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Dr. Maria O'Sullivan
Associate Professor in Human Nutrition, Clinical Medicine

Biography

Associate Professor in Nutrition and a Principal Investigator at Trinity College Dublin with 25+ years' experience in nutrition. I have a strong research profile in nutrition, particularly across vitamin D inflammation, ageing, malnutrition, digestive diseases, and in running nutrition interventions and clinical trials (RCTs).

My work has been recognised internationally, and I was the first Irish recipient of the Cuthbertson Medal (2013) awarded by the Nutrition Society at the College of Surgeons in London. I have held several committee roles in IrSPEN, the Nutrition Society and the Royal Irish Academy.

I am past Editor-in-Chief of Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (2012-16) which doubled in Impact Factor from 2.6 to 5.2. I am a proactive, motivated, enthusiastic professional with a proven ability for teaching, mentoring, research, publishing, communication, fundraising, leadership, project management.I have over 170 publications, including 70 full papers.

In teaching, I am the Director (Deputy) at Trinity for the BSc Human Nutrition & Dietetics joint degree, and a postgraduate PhD and reserch supervisor. I have received a Dean's Award in teaching innovations (2017) and was nominated for the Excellence in Research Student Supervision Award (2022).

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1152-979X

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Curtis, Molly, Swan, Lauren, Fox, Rebecca, Warters, Austin, O"Sullivan, Maria, Associations between Body Mass Index and Probable Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Nutrients, 15, (6), 2023, p1505 Journal Article, 2023 DOI

Lauren Swan, N Frances Horgan, Chie Wei Fan, Austin Warters, Maria O'Sullivan. , Residential area socioeconomic deprivation is associated with physical dependency and polypharmacy in community-dwelling older adults: an analysis of health administrative data in Ireland, Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 2022, pin press accepted Aug 25, 2022 Journal Article, 2022

Horgan, Frances, Cummins, Vanda, Skelton, Dawn A., Doyle, Frank, O"Sullivan, Maria, Galvin, Rose, Burton, Elissa, Sorensen, Jan, Jabakhanji, Samira Barbara, Townley, Bex, Rooney, Debbie, Jackson, Gill, Murphy, Lisa, Swan, Lauren, O"Neill, Mary, Warters, Austin, Enhancing Existing Formal Home Care to Improve and Maintain Functional Status in Older Adults: Results of a Feasibility Study on the Implementation of Care to Move (CTM) in an Irish Healthcare Setting, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, (18), 2022, p11148 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

Burton, Elissa, Horgan, N Frances, Cummins, Vanda, Warters, Austin, Swan, Lauren, O'Sullivan, Maria, Skelton, Dawn A, Townley, Bex, Doyle, Frank, Jabakhanji, Samira, Sorensen, Jan, Rooney, Debbie, Murphy, Lisa, Galvin, Rose, A Qualitative Study of Older Adults" Experiences of Embedding Physical Activity Within Their Home Care Services in Ireland, Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, Volume 15, 2022, p1163-1173 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

Swan, Lauren, Martin, Niamh, Horgan, N Frances, Warters, Austin, O"Sullivan, Maria, Assessing Sarcopenia, Frailty, and Malnutrition in Community-Dwelling Dependant Older Adults"An Exploratory Home-Based Study of an Underserved Group in Research, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, (23), 2022, p16133 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

Lauren Swan, Austin Warters, Maria O'Sullivan, Socioeconomic Disadvantage is Associated with Probable Sarcopenia in Community-dwelling Older Adults: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, The Journal of Frailty & Aging, 2022, p10.14283/jfa.2022.32 Journal Article, 2022

Swan, Lauren, Horgan, N Frances, Cummins, Vanda, Burton, Elissa, Galvin, Rose, Skelton, Dawn A, Townley, Bex, Doyle, Frank, Jabakhanji, Samira, Sorensen, Jan, Rooney, Debbie, Murphy, Lisa, Warters, Austin, O'Sullivan, Maria, Embedding Physical Activity Within Community Home Support Services for Older Adults in Ireland " A Qualitative Study of Barriers and Enablers, Clinical Interventions in Aging, Volume 17, 2022, p223-234 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

