Sarah Norcross
Commissioning Editor
Sarah Norcross is Commissioning Editor of BioNews and Director of the charity that publishes it, the Progress Educational Trust (PET). She is also a member of the Education, Engagement And Training Working Group of the UK Government's Human Genomics Strategy Group, the National Genetics Education and Development Centre's Steering Group, the National Infertility Awareness Campaign's Committee, the National Gamete Donation Trust's Advisory Council, the Association of Fertility Patient Organisations, and Transnational Reproduction's Research Advisory Group. She regularly attends conferences and other events with a view to commissioning comment pieces for BioNews, and she pioneered the publication's jobs and opportunities section, helping to generate much needed revenue. As well as ensuring that the administrative side of BioNews and PET run smoothly, together with Sandy Starr she organises PET's public engagement events.
Sarah chaired and coordinated the steering group of clinicians, scientists, patient support groups and medical research charities which fed into policy for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 as it passed through both Houses of Parliament. She has continued this role during the implementation of the Act by the UK Government's Department of Health and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Previously she worked as a Barrister carrying out advocacy in the civil and criminal courts on the Northern Circuit, and as Vice Chair of the Daisy Network, the patient support group for women who have had a premature menopause.
BioNews Comment articles written by Sarah Norcross:
| 09 August 2010 - by |
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In last month's BioNews (issue567) Professor Eric Blyth and Wendy Kramer criticised 'My Daddy's Name is Donor: A New Study of Young Adults Conceived Through Sperm Donation'. This week Elizabeth Marquardt, a coinvestigator on the study, responds. We would like to hear your views on this report and their ensuing disagreement... [Read More] |
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| 01 July 2010 - by |
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This week we are welcoming Chris Chatterton as BioNews' new genetics editor. Chris has a degree in Biological Sciences from King's College, London, and an MA in Genetics, Culture and Society from Lancaster University. Chris is currently completing his PhD which is entitled 'Metabolic Syndrome: The construction of a group of risk factors into a new disease?'...[Read More] |
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| 26 April 2010 - by |
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This week's edition of BioNews will be the last with our current Genetics Editor, Ailsa Taylor, at the helm. Ailsa is leaving BioNews after three years with us, and is joining Cancer Research UK where she will work full-time as Science Press Officer. Of course, we wish her every success there...[Read More] |
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| 07 January 2010 - by |
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Happy New Year! Welcome back! I just wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on some of our activities from last year and to inform subscribers about what can be expected from the Progress Educational Trust (PET) and BioNews in 2010...[Read More] |
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| 23 October 2009 - by |
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The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Storage Period for Gametes and Embryos) Regulations 2009 came into force on 1 October 2009 under negative Parliamentary procedure. Soon after, however, a prayer was moved for the regulations to be annulled and a debate took place on 21 October 2009 in the House of Lords....[Read More] |
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| 27 July 2009 - by |
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We are pleased to announce that following years of dealing with out-of-date technology and increasing competition, the BioNews website and the free BioNews by email service have been overhauled...[Read More] |
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A toast to BioNews and Zoe, the world's first frozen embryo baby |
| 30 March 2009 - by |
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The very fact that the 500th edition of BioNews went out last Monday demonstrates the dedication of the BioNews team. On Friday 20 March I received a letter from the landlord of our office stating that we would have to leave at 4pm on Monday as they would be starting...[Read More] |
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| 16 February 2009 - by |
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The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) consultations on the draft 8th Code of Practice, revised consent forms, on presenting clinic performance and outcome data both close at midnight on Wednesday 18th February. At the HFEA public consultation meeting held in London on 11th February Alan Doran Interim Chief Executive...[Read More] |
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| 05 January 2009 - by |
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Like Janus, the two headed Roman god of gates and doorways, beginnings and endings, this commentary will look back over PET's work in 2008 and look forward to 2009. * Highlights of 2008 The last year was largely dominated by parliamentary work concerning the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, which finally...[Read More] |
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A New Year, new fertility and embryology laws - and a new director for PET |
| 04 January 2007 - by |
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Happy New Year. I would like to introduce myself as the new director of Progress Educational Trust (PET), the UK charity that publishes BioNews. Throughout its 15 year history, PET has been dedicated to facilitating informed discussion in the areas of assisted reproduction, embryo research and human genetics, via public...[Read More] |
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BioNews Review articles written by Sarah Norcross:
| 26 July 2010 - by |
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'Cutting Edge goes behind the headlines to intimately portray how gay millionaires Tony and Barrie Drewitt-Barlow's determination to have more children has affected them and their kids' said the teaser on the Channel 4 website. If I hadn't known this programme involved surrogacy, I would have dismissed it as yet another reality show about out-of-control children...[Read More] |
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| 12 April 2010 - by |
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First as a reviewer of this book I have a declaration of interest (or lack thereof): I have no faith....[Read More] |
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| 08 March 2010 - by |
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When leading family researcher Professor Susan Golombok says a book is 'important and highly illuminating' and 'it should be read by everyone with a connection to the field', I thought I should add it to my 'to do' list...[Read More] |
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| 21 December 2009 - by |
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The first question I asked when picking up this book was: What is the image on the cover? Closer inspection and the power of Google revealed it is a dried poppy head (somniferum papaver) not, as I first thought, the egg from Alien - the science fiction horror film. What message does this convey? |
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BioNews News articles written by Sarah Norcross:
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UK has new minister responsible for fertility and embryology |
| 25 May 2010 - by |
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Following the general election in the UK and the formation of the new coalition government, Anne Milton MP has become the new Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and so is the Government Minister responsible for fertility and embryology. She is the Conservative MP for Guildford - a seat which she won from the Liberal Democrats in 2005....[Read More] |
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| 03 August 2009 - by |
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The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) published new figures showing the number of new egg and sperm donors registered in 2008. The figures published on 31 July 2009 show that the number of both sperm and egg donors has increased....[Read More] |
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| 15 June 2009 - by |
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Clare Lewis-Jones, Chief Executive of Infertility Network UK (I N UK) and More to Life, the largest national charity providing help, support and information to those suffering the effects of infertility, has been awarded a MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to healthcare....[Read More] |
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| 18 May 2009 - by |
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BioNews is published by the Progress Educational Trust a small UK registered charity which battles for funding to keep BioNews in operation and free of charge. Back in January we launched the 500 Fivers Appeal to coincide with the publication of...[Read More] |
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| 08 September 2008 - by |
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The Progress Educational Trust (PET) is delighted to announce a new service from BioNews: a 'jobs' section. Today's issue of BioNews contains PET's first job advertisement, placed and paid for by the Human Genetics Commission. Why has PET decided to do this? Like many small charities, PET struggles to find...[Read More] |
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| 16 June 2008 - by |
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Progress Educational Trust would like to congratulate Dr Simon Best, who has been awarded an OBE for his services to the bioscience industry. Simon Best is founder and Chairman of Ardana Bioscience, based in Edinburgh, specialising in human reproductive biology and is a...[Read More] |
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