Edwin Carlyle "Carl" Wood, , FRANZCOG (28 May 192923 September 2011) was a prominent Australian gynaecologist, best known for his pioneering work developing and commercialising the technique of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Biography

After completing his education at Wesley College, Melbourne, Wood graduated in medicine with honours at Melbourne University in 1952. He then held positions as Research Associate at the Rockefeller Institute in New York, and Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital for Women in London before becoming the Foundation Professor and Chairman of the Monash University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Queen Victoria Hospital and Monash Medical Centre in 1964. The most important development, however, was the use of pharmaceutical and hormonal stimulation of ovaries for more control of egg maturation and collection, which transformed IVF from an experimental technique to a successful clinical treatment.

Wood held many wide-ranging positions while Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University. These included, among others, Foundation Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Family Planning Association of Victoria 1970–72, Chairman Artificial Insemination by Donor (AID) Service, Melbourne Family Medical Centre, Monash University 1976–78, Foundation President of Victorian Association for the Study of Sex Education, Research and Therapy 1982, and President, International Society for Gynaecologic Endoscopy 1997–98. He was Chairman and Director, In Vitro Fertilisation Program Melbourne Family Medical Centre Monash University 1978–86, where he carried out most of his pioneering work in this field. He also jointly established the Endometriosis Care Clinic of Australia (ECCA) in 1998, a charitable foundation to assist Australian women suffering from this disease.

Wood was an invited speaker at over 90 national and international meetings, and wrote 23 books, 59 chapters and 400 papers in refereed medical and scientific journals.

The Carl Wood Endowment was established by the Monash University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology to provide funds for the research development of young clinicians. More recently the Carl Wood Chair was established by the same department.

Wood has been called variously the father, grandfather and godfather of IVF.

He died on 23 September 2011 after suffering from an Alzheimer's-type dementia.

Honours and awards

  • Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1982 Medicine,
  • Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1995 for his services to women's health and as a pioneer of in-vitro fertilisation.

Books

  • The Infertile Couple, By Roger J. Pepperell, Bryan Hudson, Carl Wood, 1980,
  • Artificial Insemination by Donor, By Carl Wood, Monash University, 1980,
  • In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer By Alan O. Trounson, Carl Wood, Published 1984,
  • Atlas of Fine Structure of Human Sperm Penetration, Eggs, and Embryos Cultured in Vitro, by A. Henry Sathananthan (Author), Alan O. Trounson (Author), Carl Wood (Author), November 1985,
  • In Vitro Fertilization: By Carl Wood, Ann Westmore, 1987,
  • Prematurity, By E. Carl Wood, Victor Y. H. Yu, 1987,
  • The A-Z of Pregnancy & Birth, By Michael D. Humphrey, Susan Gumley, Carl Wood, 1989,
  • Clinical in Vitro Fertilization, by Carl Wood (Author), Alan O. Trounson (Editor), 1989,
  • I.V.F. In Vitro Fertilisation, by Professor Carl Wood and Robyn Riley, First published in 1983, New Edition, 1992,
  • Illustrated Textbook of Gynaecology, By Eric Vincent Mackay, Norman A. Beischer, Roger J. Pepperell, Carl Wood, 1992,
  • Gynaecological Operative Laparoscopy: Current Status and Future Development, By Carl Wood, David J. Hill, Peter J. Maher, 1994,
  • Infertility: All Your Questions Answered, By Gab Kovacs, Carl Wood, 1996,
  • Hysterectomy By Carl Wood, Published 1997,
  • The Treatment of Fibroids, By Carl Wood, 2000,
  • Sexual Positions: An Australian View, By Carl Wood, 2001,

Articles

  • Should we try to supplement the growth retarded fetus? A cautionary tale, BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 100 (10), 972–972. , by:J. H. Drew Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, N. A. Beischer Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Carl Wood Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (1993)

See also

  • IVF
  • Gynecology
  • laparoscopy
  • cyto
  • Monash University
  • Infertility

References