The Foulkes Foundation Fellowships were introduced in 1975. Their purpose is to promote medical research by providing financial support for science graduates who need a medical degree before they can undertake medical research, and similarly for medical graduates who need a science degree.
The Foulkes Foundation invites applications for Fellowships from recently qualified scientists and medical graduates. Applicants should have a PhD or equivalent degree or research ability and should intend to contribute to medical research. The Fellowships, which do not cover fees, are awarded for up to three years and are tenable in the United Kingdom only. The size of the Fellowship depends on the circumstances of the applicant, but the scale for the basic science research councils' studentship is used as a guideline.
It would be helpful if applicants with science degrees wishing to study medicine were to indicate in what way they would regard possession of a medical qualification to be likely to assist them to make use of their scientific qualifications in their subsequent career. Similarly, medically qualified applicants wishing to take a degree in science should indicate why they wish to obtain additional experience and qualifications, and how they expect that this will assist them in their future research career.
The Trustees will be particularly interested in receiving applications from candidates who are likely to make use of recent developments in molecular biology, biological sciences and biotechnology in the programme of medical research they hope to pursue.
Applicants will be selected by an Advisory Board whose decision is subject to final approval by the Trustees of the Foulkes Foundation.
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Dr Ernest M Foulkes CBE, Hon MD, Hon FRCP 1902-93. |
"While developing and running his laboratory equipment company, Measuring and Scientific Equipment (MSE) in the post-war years, Ernest Foulkes became increasingly aware of the need in medical research for more medical doctors who were trained in both scientific and clinical medicine and who would be able to translate new scientific knowledge into clinical practice and to direct scientific research towards medically important goals.
Many young post-doctoral scientists who wished to embark on medical research faced financial difficulties if they decided to return to university. When Foulkes sold MSE to Fisons in 1972, he endowed the Foulkes Foundation with a considerable sum of money. Its purpose was to assist, annually, 6-8 exceptionally able young scientists, selected by a panel of scientists and doctors, to train in medicine. In 1982 Foulkes extended the operations to Israel, with special emphasis on biotechnology. A number of the fellows have attained senior medical posts, including professorships. This gave Foulkes great satisfaction and he continued to keep in touch with many of them.
Foulkes was born in Frankfurt in 1902. After leaving school he studied at the Technische Hochschule in Berlin. He specialised in factory planning and in 1929 obtained a doctorate in engineering. Observing the rise of Nazism, he left Germany for Spain in 1933, where he was joined by his fiancée, Senta. They married, but realised that the Spanish political climate was becoming as untenable as in Germany, and in 1936 they came to Britain. Starting out with little capital, but equipped with expertise, energy and determination, Foulkes established MSE to make machine tools, then in short supply in Britain. In spite of this, when war with Germany broke out, bureaucracy decreed that he be interned on the Isle of Man, as a 'friendly enemy alien' for a year.
After the war, MSE turned to the development of centrifuges and other specialised laboratory equipment. Because he was always eager to observe scientists at work in their laboratories, Foulkes designed and produced efficient and safe equipment tailored to their requirements. He also offered an exceptionally good service for making modifications to match the scientists' expectations with the equipment's performance. As a result, MSE established itself as a 'best buy' the world over, and in 1966 the company was one of the first to win the Queen's Award for export achievement.
Ernest Foulkes identified the need to revitalise Britain as an industrial country; as a scientist, he developed a profitable and innovative business, as a successful businessman he invested the profits of the company in the education and training of the next generation for the benefit of the country that had given him the opportunity to use his gifts to the full.
His final years were marred by failing eyesight and painful arthritis. He is survived by his wife and daughter, Maureen, who has taken over the chairmanship of the Foulkes Foundation."
Adapted from the obituary by Dr Robert Mahler, one of the trustees of the Foundation, published in The Independent, 8 July 1993.
The Registrar,
Foulkes Foundation Fellowship,
37 Ringwood Avenue,
London, N2 9NT .
e-mail registrar@foulkes-foundation.org
Registered Charity No:265166
The closing date for applications is 15th March of each year.
Please enclose a stamped, addressed envelope with your request for an application form.
Pictures from the 1999 Annual Dinner
Page developed by A.S. Menon-Johansson (Foulkes Fellow 1995)
Maintined on webserver solution provided by Ian M Thompson (Foulkes Fellow 1993)
Last updated 20th August 2007