‘Test-tube’ baby pioneer Professor Sir Robert Edwards dies
10 April 2013
Professor Lisa Jardine, Chair of the HFEA, said:
“It is with great sadness that we have heard about the death of Professor Sir Robert Edwards.
Many thousands of families have benefited directly from IVF since the birth of Louise Brown in 1978. However, fertility treatment was not always as readily accepted as it is today and had it not been for Bob’s scientific innovation and his passionate commitment to ensuring the technology was made available to all those who needed it, many parents would have been left childless.
Few scientists can say that their work has impacted on mankind in such a meaningful way. He was an exceptional man whose compassion and tenacity will be sorely missed.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The HFEA is the independent regulator for IVF treatment and embryo research. Our role is to protect patients and the public interest, to drive improvement in the treatment and research sectors and to provide information to the public and policymakers about treatment and research.
- The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The HFEA’s principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), artificial insemination (AI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.
For further information please contact the HFEA press office on 020 7291 8226 or email press.office@hfea.gov.uk
Page last updated: 10 April 2013