Professor Cathy Herbrand

Cathy Herbrand is a Professor of Medical and Family Sociology  and the Deputy Director of the Centre for Reproduction Research. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the Université libre de Bruxelles which was funded by the Belgian Scientific Research Funds (FNRS). As a FNRS Postdoctoral Researcher, she was a Visiting Fellow at the Social Science, Health and Medicine Department at King’s College London and at the BIOS Research Centre at London School of Economics and Political Science, as well as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Ottawa. 

Cathy is an appointed member of the Belgian Advisory Committee on Bioethics (2014-2023) and currently co-chairs the subcommittee to produce policy and ethics recommendations on surrogacy regulation in Belgium (advisory report expected to be published in June 2023). Previously, she contributed to the advisory reports on: non-invasive prenatal testing (report n°66 – 9 May 2016); male circumcision (report n°70 – 8 May 2017); sex chromosomal aneuploidies (report n°76 – 30 April 2021).

Her research interests lie in the sociological and anthropological study of new family forms, biotechnologies and genetics, with a particular focus on reproductive decision-making, multi-parenthood and gender issues. She is especially interested in exploring the interactions between new parental forms and reproductive practices and their legal regulation. Her publications appear in Bioethics, Sociology of Health and Illness, BioSocieties, Anthropology and Medicine, Journal of Medical Law and Ethics, etc. (see Publications).

Cathy has recently been awarded a large-scale ESRC Research Grant (£595K) to conduct a collaborative and interdisciplinary study on the implications of new preconception reproductive genomic testing in the UK (Feb 2023 – Jan 2026) in partnership with the Progress Educational Trust. Informed by scholarship in medical sociology with insights from science and technology studies, bioethics and political economy, this project investigates the emergence of expanded carrier screening for preconception use amongst the general population, and its social, ethical, economic and policy implications.

Cathy has also undertaken research on reproductive choices in the context of mitochondrial disorders. The aim of the research was to gain a better understanding of the interactions between scientific progress, policies and people’s lives, through the analysis of the debates surrounding mitochondrial replacement techniques under development in the UK and their impacts on families affected by mitochondrial disorders.

Cathy has previously been involved in several international and interdisciplinary collaborative research projects on cross-border surrogacy, egg donation for research and same-sex adoption, including as a co-investigator on the EDNA project: 'Egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain: an interdisciplinary study, ESRC Research Grant, led by N. Hudson N.  (March 2017 - Aug 2021).

Her previous work explored multi-parenthood through the study of practices and laws around gay and lesbian families in Belgium. Her publications include papers and book chapters on the legal recognition of gay and lesbian parenthood, information-sharing in gamete donation and the comparison of assisted conception laws in Belgium, Quebec and the UK.

Centre for Reproduction Research - Deputy Director

View a full listing of Cathy Herbrand's publications and outputs.

• Sociology of reproduction, especially reproductive technologies, mitochondrial donation, egg donation, surrogacy and expanded carrier screening
• Kinship studies, especially gay and lesbian families and multi-parental families
• Gender and Sexuality Studies
• Sociology of medicine, especially genetic rare conditions, such as mitochondrial disorders
• Family and reproductive laws and public policies
• Qualitative research methods

•  Family and Reproduction
•  Gender and Sexuality
•  Social Research Methods
•  Studying and recruiting vulnerable populations
•  Sociology 
•  Health and Medicine
•  Feminist Anthropology

• Ph.D. in Sociology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (2004 – 2008)
• MRes in Sociology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (2003 – 2004)
• MA in Sociology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (2001 – 2003)  
• BA in Sociology and Anthropology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (1999 – 2001)

• Leader of the Master module ‘Making Sense of Quantitative and Qualitative Data’ (HEST5016), De Montfort University.
• Guest Lecturer since 2013 on the MA Module 'Researching vulnerable populations' at King's College London. Sessions on 'Sampling and recruiting vulnerable and hard to reach groups' and 'Encouraging participation in research'.
• Doctoral Training Programme in Research Methods (Feb 2016, De Montfort University). Session on 'Handling sensitive issues in interviewing'.
• BA Module 'Gender, health and healthcare' (Feb 2015-16, De Montfort University). Session on 'Reproductive choices in the context of mitochondriql disorders.
• Module 'MA Applied Health Studies' (Jan 2015-16, De Montfort University). Session on 'Qualitative methods and Data Analysis'.
• BA Module 'Ethnology History' (as a guest lecturer - 19 May 2015- University of Neuchatel, Switzerland). Session entitled 'Feminist anthropology' (in French).
• Teaching assistant of the MA Module 'Advanced Topics in Anthropology: Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality' (2010, in French, 24h) at the Université Libre de Bruxelles.
• Leader of the BA Course 'Introduction to Sociology' (20010, in French, 24h) at the Université Libre de Bruxelles.
• Leader of the BA Course 'Socio-anthropology of Family (Sep 2008 – Jan 2009, in French, 45h) at the University of Ottawa

 

• AdvancedHE's Leadership Matters Programme (2019): selected to be part of the UK cohort 2019.
• DMU's Future Research Leaders Programme (Jan 2015-Dec 2015), including a research visit with prof. Rayna Rapp at New York University (Nov 2015).

