British “Test-tube baby” pioneer dies

British –born, Robert Edwards, the scientist known as the father of IVF for pioneering the development of “test tube babies” died on Wednesday at the age of 87.

The Briton, who won the Nobel medicine prize for his achievement in 2010 died after a long illness, Cambridge University said.

A statement by the college stated, “It is with deep sadness that the family announces that Prof. Robert Edwards, Nobel prize winner, scientist and co-pioneer of IVF, passed away peacefully in his sleep on 10th April 2013 after a long illness. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and colleagues. Please respect the family’s privacy at this sad time,”

He started developing in-vitro fertilisation in 1955 , a technology used to assist couples who are unable to conceive have their babies, a work that culminated in 1978 in the birth of Louise Brown, the first so-called test tube baby.

His work led to the birth of Ms Brown at Oldham General Hospital in 1978. She said he had brought “happiness and joy” to millions of people.

IVF is used worldwide and has resulted in more than five million babies.

Brown,the first test-tube baby born in 1978 in her tribute said: “I have always regarded Robert Edwards like a grandfather to me.

“His work, along with Patrick Steptoe, has brought happiness and joy to millions of people all over the world by enabling them to have children.

“I am glad that he lived long enough to be recognised with a Nobel prize for his work, and his legacy will live on with all the IVF work being carried out throughout the world.

However, the pioneer of IVF in Black Africa, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, described the death of the professor as a rude shock to professionals in the field of assisted reproductive technology.

Ashiru who is also the Chief Medical Director, Medical Art Center, in a statement on Wednesday said Edwards was a gifted scientist whose breakthrough was unparalled.

Ashiru said, “Robert Edwards death comes as a rude shock to me and I am sure to many in the field of human assisted reproductive technology. He was still full of energy at the 2011 American Fertility meeting in Orlando, Florida. Although I had been familiar with his work as early as 1977, I did not meet him personally until 1992 when our pioneering work and success in human IVF was presented at a conference in Caracas, Venezuela. He obviously was a highly gifted scientist, humble and of pleasant disposition.”