An Abergavenny scientist has been awarded a coveted international accolade for his work as a pioneer of research into IVF treatment.

Professor David Whittingham travelled across the globe to Japan to receive the Special Award recognition, for his ground-breaking work on the early development of the embryo.

Professor Whittingham, a native of the Abergavenny area, collected the prize from the Japan Society of Ova Research last month. 

He was the first scientist in history to successfully freeze a mammalian embryo, a technique that is now widely used in IVF. Many children across the world have been born as a result of these techniques.

Professor Whittingham, 78, was born in Abergavenny Cottage Hospital, which used to be at Hereford Road and in retirement he has returned to the Abergavenny area. ??“I went to a village school in Goytre. I was very lucky to have a teacher, Ms Meera, who took an interest in me, which started my interest in biology”. 

“I then went to West Monmouth in Pontypool where I was taught by a biology Master, Mr Bennett who my brother and I admired, he taught us how to find things out, emphasising that we had to do that for ourselves.

“The influence of these teachers in instilling an interest in science led me to a very rewarding life in research with colleagues around the world.

“Such opportunities for the young abound today, especially where education is not restricted to a rigid and proscribed curriculum.

“The world of science is paramount in our lives today and awareness of it should start in the early years of schooling,” he said.

Professor Whittingham is currently Emeritus Professor at St George’s, University of London.