Lars Hamberger: in memory of a Nordic pioneer in IVF.

Abstract

Professor Emeritus Lars Hamberger, former Chief Editor of Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica (AOGS), passed away at the age of 82 years on 2 June 2021. Lars Hamberger was an internationally renowned scientist in the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and was the initiator and team leader behind the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) baby within the Nordic countries. The birth, in 1982 at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, occurred only 4 years after the world’s first IVF baby was born. This accomplishment cemented Sweden’s reputation within the international IVF scene as the 5th country in the world to successfully develop the revolutionary technique. Lars Hamberger continued his scientific and clinical work in ART throughout his career, inspiring many young colleagues in Sweden and around the world to pursue careers within this rapidly evolving field. Lars Hamberger studied medicine at the University of Gothenburg and worked at Sahlgrenska University Hospital for most of his career. His doctorate training was in reproductive physiology, specifically ovarian metabolism. His innovative mind led to the development of a micro-diver technique to measure the oxygen consumption of ovarian cells. He became Associate Professor in Physiology in 1968, some months after receiving his PhD. After completing residency training at Sahlgrenska, Hamberger became an Associate Professor in Obstetrics & Gynecology in 1974. He was active in conducting research on ovarian physiology and closely followed the international work carried out to develop a technique that would fertilize the human oocyte outside the body. The successful creation of this IVF technique was largely due to the scientific efforts of Robert Edwards in Cambridge. In 1978, the Cambridge group reported the birth of Louise Brown. Soon after, Hamberger formed a team of clinicians and scientists to set up IVF in close contact with the Cambridge team, proving successful in 1982 with their first live birth at Sahlgrenska. In 2010, Robert Edwards was awarded the Nobel prize in physiology/medicine for the scientific development of IVF. Lars Hamberger was appointed Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Karolinska Institute in 1983 but returned to the University of Gothenburg the following year as a professor. IVF was soon established as a clinical treatment at Sahlgrenska and Hamberger created a large adjoining research laboratory, “Spec-lab”, for translational research in ART. This center attracted scientists from all over the world to work in developing IVF and ART even further. One major IVF invention from the Sahlgrenska center was the forming of transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval in 1987. With this technique it was possible to avoid laparoscopy surgery when obtaining oocytes. Another major invention in ART was intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), developed by the Brussels group in 1992. Lars Hamberger and his team quickly learned the technique and Sahlgrenska became the second center in the world with a live birth after ICSI. Several major research findings in ART came from the Sahlgrenska center, including the establishment of elective single embryo transfer as a routine, long-term follow-up of IVF children, and uterus transplantation. Alongside all the science in the laboratory, Hamberger also made space for the world-renowned photographer Lennart Nilsson, who created the book “A Child is Born”, with Lars Hamberger as co-author. The book has been translated into 18 languages. Lars Hamberger was not only a scientist and clinician but also an entrepreneur within the business field. He was co-founder of the second private IVF clinic in Sweden, the stem-cell company Cellartis, as well as Vitro Life, now a major global company within the area of Culture media and products for assisted reproduction. Lars Hamberger supervised several PhD students within the Departments of Physiology and Obstetrics & Gynecology and hosted a great number of international visiting scientists. The famous Spec-lab became an international hub for advanced research in ART, greatly aided by Hamberger’s scientific generosity and hospitality. Lars Hamberger became honorary member of the European Society of Human Reproduction (ESHRE) in 2011 and was the Chief Editor of AOGS from 1999 to 2000. On a personal level, Lars had many interests but was particularly passionate about the arts. Lars himself was a talented painter and as a young man dreamed of a future as a painter, despite the disapproval of his father, Professor Carl-Axel Hamberger. However, Hamberger pursued his painting in parallel with his scientific career and had several art exhibitions after retirement. Lars Hamberger will be remembered with warmth and gratitude for being instrumental in the establishment of ART in the Nordic countries and being essential to the development of AOGS.