UZ Brussel-VUB - The year 1984

The year 1984

1984

Embryos before freezing

lifelong studying

At about the same time both André Van Steirteghem – head of the RIA-laboratory – and Etienne Van den Abeele – then researcher at the REBI (the research unit Reproductive Biology of the Medicine faculty of the VUB) – travel abroad to attend workshops on freezing embryos. The former does so with Alan Trounson in Melbourne, the latter with Gerard Zeilmaker in Rotterdam. Thus the knowledge from the two meccas of freezing are brought together in UZ Brussel (then AZ-VUB).

In 1984 the process of freezing surplus embryos from in vitro fertilisation was initiated. See embryo bank and transfer using frozen embryos.

The first ever pregnancy resulting from a frozen and thawed embryo was in 1983 and is credited to Alan Trounson. At the CRG, the first pregnancy from this technique occurred in 1985.

1984 / 1988

Prof. Van Steirteghem (l) and prof. Bob Edwards (r)

Teachings from the master

Prof. Robert Edwards from the University of Cambridge, one of the greatest pioneers of reproductive medicine (see how it all started), chaired at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel from 1984 to 1986. Afterwards, he would become visiting professor and eventually doctor honoris causa.
"Such Chairmanship meant that respected scientists came to lecture – in this case in Embryology – to students of the research project. This is very important for the quality of the project and the students," explains Professor Devroey. "To attend a lecture by Bob Edwards is an enormous inspiration."

1984

The European Society of Human Reproduction

September 2nd 1984 the ESHRE is founded, which stands for European Society of Human Reproduction. From the onset André Van Steirteghem is part of the Temporary Committee; over the years the Centre for Reproductive Medicine of the Free University of Brussels will play a defining role in the florishing of the organisation. Click the logo for more information.

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