Supervisor Database Search
Guidance for ICAT Supervisors
The ICAT Supervisor list is reviewed annually by the partner universities and updated online in March/April each year.
You can read about the ICAT supervisor selection process and eligibility criteria below:
Terms of reference/guide to supervising ICAT Fellows.
You can read the terms of reference for supervisors actively supervising ICAT Fellows below:
Supervisor Database
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Full NameDr Niamh Coffey
School of Dentistry
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Webpage:rcsi.com
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- bioengineering/medical devices
- epidemiology/population health research
- global health/inclusion health
- clinical trials
- Other
Dentistry
- Public Health
- Dentistry
Dentistry
My research focuses on the relationship between oral health and systemic outcomes across key life stages, including maternal health, ageing, and metabolic disease. A major strand of my work examines maternal oral health and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly the role of periodontal disease in influencing maternal and neonatal wellbeing. Through established collaborations with the Rotunda Maternity Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital, our group is well positioned to access maternity patient cohorts for clinical and translational studies.
In parallel, I work closely with the Tissue Engineering Research Group on projects investigating Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ), alongside broader applications in periodontal regeneration and oral disease research. Recent publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41066803/
More recently, our work has expanded to explore the impact of systemic conditions such as sarcopenia, obesity, and frailty on oral and periodontal health outcomes.
One potential PhD project will investigate the relationship between maternal oral health and pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Through established collaborations with the Rotunda Maternity Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital, students will have the opportunity to work with maternity patient cohorts, combining clinical periodontal assessments with biomarker and microbiological analyses to better understand underlying mechanisms.
A second project area involves collaboration with the Tissue Engineering Research Group to study MRONJ and other periodontal conditions. This work will integrate laboratory-based approaches, including cell and tissue models, to explore disease pathways and inform regenerative or preventative strategies.
A further emerging theme is the role of systemic conditions such as obesity, sarcopenia, and frailty in shaping oral and periodontal health outcomes in ageing populations. Projects in this area may examine shared inflammatory pathways, oral-systemic interactions, and opportunities for targeted interventions.
These PhD projects offer excellent training in clinical research, translational science, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with strong access to patient populations and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. Students will contribute to research with direct relevance to improving oral and overall health outcomes.
Prof Oran Kennedy
Dr Isabel Olegário