ANSWER has been a collaborative project, funded by the Wellcome Trust under their Science Impact Award scheme (2003-2006). Tom Shakespeare (T.W.Shakespeare@newcastle.ac.uk - University of Newcastle) coordinated the project, and was assisted by Sarah Smalley and Consuelo Marin Norris, based at the Policy, Ethics and Life Sciences Institute. Al Leeder (alan@caret.cam.ac.uk) and Dawn Leeder (dcl25@cam.ac.uk - both University of Cambridge) were responsible for the design and development of the website. Wendy McEvoy and Dave Eadington (sirenfilms@aol.com - both Siren Films, Newcastle ) interviewed our participants and edited their testimonies. Jenny Whiting (J.Whiting@wellcome.ac.uk) and Dave Sayer (D.Sayer@wellcome.ac.uk - both Wellcome Trust Medical Photographic Library) took the photographs.

For a bibliography of sources, follow link on left of page.

The project team relied on clinical advice from Susan Fairgrieve (Susan.Fairgrieve@ncl.ac.uk - Antenatal Training Coordinator for the Northern Region) and John Burn (john.burn@ncl.ac.uk - Professor of Clinical Genetics, University of Newcastle ). They were supported by an advisory group consisting of Rosemary Batchelor (rosemaryb@asbah.org - ASBAH), Joanie Dimavicius (ARCSATFA@aol.com - Antenatal Results and Choices), Anne Hayler (ahayler@cftrust.org.uk - Cystic Fibrosis Trust), Theresa Marteau (theresa.marteau@kcl.ac.uk - Professor of Psychology, King's College, London), Susannah Seyman (info@downs-syndrome.org.uk - Down's Syndrome Association), Arlene Smyth (Turner.Syndrome@tss.org.uk - Turner Syndrome Support Society), Pat Ward (user@nscdoh.fsnet.co.uk - NHS Down's Syndrome Screening Director), Gill Yaz (gillyaz@blueyonder.co.uk - ASBAH).

ANSWER has been evaluated by a team led by Jenny Hewison (j.hewison@leeds.ac.uk - Professor of Psychology, University of Leeds ) from October 2004 - March 2005. This process involved feedback from focus groups conducted with: potential users of the site, people with personal experience of conditions, and service providers. A number of minor errors were identified, and these have now been corrected. It was felt that the site worked best as an addition to existing NHS information, rather than as a "one stop shop" and this has been made clear on the welcome page.

Our future intention is to develop the website, both to include more individuals with each condition, but also to cover more conditions which are detected during antenatal screening, for example, haemaglobinopathy conditions (sickle cell disease and thalassaemia). Further funding would be required for the expansion of hte site. We welcome comments and suggestions for further development of the website.

CONTACTS

For any queries or further information about this website please contact PEALS at the following email address:
peals@ncl.ac.uk

For problems or technical issues regarding this site please contact the webmaster at the following email address:
webmaster@antenataltesting.info