In early April 2025, Professor John Nolan, Howard Chair In Human Nutrition at SETU, hosted a visit by the Trustees of the Howard Foundation to the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI) on the campus of the South East Technological University (SETU).
Professor Nolan gave a guided tour of the centre including the Howard Laboratory, where researchers use advanced equipment to study how carotenoids affect eye and brain health, and the Darwin Laboratory which is the analysis laboratory for Supplement Certified.
The highlights of the discussions included a presentation by Dr Anne Graham, Deputy Director of the NRCI, summarising the current research activities of the centre and the future direction focussed on “Health 3.0 – retaining function as we age“. This was followed by more detailed presentations by NRCI researchers on their current projects including the SNIPE (Sport Nutrition Intervention in Performance Environment) project which is sponsored by the Foundation. Dr Alfonso Prado-Cabrero described the work both in the Howard Laboratory and that of Supplement Certified. Professor Nolan outlined the plans for the new optometry school at SETU. The Trustees also met Professor Marie Claire Van Hout, the SETU VP of research.
During their tour, the Trustees were shown two instruments from the early 2000’s, which were used to investigate macular pigment optical density (MPOD):
At the back are the two units that form the eyemet Maculometer. This was invented by Prof John Mellerio and used by Professor Nolan in his PhD research and further studies. Click here to read a detailed description of this machine by Prof Mellerio.
In the front of the picture is a Macular Densitometer which was, at the time, a more advanced system to measure macular pigment. This was developed by Dr Bill Wooten and others. Click here to read a paper describing this machine.
Both use heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP). Click here to read about HPF.
The Trustees wish to thank all at the NRCI for a very rewarding visit.