Why the Medical Research Council Refused Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe Support for Research on Human Conception in 1971

Johnson, Martin H; Franklin, Sarah B; Cottingham, Matthew; Hopwood, Nick

Abstract

In 1971, Cambridge physiologist Robert Edwards and Oldham gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe applied to the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) for long-term support for a programme of scientific and clinical 'Studies on Human Reproduction'. The MRC, then the major British funder of medical research, declined support on ethical grounds and maintained this policy throughout the 1970s. The work continued with private money, leading to the birth of Louise Brown in 1978 and transforming research in obstetrics, gynaecology and human embryology.

Date

2016-01-09

Identifier

oai:repository.library.georgetown.edu:10822/1021545
doi:10.1093/humrep/deq155
Human reproduction (Oxford, England) 2010 Sep; 25(9): 2157-74
http://worldcatlibraries.org/registry/gateway?version=1.0&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&atitle=Why+the+Medical+Research+Council+refused+Robert+Edwards+and+Patrick+Steptoe+support+for+research+on+human+conception+in+1971.&title=Human+reproduction+&volume=25&issue=9&date=2010-09&au=Johnson,+Martin+H;+Franklin,+Sarah+B;+Cottingham,+Matthew;+Hopwood,+Nick
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deq155
http://hdl.handle.net/10822/1021545

DOI

10.1093/humrep/deq155

Collections

Health Ethics

Research Ethics by Disciplines