Swan, Lauren, Warters, Austin, O'Sullivan, Maria, Socioeconomic Inequality and Risk of Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Clinical Interventions in Aging, Volume 16, 2021, p1119-1129 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

L Swan, A Warters, M O'Sullivan , Socioeconomic Inequality Is A Determinant Of Probable Sarcopenia In Community dwelling Older Adults. , ESPEN Conference 2020, Sept, 2020 Journal Article, 2020

Horgan NF, Cummins V, Doyle F, O'Sullivan M, Galvin R, Burton E, Sorensen J, Skelton DA, Townley B, Rooney D, Jackson G, Swan L, Warters A., Enhancing existing formal home care to improve and maintain functional status in older adults: Protocol for a feasibility study on the implementation of the Care to Move (CTM) programme in an Irish healthcare setting., J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls, 5, (1), 2020, p10-16 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Laird E, Walsh JB, Lanham-New S, O'Sullivan M, Kenny RA, Scully H, Crowley V, Healy M., A High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Observed in an Irish South East Asian Population: A Cross-Sectional Observation Study., Nutrients, 12, (12), 2020 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Aspell, Niamh, Laird, Eamon, Healy, Martin, Lawlor, Brian, O'Sullivan, Maria,

Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated With Impaired Muscle Strength And Physical Performance In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Findings From The English Longitudinal Study Of Ageing

, Clinical Interventions in Aging, Volume 14, 2019, p1751-1761 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

Aspell, Niamh, O'Sullivan, Maria, O'Shea, Eamon, Irving, Kate, Duffy, Chloe, Gorman, Rebecca, Warters, Austin, Predicting admission to long"term care and mortality among community"based, dependent older people in Ireland, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 34, (7), 2019, p999-1007 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

O'Sullivan F, Raftery T, van Weele M, van Geffen J, McNamara D, O'Morain C, Mahmud N, Kelly D, Healy M, O'Sullivan M, Zgaga L., Sunshine is an important determinant of vitamin D status even among high-dose supplement users: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial in Crohn's disease patients., Photochemistry and Photobiology, 95, (4), 2019, p1060 - 1067 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

Lauren Swan, Maria O'Sullivan, Austin Warters, Kate Irving, Socioeconomic and social factors among community-dwelling dependent older people with cognitive impairment in Ireland, Age and Ageing 2019; doi: 10.1093/ageing/afz102.55, 48, 2019, piii1 - iii16 Journal Article, 2019

Aspell N, Laird E, Healy M, Shannon T, Lawlor B, O'Sullivan M., The Prevalence and Determinants of Vitamin D Status in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)., Nutrients, 11, (6), 2019 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

Kelly S, O'Brien I , Smuts K, O'Sullivan M, Warters A., Prevalence of frailty among community dwelling older adults in receipt of low level home support: a cross-sectional analysis of the North Dublin Cohort., BMC Geriatr. , 17, (121), 2017, p1 - 11 Journal Article, 2017 TARA - Full Text

Aspell N, Lawlor B, O'Sullivan M, Is there a role for vitamin D in supporting cognitive function as we age?, Proc Nutr Soc., Dec 13:, (Epub ahead of print), 2017, p1 - 11 Journal Article, 2017

Boland K, Maher N, O'Hanlon C, O'Sullivan M, Rice N, Smyth M, Reynolds JV, Home enteral nutrition recipients: patient perspectives on training, complications and satisfaction., Frontline Gastroenterol. , 8, (1), 2017, p79 - 84 Journal Article, 2017 TARA - Full Text

I. O'Brien, K. Smuts, C. W. Fan, M.O'Sullivan, A. Warters., High prevalence of dementia among community dwelling older adults in receipt of state funded home care packages: implications for health care planning, Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, E-pub, 2017, p1 - 6 Journal Article, 2017 TARA - Full Text

