Nobel Prize for Scientist Professor Robert G. Edwards, Editor Emeritus of Reproductive BioMedicine Online

By Elsevier, PRNE
Monday, October 4, 2010

CAMBRIDGE, England, October 5, 2010 - Elsevier congratulates Cambridge scientist and Editor Emeritus of
Reproductive BioMedicine Online (RBMOnline), Robert G. Edwards, who has been
awarded with the 2010 Nobel Prize in Medicine for the development of in-vitro
fertilisation (IVF), a breakthrough that has helped millions of infertile
couples worldwide to have children. Professor Edwards, 85, started working on
IVF, a procedure in which egg cells are fertilised outside the body and
implanted in the womb, in the 1950s.

Professor Edwards founded the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online
(www.rbmojournal.com/) in 2000 and published it independently for 10
years. Having developed it and ensured its place amongst the leading journals
in the field of Reproductive Medicine, he began handing over the reins for
the journal in 2009, becoming Editor Emeritus of RBMOnline. In 2010 Elsevier
became the Publisher of this innovative journal, which promises to develop
from strength to strength under its guardianship. Professor Edwards also
cofounded the first IVF clinic in the world, Bourn Hall, where embryologists
and doctors who received training went on to establish clinics worldwide.

According to a statement released by the Nobel Prize in Physiology or
Medicine committee in Stockholm, Robert G. Edwards's achievements have made
it possible to treat infertility, a medical condition afflicting a large
proportion of humanity - more than 10% of all couples… Approximately four
million individuals have been born thanks to IVF… Today, Robert Edwards'
vision is a reality and brings joy to infertile people all over the world[1].

"We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Edwards on this most
distinguished recognition of his achievements in medicine. As the publisher
of Reproductive Biomedicine Online, Elsevier is honoured to build on
Professor Edwards' legacy and many contributions to the medical literature,"
said Glen Campbell, Executive Vice President, Global Medical Research
Journals at Elsevier.

Martin Johnson, Professor of Reproductive Sciences at the University of
Cambridge
and Editor at RBMOnline, said, "As one of Bob's first research
students I'm naturally delighted that he has been awarded the Nobel Prize.
Bob is delighted, as are all his friends, family, and work colleagues at the
journal office of Reproductive BioMedicine Online." "It is truly wonderful
that such an engaging, warm and generous person, as well as a visionary in
science, can be acknowledged in this way for all his many achievements. He
was a man much ahead of his time not just in IVF, but in preimplantation
genetic diagnosis, the derivation of embryonic stem cells and also for his
publications and lectures on ethics in science and the role of regulation. He
transformed the whole approach to research and care in reproductive medicine
and gynecology," he remarked.

The medicine award was the first of the 2010 Nobel Prizes to be
announced. The prestigious awards were created by Swedish industrialist
Alfred Nobel, and first handed out in 1901, five years after his death. Each
award includes 10 million Swedish kronor (about GBP1 million), a diploma and
the Nobel Prize medal.

About RBMOnline

Reproductive BioMedicine Online (www.rbmojournal.com/) covers the
formation, growth and differentiation of the human embryo. It is intended to
bring to public attention new research on biological and clinical research on
human reproduction and the human embryo including relevant studies on
animals. It is published by a group of scientists and clinicians working in
these fields of study. Its audience comprises researchers, clinicians,
practitioners, academics and patients.

It is an official publication of the American College of Embryology (ACE)
www.embcol.org; The Global Chinese Association for Reproductive
Medicine (GCARM) www.gcarm.com; the International Society for In Vitro
Fertilization (ISIVF) www.isivf.com; the Mediterranean Society for
Reproductive Medicine (MSRM) www.medreproduction.org; the
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society (PGDIS)
www.pgdis.org; and the Turkish Society of Reproductive Medicine (TSRM)
www.tsrm.org.tr

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and
medical information products and services. The company works in partnership
with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000
journals, including The Lancet (www.thelancet.com/) and Cell 9
www.cell.com/), and close to 20,000 book titles, including major
reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include
SciVerse ScienceDirect (www.sciencedirect.com/), SciVerse Scopus
(www.scopus.com/), Reaxys (www.reaxys.com/), MD Consult
(www.mdconsult.com/) and Nursing Consult (
www.nursingconsult.com/), which enhance the productivity of science
and health professionals, and the SciVal suite (www.scival.com/) and
MEDai's Pinpoint Review (www.medai.com/), which help research and
health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier (
www.elsevier.com/) employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part
of Reed Elsevier Group PLC (www.reedelsevier.com/), a world-leading
publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier
PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam),
REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

    Media Contact
    Rachel Holdsworth
    (+44)01954-202789
    Rachel@holdsworth-associates.co.uk

[1] nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2010/press.html

Media Contact: Rachel Holdsworth, (+44)01954-202789, Rachel at holdsworth-associates.co.uk

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