• De Monfort Early-Career Research Fellowship (Nov 2013-Oct 2015)
• FNRS Four-year Postdoctoral Fellowship (Oct 2008-Sept 2012)
• FNRS Four-year PhD scholarship (Oct 2004-Sept 2008)
• Overseas research visit grant from the Communauté française (Belgium)
• Award from the Sociology Department (ULB) for producing one of the top three 2003 Master Theses
• Best graduating student in 2003: Excellence Award from the Université Libre de Bruxelles.

• Appointed member of the Belgian Advisory Committee on Bioethics (2014-2023). Chair of the working group on the regulation of surrogacy (2022-20023)

• Advisory member of the Public Engagement Board for the project 'Remaking the Human body' led by M. Perrotta (2020-2021)

• Member of the expert group set up and regularly consulted by the Belgian Committee for the Children’s Rights (Brussels, May 2010 – 2014)
• Invited expert. Debate on “step-families” organised by Les Femmes Prévoyantes Socialistes (Belgium, 26 Mar 2013) 
• Invited expert. Debate on “the regulation of surrogacy in Belgium” organised by the Belgian Association of Lesbian and Gay Families (Brussels, 30 Nov 2012)
• Member of a doctoral jury: dissertation of Katrien De Graeve (University of Gent, 4 May 2012)
• Invited expert. Conseil supérieur de l’Adoption (Ministère de la Communauté française, Belgium - 5 Oct 2011).
• Member of the Editorial Board. Revue de l’Institut de sociologie (Brussels, 2010 – 2012)
• Member of the Scientific Board of a research on transsexuality funded by the Institut pour l’égalité des hommes et des femmes (Brussels, Sep 08-May 09) 
• Invited expert. Research on step-families funded by the Fondation Roi Baudouin, Apr 2009).

• Co-convenor of the British Sociological Association’s Human Reproduction Study Group (HRSG) since 2016
• Co-convenor of the British Sociological Association’s East Midlands Medical Sociology Group (EMMS) since 2014
• Member of the British Sociological Association (BSA) and the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S)

• Feb 2023 - Jan 2016: Principal Investigator on the ESRC project Reproduction in the age of genomic medicine: the emergence, commercialisation and implications of preconception expanded carrier screening

• Nov 2013 - now: MitoFamily Project, funded by De Montfort University.

•  Mar 2017 - Aug 2021: Co-investigator on the project Egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain: an interdisciplinary study, ESRC Research Grant, Hudson N. (PI), Culley L., Herbrand C. CI), Pennings G., Pavone V. 

• Jan 2018-Dec 2018 : CI on the collaborative research project ‘Understanding Klinefelter Syndrome: genetics, gender and reproduction’. Funded by the Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness Grant Development Award and led by Dr Esmee Hanna.

• Oct 2016-Mar 2017 : Invited expert on the collaborative and interdisciplinary research project ‘The adoption by same-sex parents in Belgium: a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the current situation’. Funded by the Belgian Federation Wallonia-Brussels and led by Dr David Paternotte.

• Jan 2015 – Jan 2017: Researcher on the collaborative research project ‘A legal and sociological analysis of cross-border surrogacy in France, the UK, Belgium, and Israel’ funded by the French Ministry of Justice and the CNRS and led by K. Parizer.

• Apr 2013 – Aug 2015: Researcher on the collaborative research project ‘BioARReMe: The bioeconomy of reproduction (the mutually constitutive interaction between assisted reproduction and regenerative medicine in Spain and UK)’ funded by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and led by Dr V. Pavone.

 

• ‘Ideals, negotiations and gender roles in gay and lesbian co-parenting arrangements’. Invited speaker to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (EHSRE)’s Campus Course on ‘Polyparenthood’, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  15 Oct 2022   
• ‘Is multi-parenthood the new type of parenthood?’. Invited speaker to the Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), Milan, Italy. 6 Jul 2022
• ‘Selectively stratified: the use of expanded carrier screening in fertility medicine’. Paper presented at the international conference ‘Reproductive Futures: Emergent Injustices, Hopes and Paradoxes’, Tampere University, Finland. 16 Jun 2022    

‘Ideals, negotiations and gender roles in gay and lesbian co-parenting arrangements’. Invited speaker at the Scientific Meeting of the Belgian Society for Reproductive Medicine (BSRM), Brussels, Belgium. 25 Mar 2022         

• ‘Recrutement et sélection des donneuses d’ovules en Europe : entre discours altruistes et pressions commerciales’. Invited speaker at the Gender and Sexuality Seminar Series, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. 10 Mar 2022         

 

• ‘La question des origines dans le contexte de la procréation médicalement assistée’. Invited keynote speaker to the annual seminar organised by the Interdisciplinary Network on ARTs and Surrogacy (Cycle interdisciplinaire de réflexion sur la PMA et la GPA), Université de Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 19 Mar 2021.