Maria O'Sullivan, Is vitamin D supplementation a viable treatment for Crohn's disease?, Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol, 10, (1), 2016, p1 - 4 Journal Article, 2016

Tara Raftery, Adrian Martineau, Claire Greiller, Subrata Ghosh, Deirdre McNamara, Kathleen Bennett, Jon Meddings, Maria O'Sullivan, Effects of vitamin D supplementation on intestinal permeability, cathelicidin and disease markers in Crohn's disease: Results from a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study. , United European Gastroenterology Journal, 3, (3), 2015, p294 - 302 Journal Article, 2015 TARA - Full Text URL

O'Sullivan M, Vitamin D as a novel therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: new hope or false dawn?, The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 74, (1), 2015, p5-12 Journal Article, 2015 TARA - Full Text DOI

Raftery T, O'Sullivan M, Optimal vitamin D levels in Crohn's disease: a review., The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 74, (1), 2015, p56-66 Journal Article, 2015 TARA - Full Text DOI

Maria O'Sullivan, Does vitamin D protect the gut mucosal barrier? Mechanistic insights from experimental colitis., Dg Dis Sci, 60, (7), 2015, p1871 - 1872 Journal Article, 2015

Raftery T, Merrick M, Healy M, Mahmud N, O'Morain C, Smith S, McNamara D, O'Sullivan M., Vitamin D Status Is Associated with Intestinal Inflammation as Measured by Fecal Calprotectin in Crohn's Disease in Clinical Remission., Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 60, (8), 2015, p2427 - 2435 Journal Article, 2015 DOI

Duggan SN, Smyth ND, O'Sullivan M, Feehan S, Ridgway PF, Conlon KC., The prevalence of malnutrition and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies in chronic pancreatitis., Nutr Clin Pract., 29, (3 ), 2014, p348 - 354 Journal Article, 2014 DOI

Wilcz-Villega E, McClean S, O'Sullivan M, Reduced E-cadherin expression is associated with abdominal pain and symptom duration in a study of alternating and diarrhea predominant IBS, Neurogastroenterol Motil. , 26, (3), 2014, p316 - 325 Journal Article, 2014 Other

T Raftery, A Martineau, C Greiller, S Ghosh, D McNamara, J Meddings, M O'Sullivan, Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Intestinal Permeability, Plasma Cathelicidin and Human Beta-Defensin-2 in Crohn's Disease: Results from a Randomised Double-blind Placebo-Controlled Study, Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, Florida, US, April 2013, edited by DDW , S, DDW, 2013, pp0 - 0 Conference Paper, 2013

E Wilcz,, S McClean, M O'Sullivan. , Mast cell tryptase reduces junctoinal adhesion molecule A in intestinal epithelial cells: implications for barrier dysfunction in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. , American J Gastroenterol, E-pub , (Jan), 2013, p0 - 0 Journal Article, 2013

Dietary treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in, editor(s)Miranda Lomer , Diet and Inflammatory Bowel Disease, UK, 2013, pp0 - 0, [Maria O'Sullivan, Tara Raftery] Book Chapter, 2013

O'Sullivan M, Raftery T, Nic Suibhne T, Differences in obesity in Crohn's disease in Japan and western countries, J Crohns Colitis, Nov , 2013 Journal Article, 2013

Duggan SN, O Sullivan M, Hamilton S, Feehan SM, Ridgway PF, Conlon KC, Patients with chronic pancreatitis are at increased risk for osteoporosis., Pancreas, 41, (7), 2012, p1119-24 Journal Article, 2012

Nic Suibhne T, Raftery TC, McMahon O, Walsh C, O Morain C, O'Sullivan M, High prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults with Crohn's disease: Associations with disease and lifestyle factors., Journal of Crohns & colitis, Oct 3, 2012 Journal Article, 2012

