The Progress Educational Trust podcast
PET (the Progress Educational Trust) is an independent charity that improves choices for people affected by infertility and genetic conditions. On this podcast, you can hear the latest PET discussions of scientific, ethical, legal and policy issues in fertility, genetics, genomics and embryo/stem cell research. These discussions feature experts and advocates from around the world, as well as contributions from patients and the broader public.
Episodes
June 26, 2026 • 95 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses what is known about the impact of IVF – and assisted conception more broadly – on the physical and psychological health of patients.
Is the evidence reassuring? Or are there reasons to be concerned?
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Alina Pelikh (Senior Research Fell...
Is the evidence reassuring? Or are there reasons to be concerned?
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Alina Pelikh (Senior Research Fell...
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June 9, 2026 • 93 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses the newly updated Fertility Guideline published by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Raj Mathur (Member of the Guideline Committee that developed the newly updated Fertility Guideline)
⚫ Professor Richard Anderso...
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Raj Mathur (Member of the Guideline Committee that developed the newly updated Fertility Guideline)
⚫ Professor Richard Anderso...
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May 18, 2026 • 61 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast features researchers and practitioners at the forefront of tackling male infertility.
Aspects discussed include current best practice, the latest insights, and pioneering research that could transform treatment of male infertility in future.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Kevin McEleny (C...
Aspects discussed include current best practice, the latest insights, and pioneering research that could transform treatment of male infertility in future.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Kevin McEleny (C...
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Watch
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April 29, 2026 • 81 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses causes and consequences of stress, in the context of (in)fertility and assisted conception.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Sinéad Currie (Lead at the Scottish Preconception Health Research Network)
⚫ Angela Pericleous-Smith (Chair of the British Infertility Counselling Associ...
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Sinéad Currie (Lead at the Scottish Preconception Health Research Network)
⚫ Angela Pericleous-Smith (Chair of the British Infertility Counselling Associ...
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April 13, 2026 • 90 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses disparities in IVF outcomes, and experiences of fertility treatment, between people with different ethnic backgrounds.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Baroness Geeta Nargund (Labour Peer in the House of Lords and Member of the HFEA)
⚫ Dr Patricia Hamilton (Lecturer in Sociology at the...
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Baroness Geeta Nargund (Labour Peer in the House of Lords and Member of the HFEA)
⚫ Dr Patricia Hamilton (Lecturer in Sociology at the...
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March 23, 2026 • 87 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses the needs and interests of everyone involved in egg donation – including donors, recipients, donor-conceived people, fertility professionals, regulators and policymakers.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Jane Stewart (previously Head of the Newcastle Fertility Centre and Chair o...
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Jane Stewart (previously Head of the Newcastle Fertility Centre and Chair o...
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March 9, 2026 • 90 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses what employers can and should do, for employees who are receiving fertility treatment or who are dealing with infertility.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Becky Kearns (Chief Executive of Fertility Matters at Work)
⚫ Seema Duggal (Coordinator of the Fertility in the Workplace initiati...
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Becky Kearns (Chief Executive of Fertility Matters at Work)
⚫ Seema Duggal (Coordinator of the Fertility in the Workplace initiati...
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March 2, 2026 • 52 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses the genetics and genomics of various forms of donor conception, and related scientific and ethical issues.
The discussion – which originally took place at the PET Annual Conference – is introduced by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET) and chaired by Professor Karen Sermon (former Chair of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embry...
The discussion – which originally took place at the PET Annual Conference – is introduced by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET) and chaired by Professor Karen Sermon (former Chair of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embry...
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February 23, 2026 • 34 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses the science and ethics of PGT-P – a controversial form of preimplantation genetic testing that uses polygenic scores, rather than using more traditional forms of genomic data.
The discussion – which originally took place at the PET Annual Conference – is chaired by Dr Philip Ball (science writer and broadcaster), with contributions from:...
The discussion – which originally took place at the PET Annual Conference – is chaired by Dr Philip Ball (science writer and broadcaster), with contributions from:...
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February 16, 2026 • 14 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast features Professor Alan Handyside – a pioneer of preimplantation genetic testing – explaining how and why it became scientifically possible, and also legally permissible, to test the DNA of IVF embryos.