• ‘When inherited disorders disrupt family plans: reproductive dilemmas in the context of mitochondrial disorders’. Paper presented at the online international conference ‘Chronic Living’ organised by the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, 5 Mar 2021.

• ‘Difficulties and dilemmas when making reproductive choices in the context of mitochondrial disorders’. Invited speaker at the online international conference ‘Mitochondria and Us’ organised by the University of Glasgow, 17 Sep 2020.

• ‘Silences, omissions, and oversimplification? the UK debate on mitochondrial donation’. Paper presented at the online international symposium ‘Governing Reproductive Bio-economies’ organised at the 4S Annual Conference, 19 Aug 2020.

• ‘Reproductive and parenting rights for lesbian and gay couples in Belgium: past achievements and current challenges’. Invited speaker at the international symposium ‘ARTs: Regulation across Western Europe’, Universite of Lausanne, Switzerland, 22 Nov 2019.

• ‘Making reproductive choices in the context of inherited disease: a complex balance between risks, experiential knowledge and practical constraints’. Invited keynote speaker at the BSA Postgraduate Student Event, University of Leicester, 20 Nov 2019.

• ‘Les défis éthiques de la GPA : entre droits des femmes et droits des gays, quelles possibilités ?’Invited speaker at the international conference on Surrogacy, University libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, 12 Nov 2019.

• ‘Mitochondrial donation: a new solution for infertility in the reproductive bioeconomy?’ Paper presented at the international symposium ‘The new bioeconomy in eggs’ organised at the 4S Annual Conference, New Orleans, US, 6 Sep 2019.

• ‘Silences, omissions, and oversimplification: the UK debate on mitochondrial donation’. Invited speaker at Round Table on ‘Patient Needs: Medical Technologies, (in)equalities and new Imaginary Futures’ by the CRASSH, University of Cambridge, UK, 23 Nov 2018.

• ‘Patients’ needs and hope technologies: who has benefitted from the legalisation of mitochondrial donation in the UK?’Invited speaker at the international conference on ‘Minimising risks, selling promises? Reproductive Health, Techno-Scientific Innovations and the Production of Ignorance’, University of Lausanne, Switzerland, 19 Nov 2018.

  ‘Having “a child of one’s own” in the context of inherited disease: meanings and motivations of women carrying mitochondrial disorder’. Paper presented at the BSA’s Medical Sociology Group Annual Conference, Glasgow, 12 Sep 2018.

• ‘Powering life: exploring the bio-objectification of mitochondria in reproduction’. Paper presented at the international EASST conference, Lancaster, 25 Jul 2018.

• ‘What will happen to our blueprint?’: Genetic identity, inheritance and kinship through the lens of mitochondrial donation debates’. Paper presented at the international conference ‘Remaking Reproduction’, Cambridge, 27 Jun 2018.

• ‘How was the legalisation of mitochondrial donation possible in the UK? Exploring key strategies employed during the debates’. Invited speaker at the Health Ethics and Law (HEAL) Seminar Series, Southampton University, 8 Nov 2017.  

• ‘Genetic Inheritance and Reproductive Processes through the lens of Mitochondrial Donation’. Paper presented at the Centre for Reproduction Research’s Seminar Series, De Montfort University, 11 Oct 2017.     

• ‘Mitochondrial donation, patient engagement and narratives of hope’, paper presented at the British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Group Annual Conference, University of York, 15 September 2017.

• ‘Genome editing: social and ethical challenges’, invited speaker at the Talking about Genome Editing workshop organised by Genetic Alliance UK and Progress Educational Trust, London, 20 May 2017.

• ‘Techniques de remplacement mitochondrial en Grande-Bretagne: incertitudes médicales et enjeux de régulation’, invited speaker at the EHESS TechnoRep seminar, Paris, France, 15 May 2017.

• ‘Mitochondrial donation: Who are the potential beneficiaries’, paper presented at The Sociology of Mitochondrial Disorders and Novel Reproductive Technologies Symposium, London, 5 May 2017.

• Mitochondrial therapeutic interventions: who will benefit?’, presented at the World Congress of the International Association of Bioethics (IAB), Edinburgh, UK,15 June 2016.

• 'Mitochondria, the "augment" technique and the reconfiguration of reproductive ageing' (with N. Buhler), presented at the Symposium 'Postponing Childbirth, Extending Fertility? Biotechnologies and the Transformations of Reproductive Life’ , De Montfort University, UK, 13 May 2016.

• 'New mitochondrial donation techniques and reproductive choices: perceptions, hopes and ambivalences in women’s accounts’ (with R. Dimond), presented at the BSA Human Reproduction and Families and Relationships Study Groups Conference, University of Roehampton, UK, 11 Nov 2015.            