Nic Suibhne T, Cox G, Healy M, O Morain C, O Sullivan M, Vitamin D deficiency in Crohns disease: Prevalence, risk factors and supplement use in an outpatient setting., Journal of Crohns & Colitis, 6, (2), 2012, p182-8 Journal Article, 2012 DOI

S Duggan, N Smyth, M O'Sullivan, S Feehan, P Ridgeway, K Conlon, A transatlantic survey of nutrition practice in acute pancreatitis, J Hum Nutr Diet , 25, (4), 2012, p388 - 397 Journal Article, 2012

Raftery T, O'Morain C, O'Sullivan M., Vitamin D: New Roles and Therapeutic Potential in Inflammatory Bowel Disease., Current Drug Metabolism, 13, (9), 2012, p1294 - 1302 Journal Article, 2012

O'Donnell S, Murphy S, Anwar MM, O'Sullivan M, Breslin N, O'Connor HJ, Ryan BM, O'Morain CA, Safety of infliximab in 10 years of clinical practice., Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 23, (7), 2011, p603 - 606 Journal Article, 2011 DOI

Sarah O'Donnell, Maria O'Sullivan, Niall Breslin, Humphrey J. O'Connor, Colm A. O'Morain, Paul L. Crotty, Barbara M. Ryan, 53. Isolated Active Ileitis: Serological and Genetic Profile, Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, Digestive Disease Week, Chicago, 2011, May 2011, 140, 2011, ppS-1 - S-1 Conference Paper, 2011

Hughes DJ, McManus R, Neary P, O'Morain C, O'Sullivan M , Common Variation in the Vitamin D Receptor Gene and Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in an Irish Case-Control Study, Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 23, (9), 2011, p807 - 812 Journal Article, 2011

Maria O'Sullivan, Therapeutic potential of ketotifen in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) may involve changes in mast cells at sites beyond the rectum, Gut, 60, (3), 2011, p423 - 423 Journal Article, 2011

E Wilcz, S McClean, M O'Sullivan, Mast Cell Tryptase Reduces Junctional Adhesion Molecule-A (JAM-A) Expression in Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells: Implications for the Mechanisms of Barrier Dysfunction in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, Digestive Disease Week, Chicago, USA, May 2011, 140, (5), 2011, ppS-504 - S-504 Conference Paper, 2011 URL

Tara Raftery, Maria O'Sullivan, Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Events in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. , American Journal of Gastroenterology , 106, (11), 2011, p2042 - 2042 Journal Article, 2011 DOI

P Kelly, T Nic Suibhne, C O'Morain, M O'Sullivan, Vitamin D deficiency and cytokine levels in Crohn's disease, International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, 81, (4), 2011, p205 - 210 Journal Article, 2011 DOI

Ewa Wilcz, Siobhan McClean, Maria O'Sullivan, Mast cell Tryptase Alters Intestinal Permeability and Tight Junction Proteins: Implications for the Pathogenesis of IBS, Endoscopy, United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW), Barcelona, Spain., October 2010, 2010, ppM1124 - M1124 Conference Paper, 2010

Ewa Wilcz , Colm O'Morain, Siobhan McClean, Maria O'Sullivan, Effects of Tryptase and Mast cells on Intestinal Permeability and Tight Junction Proteins: implications for the pathogenesis of IBS, Gastroenterology , American Gastroenterology Association meeting, Digestive Disease Week, New Orleans, USA, May 2010, 138, 2010, ppS-625 - S-625 Conference Paper, 2010

Duggan S, O'Sullivan M, Feehan S, Ridgway P, Conlon K, Nutrition treatment of deficiency and malnutrition in chronic pancreatitis: a review., Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 25, (4), 2010, p362-70 Journal Article, 2010 DOI

Murphy, G, Thornton, J, McManus, R, Swan, N, Ryan, B, Hughes, DJ, O'Morain, CA, O'Sullivan, M, Association of gastric disease with polymorphisms in the inflammatory-related genes IL-1B, IL-1RN, IL-10, TNF and TLR4., European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology, 21, (6), 2009, p630 - 635 Journal Article, 2009 DOI

