularly important where core values and legal obligations in difficult practice and policy/issue areas are raised, including mental health, developmental disability, and ‘vulnerable’ individuals/populations. [See below, Core Activity 2: Training & Support]
  • Teaching & Capacity: In addition to the existing, successful in-person and distance academic courses which are already offered through the School of Law, Mason Institute Members will develop new undergraduate and post-graduate courses and classes in medical jurisprudence and ethics, medical research law and ethics, public health law and ethics, and related topics like intellectual property, focusing on emerging medico-legal and ethical issues. This should attract increased numbers of undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. The Mason Institute will also work to increase legal, socio-legal, and interdisciplinary capacity in the medicine and life sciences fields in developing countries. [See below, Core Activity 3: Teaching & Capacity]

Wherever possible and appropriate, the Mason Institute will adopt interdisciplinary and/or empirical approaches to challenges and problems, and to its efforts to generate new knowledge which is sensitive to practical needs.