Dr. Alison Connolly
Dr Alison Connolly is an Assistant Professor at the UCD Centre for Safety and Health at Work within the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Sports Science. Her role includes Programme Director of the UCD Higher Diploma in Safety, Health, and Well-Being at Work, where she lectures on occupational safety programmes, and her research interest is in exposure science, which extends to understanding human exposure to various stressors, combining toxicology, epidemiology, and environmental health principles.
Dr. Alison Connolly grew up in Connemara, Ireland, and graduated with first-class honours in Environmental Health & Safety from the University of Galway. She earned a PhD in Physics in 2019, focusing on occupational exposure to glyphosate among horticulturists. Her research was notable for using human biomonitoring to study glyphosate's biological half-life and routes of exposure. Dr. Connolly holds academic positions at the University of Galway and Atlantic Technological University Sligo. After her PhD, she received a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND Postdoctoral Fellowship to study glyphosate exposure among Irish families. Collaborating with the German Environment Agency, she developed methods to analyse glyphosate and its metabolite in urine, detecting low-level concentrations in a quarter of those tested.
These study results were timely as glyphosate was the most frequently used weedkiller worldwide, is classed as a 2A probable carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and had bans or restrictions in several countries, and at the time it was under re-evaluation by the European Commission. The study's findings, despite low quantifiable levels, highlighted the necessity of understanding chemical exposures among different groups, especially vulnerable populations like children. These studies were also utilised for the re-evaluation of glyphosate, underscoring the importance of human biomonitoring for robust regulatory risk assessments and public health management.
Dr. Connolly's contributions are pivotal in advancing occupational health and safety protocols, ensuring safer working environments, and promoting best practices in chemical handling and exposure and protecting the general public from pollutants of concern.
See below for researchers challenges.
Current Research Challenges
A significant aspect of Dr. Connolly's research is centred on human biomonitoring (HBM), a robust method endorsed by the World Health Organisation for assessing chemical exposures through biological samples like blood and urine. HBM allows for the measurement of internal doses of pollutants to evaluate overall chemical exposures from various sources and routes. It also identifies temporal changes, regional differences, and vulnerable population groups. This methodology plays a crucial role in health policy-making by providing precise data on population risk distributions, guiding policy actions, and evaluating the effectiveness of measures aimed at reducing adverse health effects.
Currently, Dr. Connolly is actively involved in two major research projects. As the Principal Investigator for the SFI Pathway project titled '(opens in a new window)EIRE 'nEonicotinoid Insecticide exposuREs'', her team aims to assess exposures to neonicotinoid insecticides among workers and families using these products, and the general population over a four-year period. Examples of NNIs are Imidacloprid and Acetimiprid (found in flea treatments for pets and plant products). The research team, including a postdoctoral researcher and PhD student, is investigating potential chemical exposures among pet owners, veterinary workers, those employed in animal shelters and gardeners. Concurrently, she leads the EPA-funded 'Human Biomonitoring for Ireland (HBM4IRE)' project, which focuses on establishing criteria for a national HBM surveillance program. This initiative aims to develop a framework for monitoring environmental chemical exposures comprehensively across Ireland, contributing to ongoing efforts to safeguard public health and inform environmental policies.
The Researcher
Dr Connolly is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge on occupational and environmental pollutants and their impact on public health. Her work focuses on methodological innovation and aims to influence policy and public health outcomes through cutting-edge research. Additionally, she is deeply involved in teaching, integrating her findings into educational settings to engage and inspire students.
Her collaborative spirit and interdisciplinary approach are central to her work, reflecting her passion for advancing exposure science research. She aspires to contribute to global efforts in environmental health monitoring and policy development, emphasising the importance of international collaborations to enhance the impact of her research. Dr Connolly sits on the board of the European Chapter of The International Society for Exposure Science and is also the Chair of a working group seeking to elevate Exposure Science Education, training and communication. She would like to see formal qualifications similar to those of the United States within Europe as a longer-term goal to support our compliance with legislation.
In a discussion with Alison, she spoke about how she really values the transformative power of mentorship in igniting a passion for research, the importance of enthusiasm and curiosity in scientific pursuits, and the significant role mentors play in providing guidance beyond academic requirements. Her own journey was largely influenced by her mentor, Dr Holger Martin Koch, with whom she worked with in Germany in 2019 and continues to collaborate on research projects. Dr Connolly advocates for promoting women scientists and their science and regularly contributes to outreach activities, such as contributing to ‘Women in Science’ initiatives, speaking at local schools and contributing to (opens in a new window)Soapbox Science - a public outreach platform.
Outside of her research work, she enjoys Taekwon-Do and holds a third-dan black belt.
Future Research Aspirations
One of Dr Connolly’s ambitious goals is to develop a national human biomonitoring program in Ireland inspired by successful models in the US, Germany, and Iceland. This initiative reflects her commitment to preventive measures and early detection of chemical exposures, aiming to position Ireland as a leader in human biomonitoring and public health research. The program will involve the collection of blood and urine samples, alongside questionnaire information, from the general population over several years to contribute to science-based policy-making decisions and improve public health.