• ‘Mitochondrial replacement techniques: the “miracle solution” for women to have healthy biological children?’, presented at the International Conference ‘Reproductive rights, new reproductive technologies and the European fertility market’, Bilbao, Spain, 19 Nov 2015.                

• ‘Inheritance and reproductive processes in the lens of mitochondrial replacement techniques’, presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S), Denver, US, 13 Nov 2015.   

• ‘“Conceived from three genetic parents?” Reproduction, inheritance and life processes beyond mitochondrial replacement techniques’. Invited speaker at the Science Studies seminar, Department of Anthropology, New York University, US, 30 Oct 2015.  

• ‘Information sharing in donor conception: considering the impact of differing regulatory approaches in the UK and Belgium’, presented at the British Sociological Association’s Medical Sociology Group Annual Conference,  University of York, UK, 10 Sep 2015.             

• ‘Technology of hope vs. the slippery slope?’ Deconstructing the debate on ‘three parent IVF’. Invited keynote speaker at the British Sociological Association’s Human Reproduction Study Group Annual Meeting, Open University, UK, 23 July 2015.

• ‘Créer un enfant ayant trois "parents" génétiques? Caractéristiques et enjeux socio-anthropologiques des techniques de remplacement mitochondrial’, presentation at the Congress of the Association française d'ethnologie et d'anthropologie, Toulouse, France, 1 July 2015.

• ‘Medically-based genetic diagnosis vs. experience-based disease definition: consequences for sampling in qualitative research’, presentation at the Global Congress for Qualitative Health Research, Merida, Mexico, 19 Mar 2015.

• ‘Egg donation in the UK: Key developments and research priorities’ (with N. Hudson and L. Culley), presentation at the workshop ‘Egg donation in Europe: evidence from research, policy and practice’, De Montfort University, Leicester, 24 Nov 2014.

• ‘Définition et ampleur des recompositions familiales : le point de vue du sociologue’. Invited speaker at the interdisciplinary conference on ‘Step-families’, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, 14 Nov 2014.

• 'Egg procurement in practice: a comparison of the UK and Spain', presented at the International Conference on Critical Kinship Studies, Odense, Denmark,10 Oct 2014.

• 'Egg procurement in practice: a comparison of the UK and Spain', presented at at the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina,  20 Aug 2014.

• 'Nuclear tranfer techniques for mitochondrial disorders', invited speaker by The Prince’s Teaching Institute, Birkbeck University, London, UK, 14 July 2014.

• ‘Genetics, reproduction and biotechnologies in the context of mitochondrial disorders’, presented at the Reproduction Research Group Seminar, De Montfort University, UK, 26 Feb 2014.

• “Approche pluridisciplinaire des questions de parentalité”, presented at the XIII Conference of the Belgian Association Family and Law, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 29 Nov 2013.

• “Les impasses de la pluriparentalité en droit belge, français et québécois”, invited speaker at the “Semaine du Genre” organised by the Université de Nice and Alter Egaux, Nice, France, 7 Nov 2013.

• “How gay and lesbian couples in coparenting arrangements regard biology and multi-parental recognition”, invited speaker at the Bioethics Institute Ghent, Gent, Belgium. 4 Sep 2013.

• Herbrand, C. “Nuclear Transfer Techniques for Mitochondrial Disorders: Ethical Issues with respect to the Germ-line Categorisation”, paper presented at the XX Conference of Law and Human Genome, Bilbao, Spain, 21 May 2013.

• Herbrand, C. ‘‘Que devient le parent social lorsque les deux parents biologiques sont présents ? Analyse de coparentalités gaies et lesbiennes’’, paper presented at the international ACFAS Conference « Regards croisés sur les familles issues de la diversité sexuelle », Québec, Canada, 9 May 2013.

• Herbrand, C. “Famille, familles: aspects sociologiques”, invited speaker at the conference organised by the association Femmes Prévoyantes Socialistes, Brussels, Belgium, 23 Apr 2013.

• Herbrand, C. “Preventing mitochondrial disorders through nuclear transfer techniques: social and ethical issues”, paper presented at the interdisciplinary workshop on “Genetic Transparency” (18-23 March), Lübeck, Germany, 20 Mar 2013.

• Herbrand, C. “La pluriparentalité dans le contexte belge”, invited speaker at the conference “Les nouvelles familles” organised by the APGL and the CNAFAL, Lille, France, 5 Mar 2013.

• Herbrand, C. “A step further: questioning kinship and reproductive choice in the perspective of the new nuclear transfer techniques for mitochondrial disorders”, conference on “Selective reproductive technologies”, Copenhagen, Denmark, 14 Dec 2012.

• Herbrand, C. “Family relationships in gay father families”, presented at the workshop “We are Family? Perceptions of relatedness in assisted conception families”, Geneva, Switzerland, 15 Nov 2012.

