Fifty shades of Gray's Inn Road

The controversial issues discussed in BioNews aren't all black and white - fifty shades of grey is perhaps a more accurate description. Whether it is the avoidance of inherited mitochondrial disease (see BioNews 679, for example) or the patenting of genes (see BioNews 669) week in, week out BioNews brings you  the latest developments to keep you up to date.

In the modest offices of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) on Gray's Inn Road the loyal team of five (the equivalent of just three full time employees) produce not only your weekly BioNews but carry out other public engagement and policy work so that genetics, assisted conception and stem cell and embryo research are better understood by the public and work in these areas gains public support.

This in turn encourages both research and practice to thrive in the UK, benefitting those affected by genetic conditions, infertility, or conditions where the promise of stem cell therapies is the only hope.

PET provides accessible information - it is both free and understandable - and aims to help a range of people, whether it is the busy health professional or the mum whose child has a genetic condition and who has just stumbled across BioNews on the web.

BioNews' readership has reached new heights this year and we are determined to extend its reach in 2013 (although even we have to concede that matching 'Fifty Shades of Grey' may be a tad ambitious).

BioNews and PET need your help this Christmas - funding remains as tight as ever and your donations are even more important to us, both to keep BioNews free and to maintain the quality of its content. This is why we need to raise £10,000 with our Christmas Appeal.

Please make a difference today by texting 'PROG23 £10' (or any other amount) to 70070, or by donating via PayPal on our website.

Also, whether it is a this year's best seller, a Kindle Fire or a box set of 'Game of Thrones' you are buying on Amazon make sure you access Amazon's website via this link or via the logo on the right of BioNews' homepage. Doing so will ensure that Amazon donates money to PET for every item you buy, while the products you receive and the price you pay will be the exactly the same. Please help us by shopping this Christmas!