Notice from the 探花直播 of Cambridge on behalf of the family of Professor Sir Robert Edwards MA, Hon ScD, CBE, FRS

鈥淚t is with deep sadness that the family announces that Professor Sir Robert Edwards, Nobel prizewinner, scientist and co-pioneer of IVF, passed away peacefully in his sleep on 10 April 2013 after a long illness.听He will be greatly missed by family, friends and colleagues. Please respect the family鈥檚 privacy at this sad time.鈥

A Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge, Prof Edwards听was born on 27 September 1925. He听worked for many years in the 探花直播's Department of Physiology. He became famous for the development, with Dr Patrick Steptoe, of the technique of in vitro fertilization, which resulted in the birth of Louise Brown, and more than four million babies since that time.

His work has had an immense impact throughout the world.听 探花直播developments for which Edwards and Steptoe were responsible attracted much publicity, some of it, not least from the Vatican, highly critical.

Formal recognition therefore came late, but when it did come, it was decisive, with 'for the development of in vitro fertilization'.听

In 2011, Robert was knighted 'for services to human reproductive biology'.

Professor Martin Johnson, Emeritus Professor of Reproductive Science, 探花直播 of Cambridge and a Fellow of Christ鈥檚 College was, together with Sir Richard Gardner, Robert's first graduate student between 1966 and 1969. He said: 鈥淏ob Edwards was a remarkable man who changed the lives of so many people. He was not only a visionary in his science听but also in his communication to the wider public about scientific听matters in which he was a great pioneer.

鈥淗e will be greatly missed by his colleagues, students, his family and all the many people he has helped to have children.鈥

Mike Macnamee, Chief Executive of Bourn Hall, the IVF clinic that Steptoe and Edwards co-founded, said: 鈥淏ob Edwards is one of our greatest scientists. His inspirational work in the early 1960s led to a breakthrough that has enhanced the lives of millions of people worldwide. He is held in great affection by everyone who has worked with him and was treated by him.

"For me personally Bob was a great mentor, colleague and friend. It was a privilege to work with him and his passing is a great loss to us all."

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