• Herbrand, C. “Between open-identity, anonymity, and disclosure in gamete and embryo donations: a comparative analysis of the UK and Belgian policies”, presented at the ESF Exploratory Workshop on “New Perspectives on Gamete and Embryo Donation: Ethics, Kinship and Citizenship in a Globalised World”, Colchester, UK, 11 Sep 2012.

• Herbrand, C. « La régulation des nouvelles formes de parenté en Belgique : enjeux éthiques et questions en suspens », presented at the conference « Genre et éthique », Institut Emilie du Châtelet, Paris, France, 8 Jun 2012.

• Herbrand, C. “The Gay and Lesbian Coparenting Projects: Between Changes and Continuities”, Center for Family Research Seminar, University of Cambridge, UK, 20 Feb 2012.

• Herbrand, C. "Gender relationships and kinship representations within gay and lesbian coparenting projects”, presented at the Annual Congress of the American Anthropological Association (AAA), Montréal, Canada, 19 Nov 2011.

• Herbrand, C. « La procréation médicalement assistée en Belgique : reflet de la diversité familiale ? », presented at the conference « Nouvelles techniques de reproduction, genre et parenté », Lyon, France, 15 Nov 2011.

• Herbrand, C. “Biology and Gender Representations in Alternative Families: the Case of Lesbian and Gay Coparenting Projects”, invited speaker at the Bios Seminar, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK, 9 Jun 2011.

• Herbrand, C. « How trying to conform to some “traditional” parental norms can create new family patterns: the case of lesbian and gay “co-parenting” », presented at the annual Congress of the British Sociological Association (BSA), London, UK, 8 Apr 2011.

• Member of the Belgian Advisory Committee on Bioethics (2014-2018)
• Gender Advisor and Programme Coordinator for the Gender Equality Chart Trial of the Social Science, Health and Medicine Department at King’s College London
• Expert for the Belgian Committee of the Children’s Rights (Service du Délégué général aux droits de l'enfant).

• Sophia McCully ‘The commercialisation of infertility: exploring patient experiences of fertility treatment add-ons and restricted reproductive liberties’. Self-funded PhD (Oct 2022-2029): first supervisor. 

• Sally Butcher ‘(In) fertile Embodiment: an affective exploration of the dis-eased female in sub-maternal creative care’. Midlands4Cities AHRC Doctoral Studentship, (Oct 2022-2026): third supervisor.

• Kate Pleace ‘Homeless in their healthcare, women’s lived experiences of Primary Ovarian Insufficiency?’. Self-funded PhD (Jan 2022-2028): second supervisor.

• Sitira Williams: The lived experiences of transgender and gender-expansive youth (TGEY) transitioning and parental dynamics across the UK: An Intersectionality Approach’ (Oct 2019-2022): second supervisor.

• Sumaira Rahid: Infertility experiences and treatments in Pakistan (Jan 2018-2022): second supervisor.

Completed:

• • Sasha Loyal: Exploring perceptions of reproductive timing within British South Asian communities. DMU High Flyer scholarship (2016-2021): second supervisor

  • Kriss Fearon: Reproductive decision-making, parenthood and the use of assisted conception: an exploratory study of the perceptions and experiences of women with Turner Syndrome. DMU Full Bursary Scholarship (2015-2020): first supervisor

  • Paris Connolly: Exploring women's and men's lived experiences and perspectives of Female Genital Cutting in the UK. DMU High Flyer scholarship (2015-Sept 2019): second supervisor

• Reproduction in the age of genomic medicine: the emergence, commercialisation and implications of preconception expanded carrier screening. ESRC Research Grant, Herbrand C. (PI), Hudson N. (CI), Borry P. (CI), Parry B. (CI), Miedzybrodzka Z. (CI). £595,322 (FEC) (Feb 2022-Jan 2025).

• Developing future research agendas on the socioethical impact of genomics through interdisciplinary live data-sharing. Wellcome Trust Small Grant. Boardman F. (PI), Farsides B. (CI), O’Neill (CI), Hallowell N. (CI), Herbrand C. (CI), Sen A. (CI), Sep 2020-Aug 2022.
• Global Fertility Chains: A new political economy of cross-border reproduction. Wellcome Trust Small Grant. Parry B. (PI), Vertommen S. (CI), Nahman M. (CI), Herbrand C. (CI), Oct 2018-Sep 2019.
• Understanding Klinefelter Syndrome: genetics, gender and reproduction. Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness Grant Development Award. Hanna E. (PI), Hudson N., McEleny, Stevenson E., Quinton R., Wilkes S., Herbrand C. (CI), Jan-Aug 2018.
• MITOSOC: The Sociology of mitochondrial disorders and new reprogenetic technologies, Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness Symposium/Workshop Support Grant, Herbrand C. (PI), Dimond R. (CI). Symposium in London on 4-5 May 2017.
• Egg donation in the UK, Belgium and Spain: an interdisciplinary study, ESRC Research Grant, Hudson N. (PI), Culley L., Herbrand C. (CI), Pennings G., Pavone V.  £494.000 (March 2017 - Feb 2020).
• Postponing childbirth, extending fertility: biotechnologies and the transformations of reproductive life. Wellcome Trust Society & Ethics Small Grant Award. Hudson, N. (PI), Baldwin K., Buhler N., Culley L., Daly I., Herbrand C. (CI), Law C. April – Oct 2016.
• Collaborative development of a multi-disciplinary research council funding application on the experience and ethics of egg donation. Sociology of Health and Illness Foundation Research Grant Development Award. Hudson N. (PI), Culley L., Herbrand C. (CI), Pennings G., Pavone V.  October 2014 – May 2015.

