Welcome to the first issue of MSo under the new editorial team from the Open University. One of the highlights in the MedSoc calendar is the BSA Annual MedSoc Conference, held this year in Chester, and we are delighted to feature in this issue papers given by the two plenary speakers, Alan Petersen of Monash University and Rose Barbour from the Open University. Other items from the conference also feature in this issue including a discussion paper drawing on the ‘Author meets Critics’ session that discussed the ethnography of Dr Jessica Mesman entitled Uncertainty in Medical Innovation: Experienced Pioneers in Neonatal Care (2008). A news item from Helen Busby entitled Human Bodies in Biomedicine and Biomedical Research reports on themed sessions and panel event held at the conference. The First Sociology of Diagnosis Symposium held in Boston in August 2011 is the subject of the piece by Tania Jenkins and the peer reviewed article authored by Pauline Osamor discusses the issue of hypertension in South West Nigeria.

The new website for MSo is now fully live and we are seeking research articles, news items and conference announcements for forthcoming issues. Details of how to submit these are outlined on our web pages and we look forward to receiving your contributions.