Edwin Carlyle "Carl" Wood, AC CBE FRCS , FRANZCOG (28 May 1929 – 23 September 2011) was a prominent Australian gynaecologist, best known for his pioneering work developing and commercialising the technique of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).
[1] He gained considerable international and national attention for his wide-ranging contributions in the field of women's health over a period of almost 50 years, although not all of it was positive given the controversial nature of many of his endeavours.
[3] 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.
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.