Maria O'Sullivan, Joint Nutrition Society and Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute Symposium on 'Nutrition and autoimmune disease' Nutrition in Crohn's disease, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , 68, (2), 2009, p1 - 8 Journal Article, 2009 TARA - Full Text

O'Sullivan M, Nic Suibhne T, Cox G, Healy M, O'Morain C, High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in healthy Irish adults, Irish Journal of Medical Science, Feb 15, (PMID: 18274816), 2008 Journal Article, 2008

M O'Sullivan, C O'Morain, Nutrition in Inflammatory bowel disease, Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology , 20 , 2006, p561 - 573 Journal Article, 2006

Dring M, C Goulding, V Trimble, D Keegan, AW Ryan, K Brophy, C Smyth, PW N Keeling, D O'Donoghue, M O'Sullivan, C O'Morain, N Mahmud, A-C Wikström, D. Kelleher, R McManus., The Pregnane X Receptor Locus Is Associated With Susceptibility to Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Gastroenterology, 130, 2006, p341 - 348 Journal Article, 2006

Are we able to treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease with diet? in, editor(s)Vucelic B, Colombel JF, Grasche C, Scholmerich J , IBD: translation from basic research to clinical practice (Falk symposium 140). , UK, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2005, pp138 - 146, [T Nic Suibhne, CA O'Morain, M O'Sullivan] Book Chapter, 2005

Q Dong, M O'Sullivan, A Nami, P Dowling, G Murphy ,M Buckley, C O'Morain., 1. A genetic locus of Helicobacter pylori inversely associated with gastric intestinal metaplasia, FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol , 44, (2), 2005, p243 - 249 Journal Article, 2005

M O'Sullivan, C O'Morain., Nutrition in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology , 7, (3), 2004, p191 - 198 Journal Article, 2004

ID Arnott, ER Nimmo, HE Drummond, J Fennell, BR Smith, E MacKinlay, J Morecroft, N Anderson, D Kelleher, M O'Sullivan, R McManus, J Satsangi, NOD2/CARD15, TLR4 and CD14 mutations in Scottish and Irish Crohn's disease patients: Evidence for genetic heterogeneity within Europe? , Genes and Immunity, 5, 2004, p417 - 425 Journal Article, 2004

A Qasim, H O'Brien, S Sebastian S, M O'Sullivan, M Buckley, C O'Morain, Platelet activation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome may reflect a subclinical inflammatory response, Gut, 52, (12), 2003, p1799 - 1800 Journal Article, 2003

D Mc Namara, W Hall, M O'Sullivan, C O'Morain C. , Altered cardia epithelial cell kinetics induced by Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: possible malignant potential? , European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 15, (7), 2003, p767 - 772 Journal Article, 2003

M O'Sullivan, C O'Morain, Food Intolerance: Dietary Treatments in Functional Bowel Disorders, Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology , 6, (4), 2003, p339 - 345 Journal Article, 2003

Q Dong, M O'Sullivan, W Hall, C Herra, C Kean, C O'Morain, M Buckley, 11. Identification of a new segment involved in cagA 3' region variation of Helicobacter pylori, FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 33, (1), 2002, p51 - 55 Journal Article, 2002

D McNamara D, M Buckley, P Crotty, W Hall, M O'Sullivan, C O'Morain, Carditis: all Helicobacter pylori or is there a role for gastro-oesophageal reflux? , Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology , 37, 2002, p772 - 777 Journal Article, 2002

Diet in Crohn's disease in, editor(s)T Shimoyama, A Axon, A Lee, DK Podolsky, C O'Morain , In Helicobacter meets inflammatory bowel disease, Tokyo, Japan, Medical Tribune Inc., 2002, pp453 - 467, [MA O'Sullivan, CA O'Morain, JM Buckley] Book Chapter, 2002

