Robert Edwards: the path to IVF

Abstract

The early influences on Robert Edwards’ approach to the scientific research that led to human IVF are described. His interest as a graduate student in the genetics of early mammalian development stimulated him later to investigate whether the origins of human genetic diseases such as Down, Klinefelter and Turner syndromes might be explained by events during egg maturation. This clinical problem provided the most powerful stimulus to achieve both oocyte maturation and fertilization in vitro in humans. Indeed, preimplantation genetic diagnosis was his main goal until he met Patrick Steptoe in 1968. A re-evaluation of his meeting with Steptoe suggests that initially Steptoe’s laparoscopic skill was of interest for its potential to solve the sperm capacitation problem. Steptoe’s impact on Edwards was twofold. First, Steptoe’s long-held interest in infertility raised this application of IVF higher in Edwards’ priorities. Second, Steptoe offered a long-term partnership, in which oocyte collection without in-vitro maturation was a possibility. The professional criticism generated by their work together encouraged Edwards to pursue a deliberate programme of public education about the issues raised and to challenge and develop professional bioethical thought and discourse about reproduction.The early life and career of Robert Edwards are described and re-evaluated in the light of documentary evidence. His early interest in the genetics of development provided the major motivation behind his goal of achieving IVF in humans. Through this work, he aimed to understand and hopefully to reduce the transmission of genetic disease in humans. His meeting with Patrick Steptoe, the details of which are re-examined, increased the significance for Edwards of infertility as an outcome of IVF. It also led to a creative long-term research partnership, initiated a long-term programme of public education in the UK about reproductive science and stimulated the development of bioethical thinking.

IVF and embryo transfer: historical origin and development

“…Edwards' interest in the mechanisms involved in the establishment of pregnancy arose from cytogenetic studies on oocyte maturation (reviewed by Edwards, 2001;Johnson, 2011). He extended work done in the 1930s by Pincus and his colleagues by showing that spontaneous maturation occurred in several species using the chemically defined medium 199 supplemented with 15% serum.…”

“…Now, after a period of about 33 years, more than 4 million babies have been born using IVF/ET, and a new specialty of assisted reproduction has been established with its own professional societies. The history of IVF/ET is extensive and it has been recently documented in part by Johnson (2011) and on the web (www.IVF-Worldwide.com). The technique did not arise as a quantum event but was built on the efforts of many earlier workers in the fields of reproductive endocrinology and development.…”

The Oldham Notebooks: an analysis of the development of IVF 1969–1978. I. Introduction, materials and methods

“…Thus, Johnson (2011) examines how and where Edwards and Steptoe first met in February of 1968 (p. 254–256) and when Purdy joined Edwards (p. 252). Prior to the meeting of these three, Edwards’ primary interests lay in the study of the genetic basis of developmental diseases (p. 250-251), and of their possible alleviation by pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (p.…”

Recipient of the 2019 IETS Pioneer Award: Dr Barry Bavister

“…In 1968, Edwards, Bavister and Steptoe, submitted the manuscript to Nature (Edwards et al 1969). The Nature paper makes modest claims since only 18 of 56 eggs were assigned to the experimental group for in vitro fertilisation and only two embryos with two pronuclei exhibited fertilisation (Johnson 2011).…”