The Symposium, hosted by the Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF), is being held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the birth of Louise Brown.
The Greater Manchester area has a long tradition in reproductive medicine, stretching back to Walter Heape in the 19th century and Bob Edwards who grew up and went to school in central Manchester. The symposium venue is within sight of Bob Edwards’ old school. Patrick Steptoe famously practiced in Oldham, and the pioneering IVF work leading to Louise Brown was carried out by Edwards, Jean Purdy and Steptoe at Dr Kershaw’s Cottage Hospital in Royton, the world’s first successful IVF clinic.
The main scientific programme will follow a general theme of “what have we learned from 40 years of human ART, and what will the next 40 years bring?” and will encompass basic and clinical aspects of reproductive science and medicine including regulation, ethics, and future treatments beyond ART. We have gathered together eminent speakers in these disciplines to create an exciting programme.
The evening of 24 July will feature a free public lecture by Professor Roger Gosden, Bob Edwards’ official biographer, entitled “LET THERE BE LIFE: An intimate portrait of the birth of IVF in Manchester”. The lecture will be held at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
Both events are kindly supported by the Association of Biomedical Andrologists, Association of Clinical Embryologists, the British Fertility Society and Hempsons Solicitors.
We do hope you will join us in Manchester, please put the date in your diary.
Professor John Aplin, Professor Daniel Brison and Dr Raj Mathur
Local Organising Committee
Click here to view the full programme
REGISTRATION is now open:
“LET THERE BE LIFE: An intimate portrait of the birth of IVF in Manchester”
Tuesday 24 July, 18.00 – 19.15 – free of charge
Venue: Postgraduate Lecture Theatre
Manchester Royal Infirmary, Postgrad Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL
‘Edwards, Steptoe… and Dr Kershaw: an SRF symposium to mark the 40th anniversary of IVF’.
Wednesday 25 July, 09.00 – 17.30 – £25 inc VAT
Venue: Cotton Lecture Theatre
Manchester Conference Centre, Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3BB
Tickets are non-refundable but named substitutions will be be accepted at any time.
