4 days Ago By Katie Palmer
Joy has just arrived on Netflix and the inspirational film follows Robert Edwards (played by James Norton), Jean Purdy (Thomasin McKenzie) and Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy) on their journey to discovering groundbreaking IVF treatment. In the film, visionary scientist Robert hires Jean, a 23-year-old nurse, as the manager of a research lab in Cambridge, England, in 1968. Robert had been trying to persuade Patrick to help him achieve the extraordinary breakthrough of in vitro fertilisation.
Even after Patrick agrees to help, the trio face scepticism from scientific and medical communities. Over the next decade, they endure professional triumphs and devastating setbacks. Against overwhelming odds, they reached the moment in 1978 when Louise Joy Brown was born, marking history as the world’s first IVF baby.
Here is all you need to know about what happened to the real Robert Edwards, fondly known as Bob. The real Robert, along with Jean and Patrick, founded the first IVF programme for infertile patients and trained other scientists in their techniques for future generations. In 2010, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the development of in vitro fertilization.
As early as the 1950s, he had the vision that IVF could be useful as a treatment for infertility and around four million individuals have so far been born using the method. After founding the Bourn Hall Clinic as a place to advance their work, he continued on in his career as a scientist and an editor of medical journals. One of his last appearances before his death was on the BBC Radio 4 series The New Elizabethans to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2012.
He died at home near Cambridge in April 2013 at the age of 87, after a long battle with a lung condition. Cambridge University announced at the time: "It is with deep sadness that the family announces that Professor Sir Robert Edwards, Nobel prizewinner, scientist and co-pioneer of IVF, passed away peacefully in his sleep on 10 April 2013 after a long illness. "He will be greatly missed by family, friends and colleagues.
" Mike Macnamee, chief executive of Bourn Hall added: "Bob Edwards is one of our greatest scientists. His inspirational work in the early 60s led to a breakthrough that has enhanced the lives of millions of people worldwide. "He is held in great affection by everyone who has worked with him and was treated by him.
"For me personally Bob was a great mentor, colleague and friend. It was a privilege to work with him and his passing is a great loss to us all." Joy is available to stream on Netflix now.
