The following sections highlight current and awarded research degrees which have used data from the TUDA Study to advance understanding of age-related diseases
Current research degrees:
Wenzhao Gao PhD Ulster University
An artificial intelligence approach to investigate neurodegenerative diseases in ageing; interdisciplinary project integrating nutrition, genetics, environmental science and data analytics.
Supervised by Dr Catherine Hughes, Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Michaela Black
Emily S. Krueger PhD Ulster University
Nutritional, Health, and Environmental Impacts of Transitioning to Healthy Diets from Sustainable Sources.
Supervised by Dr Catherine Hughes, Prof Mary Ward, Prof Helene McNulty
Sophie Haggerwood PhD Ulster University
Interactions of socioeconomic deprivation and food accessibility factors with dietary behaviours, nutritional status and brain health outcomes among older adults.
Supervised by Dr Leane Hoey, Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Adrian Moore, Dr Catherine Hughes
Lynsey Montgomery PhD Ulster University
B-vitamins, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and the Ageing Brain.
Supervised by Dr Catherine Hughes, Dr Leane Hoey, Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Mary Ward
Umair Shabbir PhD Ulster University
Nutrition, immune function, and the gut microbiome: impacts on the ageing brain.
Supervised by Dr Leane Hoey, Dr Catherine Hughes, Prof Helene McNulty, Prof James Dooley
Adam Dyer PhD Trinity College Dublin
Inter-Individual Immune Variability in Ageing, Frailty and Alzheimer Disease.
Supervised by Prof Nollaig Bourke, Prof Cliona O’Farrelly, Prof Sean Kennelly
Donal Fitzpatrick MD Trinity College Dublin
The relationship of medications and hyperparathyroidism to bone mineral density in older adults.
Supervised by Dr Kevin McCarroll, Dr Rosaleen Lannon
Awarded research degrees:
Shane Gordon PhD Ulster University
2025 PhD awarded “Nutrition, Genetics and the Ageing brain: Data analysis with application of Artificial Intelligence approaches to investigate brain health outcomes in older adults”
Supervised by Dr Catherine Hughes, Dr Leane Hoey, Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Mary Ward
Oonagh Lyons PhD Ulster University
2024 PhD awarded “Nutritional issues in young children and older adults”
Supervised by Dr Maeve Kerr, Prof Helene McNulty, Dr Mary Flynn
Michelle Clements PhD
2022 PhD awarded “Studies of vitamin B12, folate and the metabolically related B-vitamins, and their relationship with bone health, in older adults”
Supervised by Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Mary Ward, Dr Catherine Hughes, Dr Leane Hoey
James Mahon MD
2022 Trinity College Dublin MD awarded “Hip fractures in older adults and treatment with intravenous zoledronic acid”
Supervised by Dr Kevin McCarroll, Prof JB Walsh
Harry Jarrett PhD
2021 PhD awarded “Riboflavin and vitamin B6: metabolic interactions and impacts for population health”
Supervised by Prof Mary Ward, Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Kristina Pentieva, Dr Catherine Hughes
Elina Psara PhD
2020 PhD awarded “One carbon metabolism, blood pressure and risk of hypertension through the lifecycle”
Supervised by Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Kristina Pentieva, Prof Mary Ward
Avril Beirne PhD
2019 Trinity College Dublin PhD awarded “Vitamin D deficiency: cognition, mortality and resource utilisation – prospective associations”
Supervised by Prof Conal Cunningham
Katie Moore PhD
2018 PhD awarded “B-vitamins and the ageing brain: human studies incorporating novel technologies”
Supervised by Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Mary Ward, Dr Catherine Hughes, Dr Leane Hoey
Kirsty Porter PhD
2017 PhD awarded “Causes, consequences and public health implications of low B-vitamin status in ageing”
Supervised by Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Mary Ward, Dr Catherine Hughes, Dr Leane Hoey
Catherine McGarel PhD
2015 PhD awarded
Supervised by Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Mary Ward, Dr Catherine Hughes, Dr Leane Hoey
Kevin McCarroll MD
2014 Trinity College Dublin MD awarded “Vitamin D in older adults and its relationship to cognition, blood pressure, mood and falls”
Supervised by Prof Conal Cunningham
Rosie Reilly PhD
2014 PhD awarded “MTHFR genotype and B-vitamin status through the lifecycle”
Supervised by Prof Mary Ward, Prof Helene McNulty
Michelle Clarke PhD
2013 PhD awarded “The role of B-vitamin status, homocysteine and the MTHFR 677C→T polymorphism in bone health”
Supervised by Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Mary Ward, Dr Catherine Hughes, Dr Leane Hoey
Eamon Laird PhD
2012 PhD awarded
Supervised by Prof Helene McNulty, Prof Mary Ward, Dr Catherine Hughes, Dr Leane Hoey
Carol Wilson PhD
2010 PhD awarded “The MTHFR C677T polymorphism and riboflavin: a novel gene-nutrient interaction affecting blood pressure”