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An adventure with Robert Edwards
44 PhD student friends for tea in the Physiology Department next door. There, I regularly met Bob, who had by this time surrounded himself with the young scientists who were collaborating with him in his research, and helping him establish Bourn Hall. Thus, Jacques Cohen, Simon Fishel, Kamal Ahuja and Carol Fehilly were all regulars in the Physiology tea room where, along with other PhD students and research scientists, we would chat with Bob, who was always charming and welcoming. Full of ideas, it was here, and from Bob, that among other things, I first heard about the possible therapeutic value of human embryonic stem cells. At the time it seemed far-fetched. Yet this one example of many illustrates perfectly how Bob, ever the visionary, always seemed to be several steps ahead of the rest of us. Whilst never blind to the ethical and controversial aspects of his vision his highly developed moral code led him to consult the Church before thrusting IVF onto the world he had the courage to follow his vision in the face of criticism, ranging from that of his peers, in the early refusal to offer financial support, to the public (I well remember the tabloid headline ‘Do not work with this man!’). His Nobel Prize is justly deserved, and, as one of his grateful and admiring humble ‘descendants’ I offer him my heartfelt congratulations. Robert ‘Bob’ Edwards: the ‘father of IVF’ Peter R Brinsden MB BS FRCOG Medical Director of Bourn Hall Clinic 1989 2007 IVF practitioners worldwide were delighted at the news that Professor Robert ‘Bob’ Edwards had been awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine on 4 October 2010. We all acknowledge that this is an award that is richly deserved and one which most of us believe was long overdue. It recognizes the vision, tenacity and sheer brilliance of a man whose research led to the development of human in-vitro fertilization (IVF), the birth of the world’s first baby born as a result of IVF, and to the subsequent revolution in assisted reproductive technology. He also laid the foundations to many other scientific advances, including embryonic stem cell research and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Bob Edwards’ work with gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe represented a unique collaboration between laboratory science and clinical medicine. Their research on human infertility was highly controversial and led to a great deal of personal criticism and vilification in the early days of their work between 1968 and 1978. Nevertheless, they refused to be put off their aim of helping intractably infertile couples to have the children they so much wanted. It was after 102 failed attempts at IVF and embryo transfer that Mrs Lesley Brown became pregnant and finally, on 25 July 1978, delivered her daughter Louise. Since that memorable event 33 years ago, it is estimated that more than 4.3 million babies have been born worldwide as a result of the pioneering research of Edwards and Steptoe. Bob Edwards has always been a true visionary. In the very early years of his animal research, which led to its application in humans, Edwards foresaw the potential of this science. He forecast and discussed in scientific publications the potential use of PGD, blastocyst culture,
Bob Edwards Nobel Laureate
Bob Edwards with the world’s first and second IVF ‘babies’ Louise Brown and Alastair Macdonald with Peter Brinsden, at a party at Bourn Hall to celebrate Louise’s 25th birthday in 2003.
the need for ethical controls, in-vitro maturation of oocytes, the therapeutic use of human embryonic stem cells, nuclear and gene transfer, human cloning, the need to avoid multiple pregnancies and the benefits of freezing embryos and gametes all long before they became part of modern every-day research and treatment. Bob and Patrick together founded Bourn Hall Clinic, which opened in 1980 the first specialist IVF Clinic in the World. There they worked together with a small dedicated team, which by 1986 had achieved the birth of more than 500 babies. Bob and Patrick continued to work together at Bourn Hall until the death of Patrick from cancer in 1988. Bob remained at Bourn Hall as Scientific Director until he retired in 1993 to continue his work as Editor of Human Reproduction. Later, his vision of developing a new journal in reproductive medicine led to the birth of Reproductive BioMedicine Online, an innovative and popular journal in our field. Bob is held in the highest esteem and affection by both his old patients and colleagues alike. He has mentored very many young reproductive biologists over the years many of whom are now themselves internationally renowned scientists. To have been able to work with Bob at Bourn Hall, and to have listened to and discussed with him his ideas about our specialty over the years, has been a real privilege, for which we are truly grateful. An adventure with Robert Edwards María Bustillo1 , Carolyn Coulam2 1 Miami, Florida, 2 Chicago, Illinois, USA In the spring of 1995, Carolyn was program chair of the combined meeting of the American and International Societies of Reproductive Immunology. Being at Genetics and IVF Institute made it convenient to hold the meeting in the Washington DC area. As Bob Edwards was a special long-time friend, he was invited to be a keynote speaker. As a special treat, a trip to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Bethesda, Maryland was arranged for the three of us to visit the Carnegie Collection of embryos. At that time, the collection was being digitized into 3D images.
