Robert Geoffrey Edwards
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2008-07-14T21:44:20Z
A. Carty
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{{otherpeople|Robert Edwards}}
{{Infobox Scientist
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|birth_date = [[27 September]] [[1925]]
|birth_place = [[Leeds]]
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|nationality = [[United Kingdom]]
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|work_institutions = [[University of Cambridge]]
|alma_mater = [[University of Wales, Bangor]]<br/>[[University of Edinburgh]]
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|known_for = [[reproductive medicine]]<br/>[[in-vitro fertilization]]
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}}'''Robert Geoffrey Edwards''', [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] (born [[27 September]] [[1925]], [[Leeds]]) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[physiologist]] and pioneer in [[reproductive medicine]], and [[in-vitro fertilization]] in particular.
==Early career==
After finishing Manchester Central High School, he served in the British Army, and then completed his undergraduate studies in agriculture at the [[University of Wales, Bangor]]. Subsequently he studied at the Institute of Animal Genetics, [[University of Edinburgh]]. He received his Ph.D. in 1955. In 1963 he joined the [[University of Cambridge]].
==Human Fertilization==
About 1960 Edwards had started to study human [[fertilization]], and he continued his work at Cambridge laying the groundwork for his later success. In 1968 he was able to achieve fertilization of the human egg in the laboratory and started to collaborate with [[Patrick Steptoe]], a gynecologic surgeon from [[Oldham]]. Edwards developed human culture media to allow the fertilization and early [[embryo]] culture, while Steptoe utilized [[laparoscopy]] to recover [[ovocyte]]s from patients with tubal [[infertility]]. Their attempts met significant hostility and opposition.
==1978==
The birth of [[Louise Brown]] at 11:47 p.m. on [[25 July]] [[1978]] at the [[Oldham General Hospital]] made medical history: with [[in vitro fertilization]] being successful, a new way had been opened to help infertile couples who had formerly no chance of having a baby.
==Consequences==
{{main|in vitro fertilization}}
[[Image:Bourn Hall, Cambridgeshire.jpg|thumb|right|Bourn Hall Clinic]]
Refinements in technology have increased pregnancy rates and it is estimated that in 2004 about 1.5 million children have been born by IVF.
Their breakthrough laid the groundwork for further innovations such as intracytoplasmatic sperm injection [[ICSI]], embryo biopsy ([[PGD]]), and [[stem cell]] research. Edwards and Steptoe founded the [[Bourn Hall Clinic]] as a place to advance their work and train new specialists. Steptoe died in 1988. Edwards has continued a productive career as a scientist and [[editing|editor]] of noted medical journals.
==See also==
* [http://www.laskerfoundation.org/awards/library/2001clinical.shtml Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research 2001]
==References==
* Steptoe, P. C., and Edwards, R. G. (1978) Birth after the reimplantation of a human embryo. Lancet. 2: 366.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Robert Geoffrey}}
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Fertility medicine]]
[[Category:In vitro fertilisation]]
[[Category:People from Leeds]]
[[Category:Alumni of Bangor University]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[de:Robert Edwards]]