Cohort 6 ICAT Fellows (2022)
Dr Brian Woods
Clinical specialty: Surgical Ophthalmology
Dr Brian Woods is a Higher Surgical Trainee on the National Training Programme in Ophthalmology. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2016 and holds an MSc in Biomedical Engineering. Brian’s research interest lies at the interface between ophthalmology and engineering. He is completing an MSc in Artificial Intelligence through the Irish Centre for High-End Computing and the University of Limerick. As an ICAT fellow, Brian aims to link structural imaging and metabolomic data to functional outcomes and prognosis in optic neuropathies through the utilisation of machine learning methods.
PhD research area: Linking structural changes to functional outcomes in non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathies
PhD Supervisors: Prof. Aaron Golden, University of Galway; Prof. Mark Kupersmith, Mount Sinaii Hospital; Prof. Lorraine Cassidy, TCD; Prof. Paul Hurley, Western Sydney University; Prof. Tobias Elze, Harvard Medical School
University of Galway
Dr Georgia Richard
Clinical specialty: Neurology
Dr Georgia Richard graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2018 with a degree in Medicine and an intercalated Master’s degree in Molecular Medicine. She is interested in the social determinants of brain health, and was appointed to a specialist training post in Neurology in 2021. As an ICAT fellow, Georgia hopes to investigate the effects of recurrent traumatic brain injury in socially excluded populations.
PhD research area: Cognitive Impairment in People who are experiencing long-term Homelessness: Evidence and Relationships (CIPHER)
PhD Supervisors: Prof. Clíona Ní Cheallaigh, TCD; Prof. Colin Doherty, TCD; Prof. Matthew Campbell, TCD; Dr Fiadhnait O'Keeffe, TCD & UCD; Prof. Andrew Hayward, University College London
Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
Dr Michael Corr
Clinical specialty: Nephrology
Dr Michael Corr graduated from medicine at Queen’s University Belfast in 2016 with an additional BSc in Medical Science. After completing both an academic foundation programme and core medical training he entered Nephrology Higher Specialty training in 2020. In 2021 he graduated with a MSc in Clinical Education. Michael’s clinical and research interests lie in renal transplantation and, as an ICAT fellow, he looks forward to undertaking research in understanding how to improve long-term transplant outcomes.
PhD research area: Why do kidney transplants fail so early in young people?
PhD Supervisors: Prof. Peter Maxwell, QUB; Prof. Matthew Griffin, University of Galway; Dr Gareth McKay, QUB; Dr Jane English, UCC
Queen's University Belfast (QUB)
Dr Laura Graham
Clinical specialty: Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
Dr Laura Graham graduated from Queens University with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2016 and in 2020 commenced specialty training in Oral and Maxillofacial pathology. During her time as an undergraduate dental student Laura completed a MRes in Translational Medicine (2014) where she developed her research interest in head and neck cancer. As an ICAT fellow, Laura looks forward to exploring the role of the immune landscape in oral cancer.
PhD research area: Immune mediated factors in Early (T1/T2) oral cancers and their impact on metastasis (The ADAPT study)
PhD Supervisors: Prof. Jacqueline James, QUB; Dr Simon McDade, QUB; Prof. Tullia Bruno, University of Pittsburgh
Queen's University Belfast (QUB)
Dr Clodagh McDermott
Clinical specialty: Geriatric Medicine
Dr Clodagh McDermott graduated from the National University of Ireland Galway in 2016. In addition to her medical degree, Clodagh holds a master’s degree in Clinical Research (MSc.). She was appointed to the Geriatric Medicine Higher Specialist Training Scheme in 2021 and has a particular interest in stroke medicine. As an ICAT fellow, she will explore the combination of multi-modal diagnostics in early stroke diagnosis through utilisation of machine learning techniques.
PhD research area:The Application of Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques to assist in the Differentiation of Stroke in the Acute Phase
PhD Supervisors: Prof. Martin O'Donnell, University of Galway; Dr Catherine Mooney, UCD
University of Galway
Dr James Curneen
Clinical specialty: Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Dr James Curneen is a Specialist Registrar in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and graduated from medicine at University College Dublin in 2016. James has worked as a Clinical Lecturer in prescribing and pharmacology in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and as an Adjunct Lecturer in the University of Galway. He received first-class honours as part of his MSc in Clinical Research as well as local and international awards for his research on cardiovascular disease and hypertension. His research interests are in the fields of hypertension and preventive cardiology, including drug delivery and adherence.
PhD research area: An implantable, Closed-Loop Antihypertensive Drug-Delivery Algorithm in Hypertension (CLADDAGH)
PhD Supervisors: Prof. Garry Duffy, University of Galway, Dr Conor Judge, University of Galway; Dr Delyth Graham, University of Glasgow; Prof. Sally-Anne Cryan, RCSI
University of Galway
Dr Ellen Walsh
Clinical specialty: Infectious Diseases
Dr Ellen Walsh graduated from NUI Galway in 2018, followed by an Academic Track Internship at University Hospital Galway. She subsequently completed Basic Specialist Training in Galway and the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota. Ellen holds an MSc in Clinical Research from NUI Galway and was appointed to the Infectious Diseases Higher Specialist Training in 2022. As an ICAT fellow, Ellen will explore viral immune responses in immunocompromised patients with a focus on vaccine-preventable diseases.