This discussion – which originally took place at the PET Annual Conference – is introduced by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET) and chai...
This discussion – which originally took place at the PET Annual Conference – is introduced by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET) and chai...
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February 5, 2026 • 52 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses longstanding controversies surrounding PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy) – an 'add-on' to IVF treatment whose use has been the subject of lively debate for the past 25 years.
The discussion – which originally took place at the PET Annual Conference – is introduced by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET) and chaired ...
The discussion – which originally took place at the PET Annual Conference – is introduced by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET) and chaired ...
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January 12, 2026 • 51 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses the use of expanded carrier screening to test prospective parents, and/or donors of sperm or eggs, for gene variants that could potentially lead to ill health in future children.
The discussion – which originally took place at the PET Annual Conference – is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Sar...
The discussion – which originally took place at the PET Annual Conference – is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Sar...
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December 15, 2025 • 91 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses how to improve diagnosis, treatment and support for people affected by rare and inherited metabolic diseases.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Jonathan Gibson (Lead for Campaigns and Communications at the charity Metabolic Support UK)
⚫ Dr Srividya Sreekantam (Consultant in Paediatric ...
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Jonathan Gibson (Lead for Campaigns and Communications at the charity Metabolic Support UK)
⚫ Dr Srividya Sreekantam (Consultant in Paediatric ...
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November 24, 2025 • 94 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses how we might improve access to genetic and genomic testing, and related services, for people and families affected by rare disease.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Sarah Wynn (Chief Executive of Unique)
⚫ Miranda Durkie (Head of Rare Disease at the North East and Yorkshire Genomic ...
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Sarah Wynn (Chief Executive of Unique)
⚫ Miranda Durkie (Head of Rare Disease at the North East and Yorkshire Genomic ...
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November 3, 2025 • 84 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses the use of mitochondrial donation to avoid mitochondrial disease, with speakers including two of the pioneers whose work has resulted in the birth of eight UK babies with donated mitochondria.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Professor Mary Herbert (pioneer of mitochondrial donation, and lead...
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Professor Mary Herbert (pioneer of mitochondrial donation, and lead...
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October 6, 2025 • 105 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast marks the 100th birthday of the late IVF pioneer Professor Sir Robert Edwards, known widely (and affectionately) as 'Bob'.
The podcast explores Bob's life and legacy, including the dramatisation of his work with Patrick Steptoe and Jean Purdy in the film Joy.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr ...
The podcast explores Bob's life and legacy, including the dramatisation of his work with Patrick Steptoe and Jean Purdy in the film Joy.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr ...
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September 4, 2025 • 93 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast marks 40 years since the UK introduced dedicated legislation to govern surrogacy, and explores whether and how this law might be updated.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Kim Cotton (founder of Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy)
⚫ Sarah Jones (Chief Executive of Surrogacy UK)
⚫ Pau...
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Kim Cotton (founder of Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy)
⚫ Sarah Jones (Chief Executive of Surrogacy UK)
⚫ Pau...
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August 4, 2025 • 92 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast features leading figures in health-related policy, research and ethics discussing the long-term impact of the UK's Our Future Health programme, and what can be learned from the experience of the USA's All of Us programme.
Topics explored include whether, when, why and how participants in these programmes might be re-contacted, following their initial participa...
Topics explored include whether, when, why and how participants in these programmes might be re-contacted, following their initial participa...
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July 14, 2025 • 95 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast explores what needs to be done – and why – to ensure that people of diverse ancestries and social backgrounds are represented in genomic data, and in health-related data more generally.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Anika Ladva (Head of Community Engagement at Our Future Health)
...
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Anika Ladva (Head of Community Engagement at Our Future Health)
...
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July 4, 2025 • 60 mins
This episode of the Progress Educational Trust (PET) podcast discusses implications – for patients, practitioners and policymakers – of health conditions, and aspects of lifestyle, that can affect fertility treatment outcomes.
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Antony Nicoll (Senior Medical Officer for Maternal and Women's Health for the Scottish Go...
The discussion is chaired by Sarah Norcross (Director of PET), with contributions from:
⚫ Dr Antony Nicoll (Senior Medical Officer for Maternal and Women's Health for the Scottish Go...
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