1980s There had been a friendly ‘discussion’ between Carolyn and Bob about an early ultrasonographic finding of a very early human embryo. The visit was in part to try to resolve the disagreement; indeed the collection enlightened all of us and succeeded in resolving the friendly dispute. Bob was immensely excited to be shown the ongoing work on the collection. His excitement was truly infectious. While returning to the meeting in the pouring rain, our car broke down; it truly died! The car rescue service (AAA) was immediately summoned. As Carolyn had urgent and important duties awaiting her, she returned to the meeting venue in a taxi cab. This left María and Bob on the side of a busy road, watching the rain fall and waiting to be rescued. This was a wonderful experience as Bob and María had over an hour to get to know each other better. It solidified a friendship between an established researcher and an enthusiastic clinician in the field of reproduction. But the conversation was very interesting as sperm separation was starting at the Institute and Bob explained how he ‘could have used that’ as he had 5 daughters. He then proceeded to tell María how wonderful his daughters were but how different and novel it was to have a grandson. Neither Bob nor I forgot that day and he often spoke of our private time in the rain whenever we crossed paths after that episode. For Carolyn and María, Bob was always a very special individual, interested in sharing his thoughts and opinions on any subject of mutual interest. Not an immunologist! G´ erard Chaouat EMBIC, Paris, France The Nobel prize to ‘Bob’ Edwards made me (and all at EMBIC) extremely happy, since it was long overdue, even longer than the one dedicated to Fran¸ coise Barr´ e Sinoussi for the discovery of HIV in 1983. In both cases, knowing both individuals, I was bewildered by such long delays. But for Bob, not only was there a quantum leap major discovery. It also resulted in the emergence of a totally new discipline, Assisted Reproduction. Bob was not an immunologist, but had been attracted by it since 1967, as testified by his participation in the Varna symposia linking East and West, where I first met him. With Bratanov and others, he was a cofounder of the ICCIR (International Coordination Committee for Immunology of Reproduction) in 1967 which helped the emergence of the International Society of Immunology of Reproduction. But as an immunologist, coming to Reproduction via the ‘fetal allograft paradox’, I first really heard of his IVF work in the 1978 19th SFEF (Soci´ et´ e Fran¸ caise pour l’Etude de la Fertilit´ e) meeting when Charles Thibault and Alex Psychoyos mentioned ‘Edwards’. Thibault, a pioneer in IVF development, did not believe it would work in human, and said it in the meeting, being aware of the incredible determination of Bob and Patrick Steptoe (by then 32 transfers, and even ectopic pregnancies, if I recall well). Shortly afterwards, the birth of Louise Brown attracted Charles Thibault admiration, and he told me that this was the result of an incredible patience, conviction, and foresight . . . and we all know what it meant to continue
45
Fig. 1. Bob Edwards at EMBIC 2006 in Toulouse, giving us advice on our work.
the work from 1967 to 1978. As Jean Cohen relates (see his memoirs), Thibault quickly realized that a new field of medicine was opening, and helped it to develop in France. So, somehow, without Bob Edwards and Louise Brown, I would never have gone to Pr Sureau’s unit in Baudelocque, nor later worked for the rest of my life in Clamart, a few meters from Ren´ e Frydman. Since Reproductive Immunology and ART began to interact, I met Bob Edwards more and more often, together with Professor Sureau in the 1980s meetings, where I was always impressed by his immense culture, wit, and always entertaining mood. My interactions with clinicians in Clamart meant opportunities for further encounters, and albeit a nonimmunologist, Bob was always attracted by the role of cytokines and immunocytes in implantation. So, when EEC funded our network of excellence (NoE), EMBIC (EMbryo IMplantation Control), we proposed Bob as external referee
Fig. 2. End of EMBIC Jena summer school 2007: Bob with (left to right) Colin Ockleford, Olivier Sandra, G´ erard Chaouat, Ian Sargent and Trudee Fair.
Bob Edwards Nobel Laureate
Bob Edwards with the world’s first and second IVF ‘babies’ Louise Brown and Alastair Macdonald with Peter Brinsden, at a party at Bourn Hall to celebrate Louise’s 25th birthday in 2003.
