Page 35 - Eclipse - Autumn 2015

35
Christopher Howard – Honorary Degree
The following is an excerpt of the oration given for Christopher by Professor Fiona Tomley:
Christopher is a pioneer of veterinary immunology, he is an extremely successful man and he’s one of the nicest scientists you’re ever likely to meet. Chris obtained his BSc in Microbiology in 1967, from the University of Reading. He moved from there to London to study for
his PhD at St Mary’s Medical Hospital School under the guidance of the distinguished bacteriologist Alan Glyn.
It was a pivotal time in the emerging science of modern immunology and Chris was well and truly hooked. In 1971 shortly after completion of his PhD he was offered a faculty position at the Compton Laboratory in Berkshire which was later to be known as the Institute of Animal Health. He specialised in respiratory disease caused by a variety of infectious agents such tuberculosis bacteria.
By any standards his was an extremely successful career. Chris authored more than 260 scienti c papers, was editor in chief of the journal Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology for almost a decade, and received numerous international awards in recognition of his research. He also held visiting professorships in Canada, the USA, and here at the RVC.
Many of Chris’s personal scienti c ndings brought new insight into the fundamental mechanisms of host- pathogen interaction. However his achievements are
even more impressive because he never lost sight of the need to implement practical solutions to pressing disease problems.
In later years when he was Head of a component of a UK national research programme on bovine tuberculosis, his ability to translate basic science into practice led the group to develop a novel immunoassay that can differentiate between cattle that are vaccinated as neonates with BCG from those infected later in life with fully virulent micro bacteria.
Great science is not just about the doing of the work it’s also about the vision, leadership, exploration and legacy. Chris recognised very early on the need to develop a fundamental approach to the immunology of livestock species. He instigated and led the bovine immunology
and research programme at Compton, and under his stewardship this group became world leaders, to describe and de ne many of the most important cell subsets in cattle. They collaborated all around the world to produce a very large number of high impact studies. Within the programme, a large number of PhD students and postdoctoral scientists were trained, often being co-supervised by RVC faculty members.
The Howard Lab alumni includes many senior academics
in UK and overseas universities and this is a testament
to Chris’s success both as a research leader and to his ability to inspire others through his work ethic, enthusiasm, mentoring and encouragement. He did all of this with a great sense of humour and a gentle manner, although his overenthusiastic correction of draft manuscripts with a semi blunt pencil was somewhat notorious.
Chris Howard is an excellent role model for postgraduates. He dedicated his entire research career to the pursuit of knowledge, generating along the way several important practical outcomes, a huge body of scienti c literature, and a legacy network of scientists that are continuing the work that he started.