Introduction

T he British Society for Gene Therapy was established in 2003 to promote scientific excellence, training, and education in the field. It is a platform through which scientists, healthcare workers, and patients can discuss issues surrounding the development and implementation of new therapies. Recent years have seen exciting progress, and clear evidence for clinical effectiveness in several areas. Technology and fundamental knowledge has advanced quickly, and it is inevitable that many other clinical targets will be explored in the very near future. However, there are new additional challenges that face the field today. One of the most significant has been the ever changing and complex regulatory landscape. Of course this is a vital part of the development of new treatments for patients, but there are significant organisational and resource implications, particularly for those of us operating in the academic sector. The British Society for Gene Therapy can help in many ways, for example, by providing an interface for discussion with regulatory agencies.

My particular wish is that this Society is both proactive and forward thinking. I'd like us to engage with other societies with similar objectives, nationally and internationally, to promote training, cooperation, and establishment of multi-centre clinical activities. Stem cell research is an obvious area where there are synergies and complementary technologies, and where the final goals and challenges to their implementation may be common. We can facilitate joint activities through focussed workshops and through our annual meeting. Perhaps our most important and successful role has been in the education of young scientists and the lay public in areas related to genetics and new therapies. Schoolchildren in particular have been very receptive to our efforts to bring ‘science to life’. I hope that we can continue to do this in creative and informative ways. It is therefore vital that we maintain a strong membership that continues to contribute to these areas. The Society will of course endeavour to support new ideas and initiatives, and to represent the community in every way that it can.