Muriel Harris
Image courtesy of John Fallows
- Born
- 4 June 1923
- Died
- 14 December 2007 (age 84)
Muriel Harris was the hospital operating theatre superintendent who collaborated with Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards to develop in vitro fertilisation (IVF) at Dr Kershaw’s Hospital in Oldham and subsequently Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridge.
Born in Swinton, Harris was educated at Pendleton High School for Girls before studying at Manchester University for her BSc Degree in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In 1942 she moved to the London Hospital to study for her State Registered Nurse Training during the London ‘blitz’ of World War II. In 1968 Sister Harris took up the post of operating theatre superintendant at Oldham Heath Authority, working with Patrick Steptoe on his pioneering laparoscopy techniques.
Harris’ major contribution to IVF was the establishment of the operating theatres at Dr Kershaw’s Hospital which was essential to the IVF programme carried out by Steptoe and Edwards. Harris is reported to have acquired much of the equipment for the operating theatres. She also worked hard to assemble a team of theatre nurses that would assist in egg recovery from patients and embryo transfer.
Following the establishment of Bourn Hall Clinic in 1980, the new IVF centre near Cambridge, Harris became Matron in Charge. She quickly established operating theatre facilities and wards, initially using portakabin units. Her tireless work was instrumental in allowing the work of Steptoe and Edwards to be continued and allowed them to realise many potentials and subsequent breakthroughs.
As is the case with many ‘dynamic’ personalities, Muriel’s horizons looked beyond the grounds of Bourn Hall Clinic. At the nearby ex-RAF Bourn airfield she gained her Private Pilot License and indulged in the occasional solo flights as far as Spain. Muriel helped to establish the flying school at Bourn and part-owned a Cessna light aircraft. She stopped flying at 80 years of age.
This profile was written by a Biology: Changing the World volunteer.