Remembering our friend Alessandro Coatti
Following the death of Alessandro Coatti – an expert in science and policy aspects of genome editing, who was much loved by his friends and colleagues – Sandy Starr and Sophia McCully pay tribute...
Sandy Starr
Deputy Director
Sandy Starr is deputy director of the Progress Educational Trust (PET), and is project consultant for the Code of Practice for the Generation and Use of Human Stem-Cell-Based Embryo Models, published jointly by PET and Cambridge Reproduction. Previously, he served on the working groups that produced the clinical practice guidance Ethical Issues in Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis and Prenatal Diagnosis and Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Germline Cancer Susceptibility Gene Variants. He is author of the pamphlet AI: Separating Man from Machine, and he has lectured and written about AI in relation to the history of algorithms and the work of Ada Lovelace. He has also given a TEDx talk about genomics, and has lectured on the life and legacy of JBS Haldane.
Sandy has addressed MPs in the UK Parliament on the subject of human embryo research, debated the morality of genetics on The Moral Maze on BBC Radio 4, been interviewed about mitochondrial donation on the BBC World Service programme Newshour and in the book Legalising Mitochondrial Donation, and appeared as a guest on the Sunrise Paper Review on Sky News. He has lectured and written about genome editing for the Thackray Museum of Medicine, and has also written about genome editing in the British Medical Bulletin, in the European Journal and in Microbiology Today.
BioNews Articles by Sandy Starr
Stem-cell-based embryo models: addressing the governance gap
A project led by Cambridge Reproduction, in partnership with PET, is currently developing a Code of Practice for research involving stem-cell-based embryo models. A new public dialogue report published ahead of the Code explores people's hopes, concerns and sensitivities...
Detail of an engraving by Johann Christoph Sysang, depicting the mythical figure of Daedalus escaping from the Labyrinth he has constructed. From the 1749 book Sammlung Geist- und Sinnreicher Gedancken, by Joannes Oppelt.
FILM: The First Transhumanist? Haldane's 'Daedalus' 100 Years On
This film documents a lecture by Sandy Starr – deputy director of PET – about the life and legacy of JBS Haldane, who at one time was the best-known scientist in Britain and who helped to pioneer the idea of IVF...
FILM: PET/TEDx – From Genomic Data to Genomic Knowledge
In this TEDx talk, Sandy Starr – deputy director of PET – marks the 70th anniversary of the discovery of DNA's double helix structure, and the 20th anniversary of the completion of the Human Genome Project...
Image by the University of Edinburgh via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts cells with organelles (colour-enhanced electron micrograph of cells, showing nuclei in green and mitochondria in red).
Mythbusting mitochondrial disease and mitochondrial donation
As mitochondrial disease and mitochondrial donation hit the headlines, PET clears up misunderstandings with its 'Mythbusting Mitochondrial Donation' resource, and with a set of recommended videos...
JBS Haldane and the birth of IVF
100 years ago, JBS Haldane's 'Daedalus' – a lecture, subsequently a book – helped to pioneer the idea of IVF. In its public event '100 Years of Daedalus: The Birth of Assisted Reproductive Technology', PET will explore Haldane's legacy...
New embryo and stem cell research guidelines allow for possibility of extending the 14-day rule
The International Society for Stem Cell Research has published wide-ranging new guidelines, covering a number of contentious areas of research and clinical practice...
UK Government adviser resigns over eugenics remarks
A recently appointed adviser to the UK government, Andrew Sabisky, has resigned following widespread criticism of his views on topics including genetics and reproduction...
FILM: Health and Genomics – What's the Score with Polygenic Scores?
This film documents a debate about polygenic risk scores chaired by the deputy director of the Progress Educational Trust at the Battle of Ideas festival...
How should we use genomic data in assisted reproduction?
Advances in genomics are having a growing impact on fertility treatment and assisted reproduction...