TILDA Celebrates Recent PhD Graduates: Advancing Ageing Research
Posted on 28 April 2025
TILDA is proud to celebrate the graduation of several researchers, including Dr Deirdre O’Connor, Dr Louise Newman, and Dr Paul Claffey, who were recently awarded their PhDs in Medical Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin during the Spring Commencements.
Dr Deirdre O’Connor, who joined TILDA as a Research Assistant in 2013 is now TILDA’s Research Communications Lead, completed her thesis titled “Folate and Vitamin B12 in The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing cohort: associations with cognitive function.” Her research, supervised by Regius Professor Rose Anne Kenny and co-supervised by Dr Christine McGarrigle, examined the associations between folate, vitamin B12, and cognitive function in older adults. Deirdre managed to complete her PhD part-time while working full-time and raising a family, demonstrating outstanding dedication to both science and public engagement.
Dr Louise Newman, who joined TILDA in 2015 as a Biomedical Engineer, completed her thesis titled “Cerebral haemodynamics in older adults: Multi-modal studies utilizing near infrared spectroscopy and non-invasive continuous blood pressure monitoring in a large longitudinal cohort.” Her research, supervised by Professor Rose Anne Kenny and Professor Richard Reilly, focused on cerebral blood flow in older adults, contributing significantly to the study’s biomedical research on ageing. Like Deirdre, Louise balanced full-time work and family life while completing her PhD, showing remarkable dedication and perseverance.
Dr Paul Claffey, a Specialist Registrar, completed his thesis titled "Orthostatic Hypotension and Cerebral Perfusion in Falls and Related Syncopal Disorders". He conducted this research, also supervised by Professor Kenny, on a part-time basis also while advancing his clinical career. His work adds valuable insights into ageing research, and his ability to juggle specialist training and academic research reflects his strong commitment to both clinical and academic excellence.
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Pictured: Dr Deirdre O'Connor and Professor Rose Anne Kenny -
Pictured: Dr Louise Newman and Professor Rose Anne Kenny
Pictured: Dr Paul Claffey and Professor Rose Anne Kenny
TILDA also extends heartfelt congratulations to additional scholars from the broader Medical Gerontology community who received their PhD and MD degrees. These accomplishments further strengthen the research excellence at Trinity College Dublin and contribute to the global impact of ageing research.
We are incredibly proud of all the graduates and would like to express our gratitude to their supervisors for their unwavering support and mentorship. The achievements of our researchers reflect the passion, resilience, and dedication that drive TILDA’s mission to improve the lives of older adults in Ireland and beyond.