Personal profile
Research Interests
Dr Caffrey is a Research Associate within the Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences at Ulster University. She graduated with a MSc in Human Nutrition in 2014, after which, she successfully completed a PhD within NICHE. During her PhD, Aoife gained valuable multidisciplinary experience working with world leading experts in Genomic Medicine, Psychology, Epigenetics, Nutrition, Geography, and Intelligence Systems.
As a post-doctoral researcher, since December 2018, Dr Caffrey has had a lead role on a range of externally funded international projects (UKRI-EpiFASSTT, JPI-VALID, and JPI-DERiVE) with the overarching aim to investigate nutrition and brain health from early life to older age. Dr Caffrey is currently running the day-to-day management of The EpiBrain Project (awarded by the European JPI-HDHL scheme and funded by the UKRI). This is a multidisciplinary international project investigating the effects of folate and brain health across the lifespan, with collaborators in Spain, Ireland and Canada.
Teaching Interests
Dr Caffrey has held a number of teaching positions (Lecturer, Teaching Assistant, e-Tutor, Demonstrator) within the School of Biomedical Sciences at Ulster University.
Her teaching interests include: Human Nutrition (B vitamins, one-carbon metabolism and health), Food Science, Biostatistics, Applied Research Methods, Ethics & Research Governance, Food Sustainability, Food Loss & Waste, Health Promotion.
Current and Recent Grants
Live projects on Worktribe
Project ID: 403891 Global Food Security Policy Lab 2021. Project Lead: Aoife Caffrey (1 Jul 2021 - 30 Jun 2022)
Other projects on Worktribe
Project ID: 407518 Understanding how taking folic acid during pregnancy could improve brain health in the child. Project Lead: Aoife Caffrey (1 Nov 2021 - 31 Oct 2022)
Project ID: 418727 Wear-iT. Project Lead: Colin Shewell (1 Jun 2022 - 31 Oct 2024)
Project ID: 403035 Addressing the escalating global vitamin B12 insufficiency crisis underlying lifelong effects on human health. Project Lead: Helene McNulty (1 Mar 2022 - 28 Feb 2027)
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Maternal folate nutrition and offspring health
Award Date: 1 Jul 2019
Master, MSc Human Nutrition
Award Date: 18 Dec 2014
Bachelor, Nutraceuticals in Health and Nutrition, Technological University Dublin
Award Date: 26 Sept 2013
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 15 Life on Land
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Gene-specific DNA methylation in newborns in response to folic acid supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy: epigenetic analysis from a randomized controlled trial
Caffrey, A., Irwin, R. E., McNulty, H., Strain, J., Lees Murdock, D., McNulty, B., Ward, M., Walsh, C. & Pentieva, K., 9 Apr 2018, In: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 107, 4, p. 566-575 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile100 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)288 Downloads (Pure) -
Maternal folate nutrition and offspring health: evidence and current controversies
Caffrey, A., McNulty, H., Irwin, R. E., Walsh, C. & Pentieva, K., 26 Dec 2018, (Published online) In: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY. 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile40 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)107 Downloads (Pure) -
Effect of continued folic acid supplementation beyond the first trimester of pregnancy on cognitive performance in the child: a follow-up study from a randomized controlled trial (FASSTT Offspring trial)
McNulty, H., Rollins, M., Cassidy, T., Caffrey, A., Marshall, B., Dornan, J., McLaughlin, M., McNulty, B. A., Ward, M., Strain, J. J., Molloy, A. M., Lees Murdock, D. J., Walsh, C. P. & Pentieva, K., 31 Oct 2019, (Published online) In: BMC Medicine. 17, 1, p. 1-11 11 p., 196.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile80 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)449 Downloads (Pure) -
A randomized controlled trial of folic acid intervention in pregnancy highlights a putative methylation-regulated control element at ZFP57
Irwin, R. E., Thursby, S.-J., Ondicova, M., Pentieva, K., McNulty, H., Richmond, R., Caffrey, A., Lees Murdock, D., McLaughlin, M., CASSIDY, T., Sudderman, M., Relton, C. & Walsh, C., 18 Feb 2019, In: Clinical Epigenetics. 11, p. 1-16 16 p., 31.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile44 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)169 Downloads (Pure) -
Effects of maternal folic acid supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy on neurocognitive development in the child: an 11-year follow-up from a randomised controlled trial
Caffrey, A., McNulty, H., Rollins, M., Prasad, G., Gaur, P., Talcott, J., Witton, C., Cassidy, T., Marshall, B., Dornan, J., Moore, A., Ward, M., Strain, J., Molloy, A., McLaughlin, M., Lees-Murdock, D., Walsh, C. & Pentieva, K., 10 Mar 2021, (Published online) In: BMC Medicine. 19, 1, 13 p., 73.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile63 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)150 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) Drummond Early Career Scientist Award
Caffrey, A. (Recipient), Oct 2021
Prize
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United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26)
Caffrey, A. (Speaker)
31 Oct 2021 → 14 Nov 2021Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) Lecture 2021: Northern Ireland Branch
Caffrey, A. (Speaker)
1 Nov 2021Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Epigenetics in Health and Wellbeing
Caffrey, A. (Organiser)
10 Apr 2019Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop, ...
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Maternal folic acid during pregnancy and cognitive performance of children at 11 years: results from the FASSTT offspring and related epigenetics effects
Caffrey, A. (Speaker)
2 Jul 2018 → 3 Jul 2018Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Maternal folate nutrition and offspring health: evidence and current controversies
Caffrey, A. (Speaker)
20 Jun 2018 → 22 Jun 2018Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
Thesis
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Maternal folate nutrition and offspring health
Caffrey, A. (Author), Pentieva, K. (Supervisor), McNulty, H. (Supervisor) & Walsh, C. (Supervisor), May 2019Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
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Projects
- 1 Finished
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Global Food Security Policy Lab 2021
Caffrey, A. (PI)
Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council
1/07/21 → 30/06/22
Project: Research