biomedical sciences research institute - Research - University of Ulster

Dr Alison GallagherSenior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences (Human Nutrition)Contact Details:T: +44 (0)28 70323178am.gallagher@ulster.ac.ukDr Gallagher is a Registered Public Health Nutritionist and her current research interests include: investigation of therisk factors for development of disease; health effects of plans and plant components; physical activity and health.Development of risk factors for diseaseDr Gallagher has a longstanding involvement with the Young Hearts Project, a longitudinal investigation of risk factorsfor CVD, obesity and bone health which has provided a valuable dataset on diet, lifestyle and health from adolescenceto early adulthood in a representative sample of individuals from Northern Ireland. In the present reporting periodwork on B-vitamins and bone health and on the relationship between dietary glycaemic index and risk factors formetabolic syndrome were presented at the Nutrition Society Summer meeting. In addition from this data set werecently showed that increased arterial stiffness in young adult women (but not in men) is associated with increasedrisk of metabolic syndrome traits (Ferreira et al. 2007).Health effects of plants and plant componentsDr Gallagher’s early research work focussed on the evaluation of traditional remedies for diabetes. Work undertakenin collaboration with Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences on galegine (derived from the herbalGalegine officinalis) and weight loss was published during this reporting period (Mooney et al. 2008). Dr Gallagher’scurrent research interests in this area include: health impact of dietary salicylates – in particular colorectal cancerprevention; the impact of bioactive components on satiety (including a consultancy project with ORAFTI); and healtheffects of modulating postprandial responses.Nutrition, physical activity and healthDr Gallagher’s research interest in this area of physical activity has more recently involved the evaluation ofintervention programmes to address obesity, including work with Community Sports Development, Derry CityCouncil to evaluate a school-based nutrition and physical activity intervention programme (with MP Bonham andfunded by Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke); a long-term physical activity intervention in overweight/obese adults (with a DEL-funded PhD student T Morgan), and commencement of an evaluation of an interventionprogramme in older people (with EEA Simpson, Psychology).Dr Christopher GillLecturerContact details:T: +44 (0)28 70323181c.gill@ulster.ac.ukDr Gill’s research primarily focuses on the effect of diet on cancer, with specific interests in dietary componentsand colorectal cancer (especially phytochemicals in fruits, vegetables and seaweed including, brasscia, olive oil, andberries).Dr Gill also has a specific interest in gut microflora, faecal water toxicity (the aqueous phase of human faeces) andthe implications for colon cancer risk. Dr Gill’s research utilises cell modelling in conjunction with animal and human76