This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses the Generation Study – an NHS-embedded research study which is sequencing the whole genomes of 100,000 newborn babies, in order to understand whether we can improve our ability to diagnose and treat genetic conditions. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Amanda Pichini (Clinical Director at Genomics England) ⚫ Phern Adams (Project Manager for the Generation Study at...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses the use of artworks to improve understanding and advance knowledge of the causes of infertility, and of future prospects for IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Professor Adèle Marston (Director of the Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology) ⚫ Dr Sarah-Jane Judge (Public Engagement Manager at the Wellcome Centre for...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses how to address challenges raised by 'add-ons' to IVF treatment, while taking account of the perspectives of clinics, regulators and – most crucially of all – patients. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Dr Manuela Perrotta (Reader in Technology and Organisation at Queen Mary University of London) ⚫ Alex Davies-Jones (Parliamentary Candidate for Pontypridd) ⚫ Dr...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses whether there should be limits on the number of people – worldwide – who can be created from the sperm or eggs of the same donor. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Professor Jackson Kirkman-Brown (Chair of the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists) ⚫ Christina Sommerlund (Business Development Manager at Born Donor Bank) ⚫ Kevin Moore (donor-conceived...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast marks 40 years since the announcement – in Australia – that a child had been born following egg donation for the first time. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Professor Alan Trounson (IVF pioneer responsible for the first successful egg donation) ⚫ Professor Catherine Mills (Head of the School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies at Monash University) ⚫...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast marks the 100th birthday of the late Baroness Mary Warnock. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Felix Warnock (son of the late Baroness Mary Warnock) ⚫ Dr Duncan Wilson (Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester) ⚫ Professor Anna Mastroianni (Professor of Bioethics and Law at Johns Hopkins University) ⚫ Baroness Ruth Deech (former Chair of the Human Fertilisation and...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses how best to understand and address welfare issues in the context of fertility treatment. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Professor Abha Maheshwari (Lead Clinician at Fertility Scotland) ⚫ Ruth Phillips (Fertility Counsellor at the Edinburgh Fertility Centre) ⚫ Dr Susheel Vani (Lead Clinician at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary) ⚫ Nicole McKeith (Fertility Nurse and...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses recent changes to the way the UK's fertility regulator – the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) – assesses and explains 'add-ons' to IVF treatment. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Dr Tim Child (Chair of the HFEA's Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee) ⚫ Professor Joyce Harper (Professor of Reproductive Science at University College...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses whether – and in what circumstances – single people should be able to access publicly funded fertility treatment. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Dr Sarah Martins da Silva (Clinical Lead for Fertility Services at NHS Tayside) ⚫ Dr Alan Brown (Senior Lecturer in Private Law at the University of Glasgow) ⚫ Dr Catherine Jones (Lecturer at King's College London) ⚫...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses technologies and approaches that helped fertility patients and practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that are still proving useful now. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Dr Ashleigh Holt-Kentwell (Clinical Research Fellow at Aberdeen Fertility Centre) ⚫ Ciara Heatherwick (Specialist Nurse at Glasgow Royal Infirmary) ⚫ Lesley Benzie (Fertility Counsellor...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses an imminent change that will have consequences for people involved in – and affected by – donor conception. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Rachel Cutting (Director of Compliance and Information at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) ⚫ Laura Bridgens (donor-conceived person, and Director of Donor Conceived UK) ⚫ Rebekah Dundas (mother of three...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses levels of compensation for donors of sperm or eggs. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Nayla Tohme (Patient Engagement Officer at the London Egg Bank) ⚫ Hayley King (donor-conceived person, also herself a mother of twins conceived with donor sperm) ⚫ Saghar Kasiri (Director of European Operations at Cryos International) ⚫ Dr Ben Hurlbut (Associate Professor of...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast marks one year since the UK Government published the Women's Health Strategy for England, and discussing what progress has been made with the Strategy to date. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Professor Geeta Nargund (Co-Founder and Medical Adviser at Ginsburg Women's Health Board) ⚫ Nickie Aiken (Member of Parliament for the Cities of London and Westminster) ⚫ Isaac...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses different types of counselling that are sought, offered, recommended or required in relation to fertility treatment, gamete donation, and assisted conception more broadly. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Alison McTavish (Member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) ⚫ Angela Park (Fertility Counsellor at Aberdeen Fertility Centre) ⚫ Lee Noquet (Egg...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses proposed changes to the law governing fertility treatment and embryo research. The discussion is chaired by Dr Helen O'Neill, with contributions from: ⚫ Professor Dame Clare Gerada (President of the Royal College of General Practitioners) ⚫ Steve McCabe MP (Member of Parliament for Birmingham Selly Oak) ⚫ Penny Mitchell (Director for Population Health Commissioning at NHS North Central London's Integrated Care...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses proposed changes to the law governing fertility treatment and embryo research. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Professor Gillian Black (Law Commissioner responsible for Surrogacy at the Scottish Law Commission) ⚫ Beverley Addison (Senior Solicitor at BTO Family Law) ⚫ Dr Alan Brown (Senior Lecturer in Private Law at the University of Glasgow) ⚫ Alan Inglis...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses proposed changes to the law governing fertility treatment and embryo research. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Peter Thompson (Chief Executive of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) ⚫ Venessa Smith (Quality Manager for the Assisted Conception Unit at Guy's Hospital) ⚫ Dr Rachel Gregoire (Scientific Director of the Hewitt Fertility Centre) ⚫ Dr Kay...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses what employees and employers can – and should – expect from one another, if an employee has fertility problems or needs assisted conception. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Nickie Aiken MP (Member of Parliament for the Cities of London and Westminster) ⚫ Dr Zeynep Gurtin (Lecturer in Women's Health at University College London) ⚫ Anya Sizer (Lead for the...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses what happens to unused IVF embryos after fertility treatment is completed. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Joanne Leitch (Lead Clinician at Fertility Scotland) ⚫ Anne Chien (Counsellor at Ninewells Hospital's Assisted Conception Unit) ⚫ Sharon Martin (Business Development Manager at Fertility Network UK) Fertility patients may have embryos left in storage at...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses pregnancy loss in the context of fertility treatment. Issues explored include patients experiencing pregnancy loss after fertility treatment, patients seeking fertility treatment after pregnancy loss, options available to such patients, and how best to offer support. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Professor Abha Maheshwari (Lead Clinician at Fertility...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast marks the centenary of JBS Haldane's Daedalus, a lecture – subsequently a book – that pioneered the idea of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Sandy Starr (Deputy Director of PET) ⚫ Samanth Subramanian (author of the book A Dominant Character: The Radical Science and Restless Politics of JBS Haldane) ⚫ Professor Max Saunders (author of the book...

This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast explores and explains genetics/genomics in the context of assisted conception, including carrier screening and the testing of embryos. The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from: ⚫ Dr Jonathan Berg (Lead Clinician at NHS National Services Scotland's Strategic Network for Genomic Medicine) ⚫ Dr Nicola Williams (Consultant Clinical Scientist in NHS National Services Scotland's Strategic...