2019 at the Progress Educational Trust

Happy New Year from BioNews and from the Progress Educational Trust (PET)!

We begin the year with some big news - as reported elsewhere on BioNews today, the leading scientist Professor Robin Lovell-Badge has been appointed our new Chair of Trustees. We couldn't be more excited to have Robin at the helm, given the leading role he has played in so many of the areas of research and treatment that PET covers (and especially, in recent weeks, genome editing).

We are sorry to bid farewell to the brilliant Fiona Fox, who has served as our chair of trustees since 2014 and who remains a force to be reckoned with. We will continue to collaborate with Fiona, in her capacity as a member of our advisory committee.

Meanwhile, PET has a packed programme of public events taking place in Edinburgh, Birmingham and London over the next few weeks and months.

• Thursday 24 January: '40 Years of IVF: Past, Present and Future'

  A free-to-attend evening event in Edinburgh, supported by the Scottish Government and chaired by Professor Allan Pacey.

  This event will see Alastair MacDonald - the second person ever to be born who was conceived via IVF (and the first male) - speak alongside Grace MacDonald (his mother), Sally Cheshire, Professor Colin Duncan, Dr Kay Elder and Dr Abha Maheshwari.

• Tuesday 5 March: 'Talking Genomics with Patients'

  A free-to-attend evening event in Birmingham with speakers who have had their whole genomes sequenced, produced in partnership with Health Education England and facilitated by Dr Christine Patch.

  This event forms part of the Genomics Conversation, a programme of activities which involves the public and stakeholders in discussions about key issues in genomic medicine.

• Tuesday 19 March: 'Revolutionising Reproduction: The Future of Fertility Treatment'

  An afternoon symposium in Edinburgh about the rapidly moving boundaries of reproductive medicine and embryo research, supported by the Scottish Government.

  Confirmed speakers and chairs include Professor Evelyn Telfer, Dr Rod Mitchell, Professor Richard Anderson, Professor Scott Nelson, Professor Bruce Whitelaw and Dr Norah Fogarty.

• Tuesday 19 March: 'Germline in the Sand: Where Should We Draw the Boundaries for Genome Editing?'

  A free-to-attend evening event in Edinburgh about the ethical and scientific boundaries of genome editing, supported by the Scottish Government.

  Confirmed speakers include Professor Neva Haites, Dr Sarah Chan and Dr Calum MacKellar.

• Wednesday 3 April: 'How Can We Make Surrogacy Law Deliver?'

  A free-to-attend evening event in London about surrogacy, produced in partnership with the BFS and chaired by Dr Jane Stewart.

  Confirmed speakers include Professor Nick Hopkins, Sarah Jones, Elizabeth Isaacs QC, Dr Imogen Goold and Dr Kirsty Horsey.

• Thursday 16 May: 'Testing Times: How Should We Use Genomic Data in Assisted Reproduction?'

  A free-to-attend evening event in London about genomics and reproduction, supported by Igenomix.

Click on the links above for further information, and please email sstarr@progress.org.uk to book places or make enquiries.

Finally, please note that PET is a small charity that punches well above its weight, and can only continue to do so in 2019 with your support. There are several ways in which you can help.

• You can support us by becoming a Friend of PET as detailed here, and giving us a regular donation.

• You can make a one-off donation online here (please don't be put off by the photo!), or by texting PROG23 £10 (or any other amount) to 70070.

• You can send a cheque, payable to 'Progress Educational Trust', to 'Progress Educational Trust, 140 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8AX'.

You can even help us raise funds without giving us any of your own hard-earned cash. All you need to do is remember, every time you shop on Amazon, to use this link to get to the Amazon website before making any purchases (or alternatively, click on the Amazon logo on the right-hand side of the BioNews website).