M O'Sullivan, C O'Morain, Liquid diets for Crohn's disease, Gut , 48, (6), 2001, p757. - 757 Journal Article, 2001

M O'Sullivan, C O'Morain, Nutritional treatments in inflammatory bowel disease, Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology , 4, 2001, p207 - 213. Journal Article, 2001

M O'Sullivan, C O'Morain, Patient knowledge in inflammatory bowel disease, American Journal of Gastroenterology , 95, (8), 2000, p2128 - 2129 Journal Article, 2000

M O'Sullivan, E Lovett, N Mahmud, CA O'Morain, Educational needs and patient knowledge in patients with irritable bowel syndrome , European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 11, 2000, p1 - 5 Journal Article, 2000

M O'Sullivan, CA O'Morain, Bacterial supplementation in the irritable bowel syndrome - a randomised double blind placebo-controlled crossover study, Digestive & Liver Diseases , 32, 2000, p294 - 301 Journal Article, 2000

M O'Sullivan, N Clayton, NP Breslin, I Harman, C Bountra, A McLaren, CA O'Morain, Increased mast cells in the irritable bowel syndrome, Neurogastroenterology & Motility, 12, (5), 2000, p449 - 457 Journal Article, 2000

A Baxendale,C Bountra, N Clayton, D Gunput, PPA Humphrey, K Kozlowski, A Mangel, M O'Sullivan., Irritable bowel syndrome as visceral hyperalgesia: implications for therapy., Current Opinions in central & peripheral nervous system investigational drugs, 1, (1), 1999, p86 - 97 Journal Article, 1999

MA O'Sullivan, CA O'Morain, Nutritional therapy in Crohn's disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease , 4, (1), 1998, p45 - 53 Journal Article, 1998

Nutrition in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in, editor(s)Scholmerich, Goebell, Andus, Layer , Inflammatory Bowel Disease - from bench bedside, Kluwer , 1997, pp303 - 312, [C O'Morain, M O'Sullivan] Book Chapter, 1997

Dietary manipulations - elemental and enteral in, editor(s)Allan , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 3rd Edition , Churchill Livingstone, 1996, pp535 - 539, [C O'Morain, M O'Sullivan. ] Book Chapter, 1996

C O'Morain, M O'Sullivan, The role of nutrition in liver disease, Irish Medical Journal , 89, 1996, p208 - 209 Journal Article, 1996

C O'Morain, M O'Sullivan, Nutritional support in Crohn's disease, J Gastroenterol , 30, (VIII), 1995, p102 - 107 Journal Article, 1995

