Jean Purdy 1945 - 1985

With Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe, Jean Purdy was part of the team which developed in vitro fertilisation (IVF). In vitro is the Latin for ‘in glass’ and refers to an egg being fertilised with sperm in a laboratory rather than in the womb.

Having trained as a nurse at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, Purdy joined Steptoe and Edwards’ team in 1968. A skilled technician, Purdy monitored the developing eggs and was the first to witness their cells dividing. The trio embarked on a decade of clinical trials involving more than 282 women. Purdy developed many of the tasks and processes which became standard parts of IVF treatment. On 25 July 1978, Louise Brown became the first baby to be born after being conceived by IVF.

Purdy, Steptoe and Edwards went on to set up the world’s first IVF clinic, Bourn Hall, in 1980, with Purdy serving as the technical director.

Purdy died of cancer in 1985 aged 39. In 2010, the development of IVF was recognised when Edwards – the only remaining living member – was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. It is not possible for Nobel Prizes to be awarded posthumously. However, while Steptoe was recognised in the announcement of the award, Purdy was not. Nevertheless, both Edwards and Steptoe continued to celebrate the enormous contribution made by Purdy. Edwards described her in his autobiography as “the patient, indomitable helper without whom none of our work would have been possible”.