• Selling hope? Investigating the UK IVF industry and the case of fertility treatment “add-ons”. Funding awarded for 3-year PhD Scholarship, De Montfort University. Hudson N. (1st supervisor), Herbrand C. (2^nd supervisor), Baldwin K. (Oct 2017-2020).
• DMU Future Research Leaders Programme (Jan 2015-Dec 2015): monthly training sessions, 1-2-1 coaching and internship with prof. Rayna Rapp at New York University (Nov 2015).
• Exploring perceptions of reproductive timing within British South Asian communities: A qualitative study. Funding awarded for 3 year High Flyer PhD Scholarship, De Montfort University. Daly I. (1st supervisor), Hudson N., Herbrand C. (October 2016 – 2019).
• Reproductive decision-making, parenthood and the use of assisted conception amongst women with Turner Syndrome: an exploratory study. Funding awarded for 3 year PhD Scholarship, De Montfort University. Herbrand C. (1st supervisor), Hudson N., Daly I. (October 2015 – 2018).
• Egg Donation in Europe: an international workshop. De Montfort University Revolving Investment Fund. Hudson N. (PI), Culley L., Herbrand C. (CI) (£4505. August 2014-July 2015).
• De Montfort University Early Career Research Fellowship, Funding awarded for 2 years  (Nov 2013-Nov 2015).

Member of the Editorial Board. Sociology (2022-25)

Reviewer for Funding organisations: Wellcome Trust, ESRC, Research Foundation Flanders

 

Reviewer for journals: Theory, Culture and Society; BioSocieties; Human Reproduction; Monash Bioethics; New Genetics and Society; Human Fertility; Reproductive Biomedicine Online; Medical History; Enfances, Familles et Générations, Sociologies.

 

 Co-edited volume of a journal:

Baldwin K., Buhler N., Daly I., Herbrand C., Hudson N. (eds), (2019), ‘Innovating Reproduction Research: approaches, methods and reflexive moments’, Methodological Innovations (1-4). URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/2059799119829427

Courduriès J., Herbrand C. (eds) (2014) ‘Parenté et techniques de reproduction assistée: les enjeux contemporains au regard du genre’ Enfances, Familles et Générations, 21.

Berliner D., Herbrand C. (eds) (2010) 'Sexualités : apprentissage et performance' Civilisations. Revue internationale d’anthropologie et de sciences humaines, vol. 59 (1).

 

Articles and book chapters (refereed):

Herbrand C. (2023) ‘Reproductive decisions and mitochondrial disease: risk, disruption and uncertainty’, in Bowman Diana M., Johnson Walter G., and Ludlow Karinne, Reproduction Reborn: How Science, Ethics and Law Shape Mitochondrial Replacement Therapies, Oxford University Press. 

Herbrand C. (accepted) ‘Silences, omissions, and oversimplifications? The UK debate on mitochondrial donation’, Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online.

Bühler N., Herbrand C. (2020) ‘Powering life through MitoTechnologies: Exploring the bio-objectification of mitochondria in reproduction’, BioSocieties. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41292-020-00204-6

 

Hudson N., Culley L., Herbrand C., Pavone V., Pennings G., Provoost V., Coveney C., Lafuente S. (2020) ‘Reframing egg donation in Europe: new regulatory challenges for a shifting landscape’, Health Policy and Technology, 9(3): 308-313.

 

Hanna E. S., Cheetham T., Fearon K., Herbrand C., Hudson N., McEleny K., Quinton R., Stevenson E., Wilkes S. (2019) ‘The lived experience of Klinefelter syndrome: A narrative review of the literature’, Journal: Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10(825).

 Herbrand C., Hudson N. (2019) ‘Removing anonymity for egg and sperm donors? (Re-)Igniting the debate in Belgium’ in Merchant J. (ed.), Access to Assisted Reproductive Technologies. The Case of France and Belgium, Oxford, Berghahn, 87-103. 

Herbrand C. (2018) ‘Ideals, negotiations and gender roles in gay and lesbian co-parenting arrangements’ Anthropology and Medicine, 25 (3): 311-228.

Herbrand C., Dimond R. (2018) ‘Mitochondrial donation, patient engagement and narratives of hope’ Sociology of Health and Illness, 1-16. Early Access online: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-9566.12631/epdf.               

