biomedical sciences research institute - Research - University of Ulster

In addition Dr Magee’s research aims to determine if vitamin D status and/or metabolism is perturbed or differs inmen with prostate cancer compared to controls.Finally, beneficial effects of marine-derived compounds on cancer and bone health will be determined and potentialfunctional foods identified.Dr Magee is a member of the editorial board for the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, a member of the NutritionSociety and a Registered Nutritionist.Publication:Mortensen A, Kulling SE, Schwartz H, Rowland I, Ruefer C, Rimbach G, Cassidy A, Magee P et al; Analytical andcompositional aspects of isoflavones in food and their biological effects; Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 53 (inpress)Professor Helene McNultyProfessor of Human Nutrition and DieteticsContact Details:T: +44 (0)28 70324583h.mcnulty@ulster.ac.ukProfessor McNulty’s main research interests are:• Folate and metabolically related B-vitamins in disease prevention: neural tube defects; cancer; cardiovasculardisease; cognitive function• Food folate analysis and bioavailability• Food fortification• Micronutrient requirements/recommendations for humans.Professor Helene McNulty leads the Folate Group within NICHE focusing on the role of folate and the metabolicallyrelated B-vitamins in health and disease. The emphasis of her group’s research is in the area of applied nutrition, i.e.research with clear applications in generating public health policy on nutrition in disease prevention. For example,in the past year, the issue of food fortification with folic acid has been very much on the scientific and politicalagenda in the UK, Ireland and elsewhere in Europe and our team at the University of Ulster has made a significantcontribution to this debate through direct representation (i.e. invited lectures and committee activities) as well asthrough our publications. We have developed several international links (in the US and Europe) and also collaboratewith colleagues in other disciplines in the BMSRI. A major strength of the group is an ongoing and highly successfulcollaboration with Professor John Scott’s team in Trinity College Dublin and we have had several highly productivemeetings between our two centres over the past year. We have recently extended our collaborative links to includekey clinical areas within the health service: gastroenterology; cardiology; obstetrics. As evidenced in this submission,to date these collaborations have lead to new PhD opportunities and clinically relevant publications. The list ofpublications from the Folate Group reflects internationally competitive research in high-ranking journals. In addition,the range of journals covered includes, but extends beyond, the discipline of nutrition. Recently, the group hasembraced the new challenges of how common genetic variations and their interaction with nutrients can influencedisease risk.In the period under review the group has published a total of 10 papers in high impact factor journals (two of whichare first ranked their field), including 2 invited review articles. The group also filed a patent on “Use of riboflavin in thetreatment of blood pressure in people with the MTHFR 677C→T polymorphism”. (International Patent Application:PCT/EP2008/ 001437 ; 23 June 2008) Inventors: Ward M, McNulty H, Scott JM, Horrigan G, Strain JJ, Purvis J.83