Research Expertise

Projects

  • Title
    • Supporting physical function in community dwelling older adults - a focus on health inequality and ageing in place
  • Summary
    • This programme of work focuses on socioeconomic position and physical activity, sarcopenia and health variables in dependent older adults'. Including strategies to address intervention and policy
  • Funding Agency
    • Not for profit - North Dublin Home Care (registered charity)
  • Date From
    • 2019
  • Date To
    • 2022
  • Title
    • Chronic Disease in community dwelling older adults - associations with area level deprivation
  • Funding Agency
    • Collaborative HSE - Age & Opportunity
  • Date From
    • March 2022
  • Title
    • Embedding physical activity to improve and maintain functional status in older adults: A feasibility study on the implementation of the Care to Move (CTM) programme
  • Summary
    • This project is part of a collaborative multidisciplinary research programme that aims to promote physical activity and movement in ageing in community dwelling older adults and to support ageing in place. This HRB APA award is in conjunction with expert colleagues in RCSI, HSE, UL, Curtin University Australia and Glasgow Caledonian University. The research aims to examine the feasibility of using an activity programme that empowers older people to 'move more' and reduce sitting time, in community dwelling older people receiving formal home care - a cohort largely comprising adults aged 80+ years. Ultimately, the application would be to embed multimodal personalised supports in formal home care to improve outcomes and quality of life in older populations.
  • Funding Agency
    • HRB
  • Date From
    • 2018
  • Date To
    • 2022
  • Title
    • Effects of Vitamin D on cognition and inflammation in healthy older adults- A Randomised Controlled Trial
  • Summary
    • Investigations into the role of vitamin D on inflammatory markers and in supporting cognition in community dwelling older adults. Includes intervention and mechanistic studies.
  • Funding Agency
    • Irish Research Council
  • Date From
    • Sept 2014
  • Date To
    • Sept 2018
  • Title
    • Vitamin D deficiency in ageing, and associations with muscle function and inflammation
  • Summary
    • Investigations into Vitamin D deficiency in community-dwelling older adults and associations with muscle function and inflammation (inflame-ageing). This work is based on analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA); and analysis of RCT data.
  • Funding Agency
    • IRC
  • Date From
    • 2016
  • Date To
    • 2018
  • Title
    • Health, Demographic and Malnutrition Risk factors among Community Dwelling oldest old: analysis of the North Dublin Cohort
  • Summary
    • Investigations into the Health, Demographic and Malnutrition Risk factors among Community Dwelling oldest old, based on an analysis of adults receiving formal home care support. including cognition, physical function, health status, malnutrition, isolation.
  • Funding Agency
    • Not-for Profit
  • Date From
    • 2016
  • Title
    • Vitamin D and Inflammation: Optimal Requirements and Novel Roles in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Summary
    • This program of research focuses on investigating the effect of vitamin D supplementation on inflammatory in patients with IBD, primarily through randomized controlled trials and mechanistic studies.
  • Funding Agency
    • Irish Research Council and TCD postgrad Award
  • Date From
    • 2010
  • Date To
    • 2014
  • Title
    • Vitamin D and cognition - an analysis of 25OHD levels and cognitive domains in healthy older adults.
  • Summary
    • A proof of concept study, with Niamh Aspell, in collaboration with TriL, Prof Brian Lawlor (TCD)and Dr Joanna McHugh (QUB)
  • Funding Agency
    • IRC and not-for-profit
  • Date From
    • 2014
  • Title
    • 'Role of tight junction markers and mast cells in gut-barrier function in colonic disease.
  • Summary
    • Principal Investigator - Higher Education Authority Program for Research in Third Level Institutes (PRTLI) Cycle 4 funding 'Centre of Applied Sciences for Health' CASH consortium'. Investigations into the intestinal permeability in colonic disease, including mast cells, JAMA, E-Cadherin and ZO1. Co-PI: Dr Siobhan McClean, ITT, Tallaght
  • Funding Agency
    • HEA (PRTLI) Cycle 4 and Meath Foundation
  • Date From
    • 2009
  • Date To
    • 2014
  • Title
    • Malnutrition, deficiency, and nutritional practice in patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis
  • Summary
    • An investigation into Malnutrition, Osteoporosis and optimising best nutritional practice in patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis; Role: Academic co-supervisor
  • Funding Agency
    • HRB Therapy Award For Sinead Duggan
  • Date From
    • 2009
  • Date To
    • 2013
  • Title
    • Nutritional factors and inflammation: role of overweight/obesity in Inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Summary
    • Studies of obesity and lifestyle factors in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, including the impact of overweight/obesity on inflammation and co-morbidity in diseases traditional associated with underweight.
  • Funding Agency
    • Meath Foundation
  • Date From
    • 2009
  • Date To
    • 2013

Keywords

BMI/Obesity; Brain-gut, Mast cells; Clinical nutrition/malnutrition; Functional Bowel Disorders; Malnutrition; Mucosal immunology; OBESITY; Tight junction proteins; VITAMIN D; VITAMIN-D DEFICIENCY; VITAMIN-D SUPPLEMENTATION

Recognition

Representations

Editor in Chief of the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (Impact Factor 5.2) 2012-2016

Royal Irish Academy, Committee for Life and Medical Sciences, Appointed Member 2014

