The Progress Educational Trust (PET) is a registered charity (number 1139856) whose Patron is Baroness Mary Warnock, and whose fundamental objective is to create an environment in which ethically sound research and practice in genetics, assisted conception, embryo/stem cell research and related areas will thrive. The ultimate beneficiaries of all of PET's work are families and individuals threatened by infertility and genetic disease, including people wanting an opportunity to give birth to healthy children.

As with all scientific and medical advances, particularly those raising sensitive social and ethical issues, it is vital to champion the interests of patients by raising public awareness and engaging with policymakers and professionals. PET has developed a niche operating in the 'civic space' between government and regulators on the one hand, and those directly or potentially affected by developments in biomedicine on the other, as well as engaging with researchers and practitioners at the forefront of relevant biomedical fields.

PET was founded in 1992 by Professor Marcus Pembrey (who remains the charity's Founding Chair of Trustees), Dr Virginia Bolton and Viscount Janric Craigavon. It emerged from a precursor organisation, the Progress Campaign for Research into Human Reproduction, which was founded in 1985.