Like Janus, the two headed Roman god of gates and doorways, beginnings and endings, this commentary will look back over Progress Educational Trust (PET)'s work in 2008 and look forward to 2009.
The last year was largely dominated by parliamentary work concerning the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, which finally received Royal Assent on 13th November. In January last year I was the new girl at the meetings of a strategy group discussing the legislation, not knowing my 'human admixed' embryos from my 'true hybrids', and if PET had 1 pound for every time someone said 'poor you, this is a baptism of fire', our financial worries would be much reduced. But by the time the Bill hit the Commons stage I was chairing the meetings and Sandy Starr, our Communications Officer, was keeping everyone up to date with amendments and latest Parliamentary developments.
PET held six successful debates during 2008 some of which we put on with only six week's notice. The joy of working for a small organisation is that we can be quick to react to issues in the news, allowing us to organise an event to discuss current issues in a timely manner. For example, our first debate of 2008 'Dad Not Included: Should the need for a father be enshrined in law?' took place in the Palace of Westminster the day before the House of Lords debated the issue.
'Is the Embryo Sacrosanct? Multi Faith Perspectives' was the theme for this year's annual conference. It saw PET leaving the comfort of its typically secular debates and turning instead to discuss issues in the context of religion. The conference was a resounding success with many delegates showing, through their questions and comments, a genuine desire to understand the attitudes of the different faiths to the embryo, PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis) and gamete donation. Given the sheer number of attendees working with and on behalf of those fertility problems, it is to be hoped that they will have a greater understanding of some of the restrictions and moral dilemmas faced by patients of different faiths.
Also in 2008, Ailsa Stevens, PET's Science Information Officer and Assistant Editor of BioNews, wrote a booklet for the Galton Institute entitled 'A Guide to Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis'. If you would like to receive a free copy please send a large stamped addressed envelope with 66 pence worth of stamps to the PET office.
- So what will 2009 have in store?
The early part of 2009 will see the PET team overhauling the PET and BioNews websites and also the BioNews email. The content of both the websites will be updated and both BioNews and PET will be getting a new look with a logo to unite them. In these financially straightened times it is important for PET's and BioNews' image to match the quality of its work if it is to successfully gain funding for new projects. We hope that all of our readership will find that the new features and design, when launched, will enhance the impact of PET and the usefulness of the BioNews service.
2009 will also see BioNews celebrate its 10th Birthday and publish its 500th issue. To help mark these events, PET has launched '500 Fivers' - a fundraising campaign aimed at helping BioNews continue to provide free weekly updates of news and comment in human genetics, assisted reproduction and embryo research. We are asking BioNews subscribers to donate £5 to help us reach a target of £2,500. That's enough to fund 250 BioNews articles from BioNews volunteers - almost a year's worth of BioNews articles! To donate online visit www.bmycharity.com/bionews. Or, if you prefer, you can send a cheque, payable to Progress Educational Trust, to: Progress Educational Trust, 140 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8AX.
Subject to funding, we hope that one of the first debates on offer in 2009 will examine why so few post-1990 and pre-anonymity egg and sperm donors have re-registered with the HFEA, a measure introduced to allow offspring born as a result of donor conception to have identifiable information about their biological parents. The debate will look at the pros and cons of offering such information and what, if anything, should be done to encourage more donors to sign up.
So back to Janus: as far as we know there are no plans at the moment to create two headed human embryos. Nevertheless, if any such plans turn up, you can be sure that BioNews will be reporting on them and PET will be inviting you to debate whether or not it's a good thing! Personally, I would rather have another pair of hands.
Happy New Year!
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