Member of the Scientific Committee; Member of the Publications Committee, the Nutrition Society UK 2012-2016

Chair of the Research Committee, and Management Committee member for the Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism (IrSPEN) 2013-17

Research Committee Member, Health & Social Care Professions, Ireland 2012-15

Irish Representative on the Management Committee for the European COST action 'BM1007: Mast Cells and Basophils - Targets for Innovative Therapies 2011-14' 2011-14

Invited Expert Evaluator for EU FP7-Health (obesity-metabolism) as a remote reviewer, on-site Panel member and Panel representative, Brussels. 2009

Invited Expert evaluator for the American Institute of Biological Sciences for grants awarded by the US Government Department of Defence. Washington DC. 2008

Broad Medical Research Program for IBD, CA, USA. Invited grant reviewer. 2005-date

Programme National de Researches sur la Nutrition Humaine (PRNH), France. Invited expert reviewer 2004-2005

Invited reviewer for over 14 high impact journals including British Medical Journal open; Cochrane; Gastroenterology, Gut, Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Journal of Crohn's and Colitis; Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics; Digestive Diseases ;'European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology'; Nutrients; Age & Ageing; 2001-date

Member of the Management Committee and Scientific committee and a PI in the 'Centre of Applied Sciences for Health (CASH), a government (HEA/PRTLI Cycle 4) funded research consortium www.appliedscience4health.ie 2008-2012

Awards and Honours

Nominated for the Excellence in Research Student Supervision, Award, Trinity 2022

Dove Medical Press Video Abstract Award 2022, for our paper 'Embedding Physical Activity within Community Home Support Services for Older Adults in Ireland 2022

Open Access best Paper Award, Social Care, Health Service Executive, Dec 2018 2018

Dean's Award for Innovations in Teaching, TCD, for developments in inter-professional learning 2017

Best paper published in the European UEG Journal 2016 for our team, Presented in Vienna, Oct 2016. 2016

Sir David Cuthbertson Medal, awarded at the Royal College of Surgeons London by the Nutrition Society UK. First Irish recipient, in 23 years since award initiation 2013

Honorary Editor in Chief, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 2012

Mentored award winning graduate students e.g. Many distinguished Research Awards, Prizes and Medals 2004-date

Formerly Editor for PNS, and Peer-Reviewer for 12 high impact journals.

Invited Faculty: American Gastroenterological Association, Focused Research Roundtable Session. Inflammation and Functional Bowel Disease May 2010, New Orleans, USA. 2010

Invited and Guest speaker, e.g. University of Cambridge, University of Gothenburg, European and National Conferences 2008

Young Investigator Award, Functional Brain-Gut Research Group, USA 2002

Nominated for United European Gastroenterology Federation 'rising star in Gastroenterology'. 2004

The Haughton Institute Career Support Award 2002

Health Research Board Travel Award to attend the National Cancer Institute 2003

Trinity Trust Travel Awards 1996, 97

Scientific Hospital Supplies Ltd., Postgraduate Research Scholarship 1994

Graduate Medal in Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics 1992

Awarded a place and funding for the highly competitive American Gastroenterological Association Academic Skills Workshop, Florida 2005

Memberships

Royal Irish Academy, Committee for Life and Medical Sciences, Appointed Member 2014 – 2017

Nutrition Society Member (2007-date), Member of the Scientific Committee and of the Publications Committee of the Nutrition Society UK (2012-16), 2007 – date

Research Committee Member, Health & Social Care Professions 2012 – 2015

Chair of Research Committee, and Management Committee Member Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism (IrSPEN) 2013 – 2015

American Gastroenterological Association 1999 – 2012

Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute – 2011

Functional Brain Gut Research Group 2000 – 2008

Associate Member of Irish Society of Gastroenterology 2000 – 2013

European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) 2004 – 2017

Women in Science & Engineering TCD (current) Association for Women in Science (2001-3) 2008