“Many congratulations on your first 50 years of wonderful achievements. It was my pleasure and privilege to serve on your board and I saw first hand the ways in which you were able to support so many excellent young scientists achieve even greater advances. Very well done and may you continue your work for many years to come.”
Leslie Turnberg FRCP FMedSci
Foulkes Foundation Advisor (1994-1999) and Trustee (1999-2015)
“I am delighted to congratulate the Foulkes Foundation on their 50th Anniversary.
My major engagement with the Foundation was through the Foulkes Foundation medal that was awarded every two years by the Academy of Medical Sciences in partnership with the Foundation. This medal was awarded for high impact contributions to translational research by individuals within ten years of acquiring their PhD. This has become a much sought after accolade and, as the quality of the recipients attest, a mark of outstanding merit in UK biomedical science.
Particular credit goes to Maureen Foulkes whose passion and indefatigability in leading the Foundation’s work has been key to its success.
Happy 50th birthday!”
Professor Sir Robert Lechler FMedSci
Professor of Immunology, King’s College London
Executive Director, King’s Health Partners
President, Academy of Medical Sciences (2015 - 2020)
"My own memory of the Foundation goes back 32 years when I was president of the RCP although I had had contact with the family in 1959-1960 when I was a PhD student.
The Foundation was instrumental in helping a bunch of young students/doctors to realise their dreams of being doctors or medical academics. A series of impressive medics owe their start to The Foundation and it is a real testament to the Trustees for choosing winners!! It is equally impressive that the Foundation is still active and vibrant after 50 years. We owe them and the family who have been unwavering in their support a great debt."
Professor Sir George Alberti FRCP FRCPE FRCS FRCPath
President, Royal College of Physicians (1997 - 2002)
“Congratulations, Maureen and your Board, on this wonderful achievement. It means so much to those doctors whom you have supported over half a century and has made such a contribution to British Medicine and Bioscience.”
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore
Chair, Alcohol Health Alliance UK
Liverpool Centre for Alcohol Research
President, Royal College of Physicians (2006-2010)
“I cannot believe it is 50 years since the Foundation was set up to celebrate Dr Foulkes’ achievements and vision. I always admired what Dr Foulkes stood for when he came to the UK and was always grateful to have the support of the Foundation.
Many congratulations to you both (Maureen and Georgina) for maintaining the Foundation for all these years and giving support to those considering studying medicine after a Ph.D. The contribution that the Foundation has subsequently made to advancing science in medicine is truly inspiring.”
Professor Tom Elliott
1978 Fellow
“The Foulkes Foundation has become over the years a token of excellence in biomedical research combined with active medical practice. Receiving the Foulkes Fellowship (and the Senta Foulkes prize later on) was a great honour and a strong incentive to continue pursuing excellent research with real medical implications. Of course, serving on the selection committee in recent years, having some of my tremendously competent MD-PhD students become second-generation Foulkes Fellowship recipients, makes the attachment even stronger. On a personal note, Maureen - your personal involvement is at least as important as the prize itself.”
Professor Ohad Birk MD PhD
Member, Foulkes Foundation Israeli Advisory Board
Kreitman Foundation Chair in Human Genetics
Head, Genetics Institute & Precision Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
Head, National Research Center for Rare / Orphan Diseases
Head, Morris Kahn Laboratory of Human Genetics
“In 1978, I was among the earliest recipients of the Foulkes Foundation Fellowship—an inflection point that transformed my life and career. My path into medicine was not traditional. After finishing high school in Kenya, my family emigrated to the UK. I worked for three years as a laboratory technician for Dr. Jack Pepys, Brompton Hospital, while studying for my A-levels at night school. At 26, when I applied to medical school, most admissions committees dismissed my application, either because I was too old or because of my non-traditional academic record.
But the Foulkes Foundation saw something different. It recognized the promise of physician-scientists and opened the door to medical school at the Royal Free (now part of UCL), just as I completed my PhD at St Thomas’ Hospital on LDL receptor regulation. That Fellowship did more than provide support—it gave me a sense of legitimacy, of belonging, and of hope.
Now, at 73, I feel more creative and purposeful than ever. The Foulkes Foundation gave me my start when few others would. It affirmed a belief in second chances, unconventional paths, and the power of combining science with compassion. I carry that ethos with me every day—in my clinic, in my lab, in mentorship roles, and in my work around the world.
Congratulations on 50 years of visionary impact. You did not just build careers—you shaped lives, families, and futures. If one were to trace the collective pedigree of your Fellows, it would not be far-fetched to say: the Foulkes Foundation has helped shape the very architecture of modern medicine—and, just as importantly, humanized it.”
Pramod K Mistry MD, PHD, FRCP, FAASLD, MA (Yale privatim)
Professor, Medicine, Pediatrics, Molecular & Cellular Biology
Yale School of Medicine
“On my appointment as Associate Professor, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Foulkes Foundation for the invaluable support provided early in my career and for the trust you placed in me.”
Associate Professor Max Taquet MSc BM BCh MRCPsych PhD
2015 Fellow
Associate Professor, University of Oxford
Specialty Registrar in Psychiatry, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
“I wish you all a happy celebration and the Foundation a long-lasting success in the years to come!”
Professor Dennis Lo SBS JP FRS FRCP FRCPath
1990 Fellow
Vice-Chancellor & President, The Chinese University of Hong Kong