Cambridge Reproduction presents a two-part event celebrating the life of Dr Bob Edwards, one of the pioneers of IVF.
Date: 26 September 2025
Part 1: Science and clinical practice
Venue: Physiology Lecture Theatre, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
When: 2:00pm – 4:30pm
Speakers:
• Dr Kay Elder - What is past is prologue
• Dr Marta Shahbazi - Developmental plasticity of the early human embryo
• Ana Orsi - Mechanisms of human and cow hypoblast development
• Dr Geraldine Jowett - The quest to create human gametes from stem cells
• Julie Tang - The role of epigenetics in mouse placental development
• Dr Kamal Ahuja - Robert Edwards: the polymath father of IVF
• Professor Alan Handyside - Preimplantation Genetic Testing
Part 2: Life and legacy
Venue: Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Churchill College
Panel discussion on Bob Edwards’ life and legacy
Chaired by:
• Roger Highfield (Director of the Science Museum Group).
Panellists:
• Professor Sir Richard Gardner (Oxford University Lecturer)
• Dr Jenny Joy (Bob’s daughter and creator of his archive)
• Fiona Bennett (former executive Editor of RBM Online)
• Dr Mike Macnamee (former CEO of Bourn Hall Clinic)
• Emma Barnett (British Broadcaster and Journalist)
• Louise Brown (the first IVF baby)
Followed by a drinks reception and display of facsimiles from archive relating to Bob Edward’s life and legacy.
Both sessions are free to attend.