Beyond thalidomide: Birth defects explained
By Janet McCredie
The Royal Society of Medicine Press
ISBN: 9781853157417

How do birth defects happen? What goes wrong in the embryo? These perennial questions were brought into sharp focus in the wake of the thalidomide catastrophe (1958–1962). How did thalidomide mutilate the embryo? Despite research efforts, these questions have remained unanswered.

Beyond thalidomide examines the neural crest theory in breadth and depth, incorporating evidence from clinical medicine, radiology, biology, pharmacology, neurology, neuroanatomy and neuropathology. Key publications, some now out of print, are restored to their rightful places in the thalidomide saga and background information is provided to help the general reader gain a better understanding of the sciences involved. It will be of particular interest to those involved with birth defects – obstetricians, neonatologists, paediatricians – and also neurologists, scientists in teratology and developmental biology, and thalidomiders themselves.

A short history of thalidomide and Dr McCredie’s research into the neural crest theory can be found on the Sydney Publishing blog .

To purchase a copy of Beyond thalidomide in hardback please contact Sydney University Press, [email protected].