This national program would have a significant impact, aiding in identifying trends, assessing their impact on vulnerable groups, detecting regional hotspots, evaluating co-exposures and aggregated chemical exposures and acting as an early warning system for emerging chemicals of concern. Dr. Connolly aims to align her work with her contributions to the (opens in a new window)HBM4EU and PARC initiatives, which are EU-wide. She has been instrumental in establishing a framework, securing funding, and pursuing the building of a national program for Ireland. The goal is to protect public health through monitoring and surveillance, determining the presence of concerning chemicals, and evaluating the need for legislative action.
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Public Health & Health Promotion Research
Dr. Cailbhe Doherty
Dr. Cailbhe Doherty, an Ad Astra Fellow and Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Sport Science, has dedicated his career to pioneering advancements in rehabilitation, digital health, and data analytics. Growing up in Co. Wicklow, Ireland, with a strong interest in sports, he pursued physiotherapy at University College Dublin (2011-2016) from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels. His doctoral research focused on ankle sprain recovery, pioneering the first prospective analysis of individuals post-injury, which identified key predictors of long-term recovery outcomes. This work highlighted the predictive value of movement patterns and balance skills in determining the likelihood of chronic ankle instability, setting the stage for his future exploration into the interplay between rehabilitation and digital health.
Current Research Challenges
Despite having a highly skilled team, Dr. Doherty identifies one major obstacle to ensuring the long-term viability of Cerberus: long-term funding. Research projects and the funding programs that support them are by their nature time-bound, and Cerberus will need to survive beyond its current funding period to realise its full potential. The project requires more users and financial support to continue, making sustained funding essential. This is also true of the other research projects that Dr. Doherty is currently involved with, all of which seek to leverage data science, evidence based medicine and wearables to improve public health and healthcare.
See below for Researcher Challenges.
The Researcher
Dr Doherty’s research focus sits at the intersection of rehabilitation and digital health, with a keen interest in consumer wearable technologies. His work has significantly advanced methods for the precise collection and analysis of biometric data, enhancing our understanding of human health and athletic performance. His early career included a notable collaboration with Fujitsu at the UCD Insight Centre for Data Analytics, where he led an 18-month feasibility study using inertial measurement units to monitor concussion recovery. This project resulted in a patented and commercialised system for real-world, continuous assessment of concussion recovery.
Furthering his engagement with industry, Dr. Doherty collaborated with a team of data analysts in the Insight Centre for Data Analytics, working with Strava to create 'Pace-Man', a platform that utilised data from over two million users to develop personalised pacing strategies for marathon runners. This project employed machine learning and AI to provide real-time training adjustments based on various factors such as weather, terrain, and individual training data. In 2018, he was a co-applicant on an Enterprise Ireland commercialisation grant to develop a user facing app for the 'Pace-Man' platform, which was designed to aid marathon runners in preparation and pacing. The team’s innovative approach earned them a finalist position in the NOVAUCD Venture Launch competition.
Dr. Doherty has consistently demonstrated a commitment to translating research into practical applications that benefit society. He led the development of 'SciScanner', a point-of-care decision support tool for healthcare professionals, designed to deliver instant, evidence-based information using machine learning and text-mining. Despite the project's early termination due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it showcased his dedication to bridging the gap between research and clinical practice.
Recognising the power of digital platforms for public education, Cailbhe launched a YouTube channel featuring over 150 video lectures on health, exercise science, and technology. This channel has garnered substantial engagement, reflecting his commitment to democratising education and empowering individuals through accessible knowledge. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he focused on improving online teaching through video design, incorporating principles such as human-like gestures and text highlighting to increase student engagement and learning. His empirical research on these multimedia techniques led to published findings. Additionally, he developed a comprehensive learning module called "(opens in a new window)Born to Run: The Science of Human Endurance," which integrates data analytics, evolutionary biology, and physiotherapy, attracting over 550 students and industry participants. This module's success reflects his commitment to merging scientific research with practical applications in education and industry.
In his spare time Cailbhe enjoys tabletop games, running, video games and reading. He has a passion for learning new skills.
Future Aspirations
Dr. Doherty aims to revolutionise both education and public health by leveraging innovative multimedia design and wearable technology. Through his dedication to empirical research, ethical principles, and collaboration, he seeks to make a significant impact on society by enhancing learning experiences and improving health outcomes.
His next goal is to develop a user-facing interface for the Cerberus platform to empower wearable device users with personal health insights. This system will leverage machine learning and AI to, for example, suggest exercises or nutrition plans to users. There are plans to collaborate with external groups on population health studies, such as type 2 diabetes, under the "One Health" initiative.
Over the next decade, Dr. Doherty envisions integrating this platform with Ireland's public health research programs, generating insights into national health and sports participation. Despite the rapid pace of technological change, Dr. Doherty is committed to maintaining an open, transparent, and collaborative approach to make a significant societal impact.
The demand for his research has sparked numerous collaboration requests and grant applications. There is palpable excitement and interest in his work, with immense potential for how the data-rich platform Cerberus could be leveraged for insights and learning over time. As he endeavours to create substantial value for future public health systems and needs, the future begins now
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