Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2010

[Hercules Rockefeller]

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2010 has been awarded to Robert G. Edwards for the development of in vitro fertilization.

Summary
Robert Edwards is awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize for the development of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy. His achievements have made it possible to treat infertility, a medical condition afflicting a large proportion of humanity including more than 10% of all couples worldwide.

As early as the 1950s, Edwards had the vision that IVF could be useful as a treatment for infertility. He worked systematically to realize his goal, discovered important principles for human fertilization, and succeeded in accomplishing fertilization of human egg cells in test tubes (or more precisely, cell culture dishes). His efforts were finally crowned by success on 25 July, 1978, when the world's first "test tube baby" was born. During the following years, Edwards and his co-workers refined IVF technology and shared it with colleagues around the world.

Approximately four million individuals have so far been born following IVF. Many of them are now adult and some have already become parents. A new field of medicine has emerged, with Robert Edwards leading the process all the way from the fundamental discoveries to the current, successful IVF therapy. His contributions represent a milestone in the development of modern medicine.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2010/press.html

Another great choice by the Nobel Assembly. :thumbsup: And it’s yet another example of science that was initially greeted with a great deal of resistance and condemnation but has become almost universally praised and accepted. People objected on religious grounds, of course , but more surprisingly there were also ethicists and scientists who disagreed with the research. (Yes, I realise there can be religious ethicists and scientists.) I suppose people will always be afraid of change that seemingly ‘challenges nature’.

 

[Geethika]

The first test tube baby developed by IVF is Louis Brown.

Healthcare And Pharma Forum:

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

The first test tube baby developed by IVF is Louis Brown.

Louise Brown, 25 July, 1978.

 

[DRZion]

I agree, this is a very good choice. Four million lives were created thanks to his research, and many more parents' dreams were fulfilled.