Our Advisory Group

We are very grateful to the members of the TeamUp For Dementia Research Advisory Group. The group provide advice and recommendations for the continued development of TeamUp For Dementia Research.

Dr Carol Rogan, Dementia Research Network Ireland

Carol Rogan is the Scientific Project Manager for Dementia Research Network Ireland (DRNI). Carol supports and facilitates collaborative research integrating the basic, clinical and social sciences. Through outreach activities, policy & practitioner fora and tailored information & communication strategies, Carol supports the network to build on existing research and to positively influence dementia research and policy making.

Dr Emer Begley, National Dementia Office

Emer Begley is a Senior Project Manager at the National Dementia Office (NDO), Health Service Executive. The NDO was established in 2015 to provide leadership at a systems level for the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy. Emer leads out on a number of projects for the NDO, which have included the National Dementia Post-diagnostic Support Project and the current development of the Dementia Model of Care.  Prior to joining the HSE in January 2017, Emer worked for eight years in the Community and Voluntary Sector working with a number of advocacy organisations including the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

Dr Louise Hopper, Dublin City University

Dr Louise Hopper is an Assistant Professor of Psychology, Chair of the School of Psychology Ethics Committee and Programme Chair of the BSc in Psychology and Mathematics in DCU. Louise leads research relating to health and social care policy and supports for dementia, developing a model for a National Dementia Registry, dementia and assistive technology, and dementia-related education. She is co-founder/co-chair of the Alzheimer Cafe Leixlip and a Board member of IPPOSI (Irish Platform for Patient Organisation, Science and Industry).

Dr Sarah Donnelly, University College Dublin

Dr Sarah Donnelly is an Assistant Professor of Social Work and Co-Director of the Professional Masters in Social Work at UCD. Sarah is currency co-convenor of the European Network for Gerontological Social Work and a member of UCD’s PPI Ignite Steering Committee.. Sarah serves as a member of the HSE’s Dementia Diagnostic and Post-diagnostic Model and Care and Support Advisory Group and she is also a Steering Group Member of the Dementia and Neurodegeneration Network Ireland Research Prioritisation Group.

Mr Mike O’Rahilly, Irish Dementia Working Group

Michael O Rahilly is 49 year old Cork man ,living well with dementia since his diagnosis in 2017. Michael is an active member of the Irish Dementia Working Group and has a huge interest in research.

Ms Ann Twomey, Dementia Carers Campaign Network

Ann is a Former Carer, Current Board Member of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI), a member of the Dementia Carers Campaign Network (DCCN) and a member the Advocates Advisory Group Dementia Research Ireland Network ( DRNI). Ann is passionate about research is also a member of the EUPATI National Platform (ENP) and EU Patients Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI ) as a graduate of the IPPOSI program.

Ms Kathleen Quinlan, Irish Dementia Working Group

Kathleen is a 56 year old Mother and Grandmother from Cork who is living with dementia. Kathleen is currently homeschooling her Granddaughter during the Pandemic. You can listen to a recent radio interview with Kathleen here.

Ms Sinead O’Rahilly, Dementia Carers Campaign Network

Sinead O Rahilly is a full -time carer to her husband Michael. She is an active member of  the Dementia Carers Campaign Network and believes research is the hope for our future.

Prof Iracema Leroi, Trinity College Dublin and St James's Hospital

Iracema Leroi is a clinical academic at the Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin (www.gbhi.org) and a consultant geriatric psychiatrist at St James’ Hospital, Dublin.  The mission of GBHI is to reduce the scale and impact of dementia around the world by training and supporting a new generation of leaders to translate research evidence into effective policy and practice. Iracema has a particular interest in clinical trials in dementia and the mental health aspects of Parkinson’s disease. She trained in Canada and in the US, in the neuropsychiatry programme at Johns Hopkins University, and until recently, was Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Manchester where she founded and led the Greater Manchester Dementia Clinical Trials’ Programme. She is founder and lead of the ‘Dementia Masterclass’, hosted by www.neurologyacademy.org. Iracema has over 100 publications in the field of mental health in neurodegenerative disorders, and has been the lead or co-applicant on grants worth over £25 million. 

Prof Sean Kennelly, Trinity College Dublin and Tallaght University Hospital

Prof Yvonne Nolan, University College Cork

Yvonne Nolan is Professor in Neuroscience, a Science Foundation Ireland Investigator and a Funded Investigator in APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork. She leads a research team investigating the impact of inflammation and lifestyle influences such as exercise, stress and diet on brain plasticity, gut health, mental health and memory throughout the lifespan.

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