Volatile binding media: the first 20 years … and beyond

This paper is published in the book ‘Subliming Surfaces: Volatile Binding Media in Heritage Conservation’, ed. Christina Rozeik (University of Cambridge Museums, 2018), pp. 1-12.In the 20 years since Hans Hangleiter introduced volatile binding media (VBMs) to conservation, their adoption by conservators in all disciplines has been very rapid. This paper is a retrospective review of the published literature about VBMs in conservation during the 20 years between 1995 and 2015. It aims to survey the published literature as thoroughly as possible, in order to describe the development of knowledge in this field. Published sources are analysed by conservation discipline, themes, and country of origin in order to show how knowledge and practice of VBMs have spread. Trends in the research about VBMs are described, with a particular focus on major research developments since 2008 (when a literature review about cyclododecane was published by Rowe and Rozeik). Finally, it offers suggestions for future research directions

Human embryo models: the importance of national policy and governance review

Integrated and non-integrated stem cell-based models of human embryos (SCB-EMs) are becoming widely adopted tools in biomedical research with distinct advantages over animal models for studying human development. Although SCB-EMs have tremendous benefits for research, they raise a number of social, ethical and legal questions which affect future research and widespread adoption in industry and clinical settings. The 2021 ISSCR guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation provide helpful guidance on many of these issues but do not have force in domestic law. Careful appraisal and development of national legal and ethical frameworks is crucial. Paving the way to better regulation provides an ethical and social foundation to continue using human embryo models and to fully realise their potential benefits for reproductive medicine

Human embryo models: the importance of national policy and governance review

Integrated and non-integrated stem cell-based models of human embryos (SCB-EMs) are becoming widely adopted tools in biomedical research with distinct advantages over animal models for studying human development. Although SCB-EMs have tremendous benefits for research, they raise a number of social, ethical and legal questions which affect future research and widespread adoption in industry and clinical settings. The 2021 ISSCR guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation provide helpful guidance on many of these issues but do not have force in domestic law. Careful appraisal and development of national legal and ethical frameworks is crucial. Paving the way to better regulation provides an ethical and social foundation to continue using human embryo models and to fully realise their potential benefits for reproductive medicine

Subliming Surfaces: volatile binding media in heritage conservation

This book brings together 22 papers and posters that were presented at the conference ‘Subliming Surfaces: Volatile Binding Media in Heritage Conservation’ in Cambridge, April 2015