Herbrand C. (2017) ‘Mitochondrial replacement techniques: who are the potential users and will they benefit?’ Bioethics, 31 (1): 46-54.

Herbrand C. (2017) ‘Co-parenting arrangements in lesbian and gay families: when the ‘mum and dad’ ideal generates innovative family forms’ Families, Relationships and Societies, 1-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1332/204674317X14888886530269.

Kerasidou A., Herbrand C., Dreyer M. (2016) ‘Who is the subject of genetic responsibility?’, in Dreyer M., Erdmann J. and C. Rehmann-Sutter (eds.), Genetic Transparency? Ethical and social implications of next generation human genomics and genetic medicine, Brill, 81-112.

Hudson N., Herbrand C. (2015) ‘Information sharing in donor conception: comparing regulations, ethics and cultural practices in the UK and Belgium’ Journal of Medical Law and Ethics, 3 (3): 175-192.

Herbrand C. (2015) ‘Comprendre le besoin de reconnaissance légale en matière de pluriparentalité : pistes de réflexion à partir des coparentalités gaies et lesbiennes’ Canadian Journal of Women and the Law/Revue Femmes et Droit, 27(1): 71-93.

Courduriès J., Herbrand C. (2014) ‘Gender, kinship and assisted reproductive technologies: future directions after 30 years of research’ Enfances, Familles et Générations, 21: 1-27.

Herbrand C. (2014) ‘Nuclear Transfer Techniques for mitochondrial disorders: How to conceptualise them ethically with respect to the germ-line therapies?’ Law and the Human Genome Review, special issue 2014: 243-249.

Smietana M., Jennings S., Herbrand C., Golombok S. (2014) ‘Family relationships in gay father families with young children in Belgium, Spain and the UK’, in Freeman T., Graham S., Ebtehaj F., Richards M. (eds.), Relatedness in Assisted Reproduction: families, origins, identities, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 192-211.

Gallus N., Herbrand C. (2014) ‘La parentalité sous l’angle du droit et de la sociologie : évolutions, enjeux et régulation’, in J. Sosson (ed.), Filiation, origines, parentalité, Brussels, Larcier – Bruylant, 313-346.

Herbrand C. (2014) ‘Les rendre grands-parents : l’enjeu des relations intergénérationnelles au sein des coparentalités gaies et lesbiennes’ in Courduriès J., Fine A. (eds.), Homosexualité et parenté, Armand Colin, 175-188.

Herbrand C. (2012) ‘La filiation à l’épreuve de la présomption de « paternité » pour les couples de même sexe : questionnements et perspectives à partir du cas belge’, Droit et Société, 82 : 689-712.

Herbrand C. (2012) ‘La loi sur la procréation médicalement assistée en Belgique : reflet de la diversité familiale ?’ in Gallus N. (ed.), Le droit des familles : genre et sexualité, Bruxelles, Anthemis, 321-337.

Herbrand C. (2011) ‘L’impasse de la pluriparentalité au niveau légal : analyse du projet de “parenté sociale” en Belgique’ Enfances, Familles et Générations, 14: 26-50.

Herbrand C. (2011) ‘La filiation monosexuée en Belgique et au Québec : jeux et enjeux de parcours législatifs distincts’ in Corriveau P., Daoust V. (eds.), La régulation sociale des « minorités sexuelles », Québec, Presses de l’Université du Québec, 105-134.

Berliner D., Herbrand C. (2010) ‘Pragmatiques et médiations sexuelles’, Civilisations. Revue internationale d’anthropologie et de sciences humaines, 59 (1) : 11–20.

Herbrand C., Paternotte D. (2010) ‘Vers la fin de l'opposition homosexualité/hétérosexualité en droit familial belge ?’Bulletin d’histoire politique, 18 (2): 139-152.

Herbrand C. (2009) ‘Déclinaisons du désir d’enfant dans les coparentalités homosexuelles’ Revue des Sciences Sociales, 41: 38-49.

Paternotte D., Herbrand C. (2009) ‘L’hétérosexualité au miroir des évolutions contemporaines du couple et de la famille’ in Deschamps C., Gaissad L., Taraud C. (eds.), Hétéros, Paris, Epel, 155-165.

Herbrand C. (2008) ‘Belgique. Les mutations du mariage et de la parenté’ in Descoutures V., Digoix M., Fassin E., Rault W. (eds.), Mariages et homosexualités dans le monde. L’arrangement des normes familiales, Paris, Autrement, 32-42.

Herbrand C. (2008) ‘Le concept de “risque” dans le cadre des expérimentations pharmacologiques’ in Cartuyvels Y. (eds.), Les ambivalences du risque. Regards croisés en sciences sociales, Brussels, Facultés universitaires Saint-Louis, 281-295.

Herbrand C. (2007) ‘Les sciences sociales à l’épreuve de l’homoparentalité’ Cultures et Sociétés, 3: 36-40.