the need for ethical controls, in-vitro maturation of oocytes, the therapeutic use of human embryonic stem cells, nuclear and gene transfer, human cloning, the need to avoid multiple pregnancies and the benefits of freezing embryos and gametes all long before they became part of modern every-day research and treatment. Bob and Patrick together founded Bourn Hall Clinic, which opened in 1980 the first specialist IVF Clinic in the World. There they worked together with a small dedicated team, which by 1986 had achieved the birth of more than 500 babies. Bob and Patrick continued to work together at Bourn Hall until the death of Patrick from cancer in 1988. Bob remained at Bourn Hall as Scientific Director until he retired in 1993 to continue his work as Editor of Human Reproduction. Later, his vision of developing a new journal in reproductive medicine led to the birth of Reproductive BioMedicine Online, an innovative and popular journal in our field. Bob is held in the highest esteem and affection by both his old patients and colleagues alike. He has mentored very many young reproductive biologists over the years many of whom are now themselves internationally renowned scientists. To have been able to work with Bob at Bourn Hall, and to have listened to and discussed with him his ideas about our specialty over the years, has been a real privilege, for which we are truly grateful. An adventure with Robert Edwards María Bustillo1 , Carolyn Coulam2 1 Miami, Florida, 2 Chicago, Illinois, USA In the spring of 1995, Carolyn was program chair of the combined meeting of the American and International Societies of Reproductive Immunology. Being at Genetics and IVF Institute made it convenient to hold the meeting in the Washington DC area. As Bob Edwards was a special long-time friend, he was invited to be a keynote speaker. As a special treat, a trip to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Bethesda, Maryland was arranged for the three of us to visit the Carnegie Collection of embryos. At that time, the collection was being digitized into 3D images.
1980s There had been a friendly ‘discussion’ between Carolyn and Bob about an early ultrasonographic finding of a very early human embryo. The visit was in part to try to resolve the disagreement; indeed the collection enlightened all of us and succeeded in resolving the friendly dispute. Bob was immensely excited to be shown the ongoing work on the collection. His excitement was truly infectious. While returning to the meeting in the pouring rain, our car broke down; it truly died! The car rescue service (AAA) was immediately summoned. As Carolyn had urgent and important duties awaiting her, she returned to the meeting venue in a taxi cab. This left María and Bob on the side of a busy road, watching the rain fall and waiting to be rescued. This was a wonderful experience as Bob and María had over an hour to get to know each other better. It solidified a friendship between an established researcher and an enthusiastic clinician in the field of reproduction. But the conversation was very interesting as sperm separation was starting at the Institute and Bob explained how he ‘could have used that’ as he had 5 daughters. He then proceeded to tell María how wonderful his daughters were but how different and novel it was to have a grandson. Neither Bob nor I forgot that day and he often spoke of our private time in the rain whenever we crossed paths after that episode. For Carolyn and María, Bob was always a very special individual, interested in sharing his thoughts and opinions on any subject of mutual interest. Not an immunologist! G´ erard Chaouat EMBIC, Paris, France The Nobel prize to ‘Bob’ Edwards made me (and all at EMBIC) extremely happy, since it was long overdue, even longer than the one dedicated to Fran¸ coise Barr´ e Sinoussi for the discovery of HIV in 1983. In both cases, knowing both individuals, I was bewildered by such long delays. But for Bob, not only was there a quantum leap major discovery. It also resulted in the emergence of a totally new discipline, Assisted Reproduction. Bob was not an immunologist, but had been attracted by it since 1967, as testified by his participation in the Varna symposia linking East and West, where I first met him. With Bratanov and others, he was a cofounder of the ICCIR (International Coordination Committee for Immunology of Reproduction) in 1967 which helped the emergence of the International Society of Immunology of Reproduction. But as an immunologist, coming to Reproduction via the ‘fetal allograft paradox’, I first really heard of his IVF work in the 1978 19th SFEF (Soci´ et´ e Fran¸ caise pour l’Etude de la Fertilit´ e) meeting when Charles Thibault and Alex Psychoyos mentioned ‘Edwards’. Thibault, a pioneer in IVF development, did not believe it would work in human, and said it in the meeting, being aware of the incredible determination of Bob and Patrick Steptoe (by then 32 transfers, and even ectopic pregnancies, if I recall well). Shortly afterwards, the birth of Louise Brown attracted Charles Thibault admiration, and he told me that this was the result of an incredible patience, conviction, and foresight . . . and we all know what it meant to continue
45
Fig. 1. Bob Edwards at EMBIC 2006 in Toulouse, giving us advice on our work.
the work from 1967 to 1978. As Jean Cohen relates (see his memoirs), Thibault quickly realized that a new field of medicine was opening, and helped it to develop in France. So, somehow, without Bob Edwards and Louise Brown, I would never have gone to Pr Sureau’s unit in Baudelocque, nor later worked for the rest of my life in Clamart, a few meters from Ren´ e Frydman. Since Reproductive Immunology and ART began to interact, I met Bob Edwards more and more often, together with Professor Sureau in the 1980s meetings, where I was always impressed by his immense culture, wit, and always entertaining mood. My interactions with clinicians in Clamart meant opportunities for further encounters, and albeit a nonimmunologist, Bob was always attracted by the role of cytokines and immunocytes in implantation. So, when EEC funded our network of excellence (NoE), EMBIC (EMbryo IMplantation Control), we proposed Bob as external referee
Fig. 2. End of EMBIC Jena summer school 2007: Bob with (left to right) Colin Ockleford, Olivier Sandra, G´ erard Chaouat, Ian Sargent and Trudee Fair.