The Howard Foundation was established in 1982 by Dr Alan Howard (1929-2020) with its main aims being the construction and maintenance of buildings at Downing College, Cambridge and to support biomedical research and research into relieving malnutrition.
The background to the Foundation and the current trustees are shown on the About page. Further details of the past and current work of the Foundation are described on the Achievements page with the latest activities and announcements shown on the News page.
The current activities of the Foundation are in four areas:
Relieving Malnutrition
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, Dr Howard conducted research into the treatment of clinical obesity through nutrition. This led to the creation of a dietary approach to treating obesity using a very low calorie diet (VLCD).
Through decades of research, Professor Mike Lean at the University of Glasgow and an alumnus of Downing College Cambridge, has identified obesity as a major cause of type-2 diabetes and that weight loss by focussed nutrition can lead to remission of the disease.
In December 2025, the Foundation agreed to fund CoDIAPREM (Community-based Diabetes Prevention and Remission), a four year clinical trial in Nepal, led by Professor Lean, that aims to reduce the growing number of people in Nepal suffering from type-2 diabetes.
Click here for the announcement on the News page.
Click here for further information on the project.
Carotenoid Research
In the early 1990’s, Dr Howard began to investigate the importance of carotenoids to human health. This led to joint research with Professor John Nolan at the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland which began in 2009. Since 2016, the Foundation has funded a Chair in Human Nutrition at the South Eastern Technological University (SETU) in Ireland, held by Professor Nolan, which runs until 2031.
The Foundation has sponsored a number of clinical trials showing the importance of three main carotenoids in eye and brain health and the benefits of supplementation, given the deficit of these carotenoids in the modern diet.
Click here for further information on this research.
Downing College Cambridge
Dr Howard’s association with Downing College Cambridge began in 1948, when he came up to Cambridge as an undergraduate, and continued until his death in 2020.
Through donations from the Foundation, the college have gained three major buildings, other infrastructure and a travel bursary for postgraduate students. Click here for further information on this support.
Annual Howard Lecture
Starting in 2021, the Foundation have sponsored a lecture in memory of Dr Alan Howard.
In 2021, Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly spoke on Celebrating the centenary of insulin at the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM). Click here to watch the video recording.
2022 was the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Foundation and Professor Mark Emberton spoke on Seeing is believing – the transformation of prostate cancer management over the last decade, also at the RSM. Click here to watch the video recording.
In 2024, Professor John Nolan spoke on Connecting carotenoids from eye to brain: A new vision for management of age-related macular degeneration and dementia, again at the RSM. Click here to watch the video recording.
In 2025, the lecture moved to the Howard Theatre at Downing College Cambridge where Professor Mike Lean spoke on Redefining obesity and diabetes: Radical new treatments, clear thought and common sense. Click here to watch the video recording.