Dr Salim Al-Gailani

Dr Salim Al-Gailani

BA MPhil PhD

Salim is a historian of medicine specialising in the history of modern reproduction, public health, and disability. He teaches in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science.

Dr Salim Al-Gailani

Salim has a BA in History from UCL, and an MPhil and PhD in History and Philosophy of Science from Cambridge. After completing his PhD on the history of antenatal care in Britain, he joined the Wellcome Trust-funded ‘Generation to Reproduction’ Strategic Award at Cambridge as a Research Associate. He held a fellowship at the University of Manchester at Teaching Associateships at Cambridge before being appointed to an Assistant Professorship in 2020.


 

Broadly interested in the histories of modern medicine, biomedical sciences and public health, Salim's research has explored transformations in the experience and management of pregnancy and childbirth since the late nineteenth century, from the rise of hospital birth to the introduction of new technologies prenatal diagnosis.

Much of Salim's current work has focused on the relationship between medicine, disability, and reproduction, including how disability becomes defined, medicalized, and marginalized in modern British history. He is currently working on a book that examines the history of folic acid as a technology of pregnancy, with its implications beyond reproduction for the globalization of biomedical knowledge, the management of risk and the role of consumer activism in shaping public health policy.

Salim has also published widely on the visual and material and cultures of science and medicine, including toy chemistry sets, nutritional supplements, anatomical images, and educational films.

What's on

A black backpack hangs from a tree branch in a lush, green forest.

Open Call: WolfWords Poetry Anthology 2026

01/12/2025 at 09.00

We are delighted to announce the open call for this year’s WolfWords anthology. The theme for this year’s collection is 'lost and found'.

View more
A pile of jigsaw pieces.

Jigsaw Jam at the Lee Library

18/12/2025 at 14.00

Enjoy an afternoon of puzzling and wintery crafts at the Lee Library.

View more
Illustration of a vintage Granada electronics store with old-style televisions displayed in the window under signs reading “Rent or Buy” and “Free Delivery, Free Installation.”

Art Exhibition: 'Life and Experience'

20/12/2025 at 10.00

Visit Wolfson's latest exhibition 'Life and Experience' featuring work by contemporary artist Janette Parris.

View more
Nearly shut laptop, with colourful screen

Wikipedia edit-a-thon

08/01/2026 at 14.00

Spotted an error you want to correct? Know a citation that needs adding? Itching to add content about your own specialism? Now is your chance!

View more
Four piles of books with colourful spines.

Winter Wellbeing Reads

15/01/2026 at 12.30

This relaxed session brings students and staff together to chat about our favourite (or least favourite!) books. 

 

View more
Show all

News

Show all