Herbrand C. (2007) ‘Corps et expérimentations pharmacologiques’ Illusio. Revue de l’Université de Caen-Basse-Normandie, 4: 331-347.

Herbrand C. (2007) ‘La parenté sociale : une réponse à la diversité familiale ?’ in Casman M.-T., Simays C., Bulckens R., Mortelmans D. (eds.), Familles plurielles. Politique familiale sur mesure?, Brussels, Editions Luc Pire, 183-189.

Herbrand C., Paternotte D. (2007) ‘L’ouverture du mariage et de l’adoption aux couples de même sexe : dernière étape des politiques « homosexuelles » ?’ L’Année Sociale, special issue 2006: 47-62.

Herbrand C. (2006) ‘L’adoption par les couples de même sexe’ Courrier hebdomadaire du CRISP, 1911-1912: 1-72.

 

Papers, reviews and commentaries (non-refereed):

Herbrand C. (24 May 2018) ‘Submission 54. Inquiry into the Science of mitochondrial donation and related matters’ Community Affairs References Committee, Senate, Australia. URL: https://www.aph.gov.au/sitecore/content/Home/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/MitochondrialDonation/Submissions

Herbrand C. (22 January 2018) ‘Revolutionising reproduction: setting a new moral compass’ BioNews 934. URL: https://www.bionews.org.uk/page_96333.

Dimond R., Herbrand C. (12 June 2017) ‘Event Review: Exploring the sociology of mitochondrial donation’ BioNews 904. URL: http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_850204.asp.

Herbrand C. (19 Dec 2016) ‘The Warnock report and the 14-day rule’, BioNews 882. URL: http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_753765.asp.

Herbrand C. (11 Jan 2016) ‘Three-person IVF: What makes mitochondrial donation different?’, BioNews 834. URL: http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_604026.asp

Herbrand C. (22 Sep 2014) ‘Radio Review: Mum and Dad and Mum’, BioNews 772. URL: http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_454686.asp

Herbrand C. (2007) ‘Qu’en est-il de l’adoption par des couples homosexuels ?’, Journal du Droit des Jeunes. Revue d’action juridique et sociale, Bruxelles, p. 31-33.

Herbrand C., Paternotte D. (2006) ‘Couples et familles homosexuelles. Aspirations contemporaines’, Espace de Libertés, Bruxelles, Centre d’Action Laïque, 341, p. 12-13.

Dewaele A., Herbrand C., Paternotte D. (2006) ‘Etudes gayes et lesbiennes/holebi-studies : Etat des savoirs critique et regards croisés entre la Flandre et la Communauté française de Belgique’ in Sophia, Genderstudies/een genre apart? Savoir de genre/quel genre de savoir? Conference proceedings, Annual conference of the Sophia network (2005), Brussels, 154-171.

 

Research reports :

- 2017 ‘Legal and sociological analysis of the French context considering foreign practices related to the filiation of children conceived through surrogacy abroad (united-Kingdom, Belgium, Israel)’. Research report coordinated by K. Parizer for Mission de Recherche Droit & Justice.

- 2004 ‘Le métro Bruxellois : Rapport général. Processus d’écoute des citoyens concernant l’insécurité’. Research report for the Fondation Roi Baudouin, Bruxelles, Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis, Centres d’études sociologiques, 36 p.

- 2004 (with G. Stangherlin) ‘La gare du Nord : Rapport général. Processus d’écoute des citoyens concernant l’insécurité’. Research report for the Fondation Roi Baudouin, Bruxelles, Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis, Centres d’études sociologiques, 39 p.

 

• Lead of the Decolonising Reproduction agenda for the Centre for Reproduction Research. 2021-present          

• Lead of the Athena SWAN submission for the School of Applied Social Sciences. Bronze Award (pril 2022). 2019-present
• School of Applied Social Sciences’ representative on the HLS Faculty EDI committee. 2022-present      
• Joint coordinator of the Faculty ‘Women In Science, Society and Health’ Network. 2017-18
• Joint co-ordinator of the cross-faculty DMU Gender Network. 2017          
• Coordinator of the Gender Equality Charter Mark (GEM) for the SSHM Department at King’s College London. Bronze Award. 2013 – 2014

 

• Anaïs Martin ‘La parenté d'après le don : une approche relationnelle du vécu des personnes conçues par don de sperme (France, Angleterre)’. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), France (external examiner). 12 Jul 2022
• Gemma Ryan ‘Online social networks and the pre-registration student nurse: a focus on professional accountability’. De Montfort University, UK (internal examiner). 29 Jan 2018
• Lisa Cherkassky ‘Preimplantation genetic diagnosis and the saviour sibling in law: a theoretical critical appraisal’. University of Derby, UK (external examiner). 26 Oct 2016
• Katrien De Graeve ‘Making families. Parenting and belonging in transnational adoption in Flanders’. University of Gent, Belgium (external examiner). 4 May 2012