Researcher members

Research interests Psychosocial interventions, reminiscence, connectedness

Research interests Parkinson’s disease (Neuroprotective therapies, Stem Cell Therapies, Biomarkers, Animal Models, In Vitro Models, Neuropathological Mechanisms)

Research interests To develop disease modifying drugs for treating age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, we must identify and prevent the causative factors of their early pathogenesis. My research interest is focused on understanding how an excessive accumulation of intracellular metabolites (e.g. proteins, lipids, polysaccharrides and RNA) within the endosomal-autophagic-lysosomal (EAL) system, is a major contributing factor to neurodegenerative stress. Through translational research collaborations with clinicians, we aim to identify biomarkers of this specific pathology in patient biosamples, which can be used to develop future diagnostics and therapeutic treatments. Specific Research Projects: (i) Biomarker assays and remediation therapies for endosomal-autophagic-lysosomal dysfunction. (ii) Relevance of storage diseases to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson's disease. (iii) Impact of age-related osmotic stress on neuronal catabolic flux.

Research interests Main interest are in alterations in synaptic function and synaptic plasticity in models of Alzheimer's disease. Synaptic plasticity (long-term potentiation ; LTP) linked to memory is known to be reduced in transgenic mice that express FAD mutations. In addition amyloid derived diffusible ligands which are synthetic forms of oligomeric beta amyloid also disrupt LTP in the hippocampus. We have investigated how potential therapeutic agents including Il1beta- receptor antagonist, JNK inhibitors, L-type calcium channel blockers, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor agonists (PPARg), simvastatin and more recently cannabidiol (the non-psychoactive component of cannabis) can attentuate the effects of beta amyloid and also reverse deficits in LTP in transgenic mouse models. Techniques: Brain slice electrophysiology; Western blot quantification of beta amyloid and associated alterations in signalling proteins; cell viability assays; Elisa.

Research interests - role of nutrition, lifestyle and environment factors on cognitive decline and dementia - B-vitamins, 1-Carbon metabolism and age-related disease

Research interests Diet, retinal microvascular health and cognitive decline and dementia

Research interests Neuroinflammation, Microglia, Impact of systemic inflammation/co-morbidity on progression of dementia, Delirium.

Research interests We are particularly interested in modelling the initial step of the amyloidogenesis cascade and to design small-molecule therapeutics to inhibit critical conformers and/or promote protective pathways. To do this work we use atomic scale simulations (molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics), run on high-performance computing (HPC) platforms. For more on how we model (bio)chemical interactions please visit http://www.energy.ul.ie/research/atom-scale-materials-design-assembled.

Research interests Mental Health in Older Adults; Dementia; Depression in Older People

Research interests Health technology, knowledge transfer and exchange, user involvement, service evaluation