HDHL EpiBrain: Epigenetic effects of B-vitamins on brain health throughout life
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Ulster
Department Name: Sch of Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
What's already known in this research area: Folic acid and closely related vitamins (vitamin B12, vitamins B6 and riboflavin) are critical for brain health throughout life. Low intakes of these nutrients may impact adversely on brain development in early life and brain function in later life. In early life, folic acid supplements are recommended for women who are trying to become pregnant and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in order to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) including spina bifida. Apart from preventing NTDs, however, folic acid intake of mums during pregnancy appears to be associated with better cognitive performance in the child, but this aspect is still under investigation by scientists worldwide. The link between nutritional factors such as folic acid in mums during pregnancy and brain health in the child may be explained by 'Epigenetics'. This is the study of processes (such as DNA methylation) that alter our genes by switching them on and off, and we now know that diet can have a major influence on these genetic processes. These changes to our genes happen throughout the lifecycle, from the time of conception, through pregnancy, childhood, middle age and old age.
What EpiBrain will address: In order to support health improvement strategies, both for mothers during pregnancy and their babies on one hand, and for adults as they age on the other, we need a better understanding of how folic acid and related B vitamins influence specific genes related to brain development in the child and cognitive function in older adults. This is the overall purpose of the EpiBrain project.
How this will be achieved: The EpiBrain project will bring together research teams from the UK Canada and Spain who have strong expertise in nutrition and epigenetics and a track record of working successfully together. Our work will use 'epigenome-wide association studies' or EWAS, an approach that involves rapidly scanning complete sets of DNA to find epigenetic marks linked with health. This approach is necessary to more fully explore the biological basis explaining the impacts of maternal folic acid supplementation in pregnancy on brain development in the child, and interventions with B vitamins to improve cognitive function in later life. We will conduct new epigenetics analysis on stored samples from studies previously conducted by our research teams in pregnancy and older age. Dietary, nutritional and epigenetic data will be linked with cognitive function measurements in children and older adults. Brain function assessment will also include neuroimaging data using state-of-art magnetoencephalography (MEG) conducted in early and late life on our study participants, providing a direct measure of brain activity.
Why the results of the EpiBrain project are important: The EpiBrain project will lead to improved understanding of the role of folic acid and other B vitamins, their epigenetic effects and brain function in childhood and older age, with expected results anticipated to provide scientific substantiation to support nutritional strategies for sustaining better brain health through the lifespan. This project is very timely because of potential imminent changes in fortification and supplementation policies. The implementation of mandatory food fortification for NTD prevention is currently being debated at national levels in the UK and Ireland, while the team in Canada is working on challenges and solutions for the generating guidelines in relation to the amount of folic acid to incorporate into folic acid supplements for pregnant women. The EpiBrain project provides a unique opportunity for a truly transnational collaboration to study the potential effects of folic acid (that may be mediated by Epigenetics) on brain health throughout the lifecycle.
What EpiBrain will address: In order to support health improvement strategies, both for mothers during pregnancy and their babies on one hand, and for adults as they age on the other, we need a better understanding of how folic acid and related B vitamins influence specific genes related to brain development in the child and cognitive function in older adults. This is the overall purpose of the EpiBrain project.
How this will be achieved: The EpiBrain project will bring together research teams from the UK Canada and Spain who have strong expertise in nutrition and epigenetics and a track record of working successfully together. Our work will use 'epigenome-wide association studies' or EWAS, an approach that involves rapidly scanning complete sets of DNA to find epigenetic marks linked with health. This approach is necessary to more fully explore the biological basis explaining the impacts of maternal folic acid supplementation in pregnancy on brain development in the child, and interventions with B vitamins to improve cognitive function in later life. We will conduct new epigenetics analysis on stored samples from studies previously conducted by our research teams in pregnancy and older age. Dietary, nutritional and epigenetic data will be linked with cognitive function measurements in children and older adults. Brain function assessment will also include neuroimaging data using state-of-art magnetoencephalography (MEG) conducted in early and late life on our study participants, providing a direct measure of brain activity.
Why the results of the EpiBrain project are important: The EpiBrain project will lead to improved understanding of the role of folic acid and other B vitamins, their epigenetic effects and brain function in childhood and older age, with expected results anticipated to provide scientific substantiation to support nutritional strategies for sustaining better brain health through the lifespan. This project is very timely because of potential imminent changes in fortification and supplementation policies. The implementation of mandatory food fortification for NTD prevention is currently being debated at national levels in the UK and Ireland, while the team in Canada is working on challenges and solutions for the generating guidelines in relation to the amount of folic acid to incorporate into folic acid supplements for pregnant women. The EpiBrain project provides a unique opportunity for a truly transnational collaboration to study the potential effects of folic acid (that may be mediated by Epigenetics) on brain health throughout the lifecycle.
Technical Summary
Low dietary and biomarker status of folate and interrelated B vitamins (methyl donor nutrients) are known to lead to perturbations in one carbon (1C) metabolism that can impact adversely on brain development in early life and brain function in later life. Better maternal folate status in pregnancy is however associated with improved cognition in the offspring, whilst optimal folate and related B vitamin status may prevent cognitive decline in later life. The biological mechanisms explaining these relationships may involve DNA methylation of epigenetically-controlled genes related to brain development and function. A better understanding of the mechanisms linking relevant B vitamins and the epigenome with brain health at critical stages of the lifecycle is necessary to support evidence-based health improvement strategies. The EpiBrain project aims to investigate the nutrition-epigenome-brain relationship through the lifespan with a focus on methyl donor nutrients and their related epigenetic effects in relation to brain outcomes. We will conduct new epigenetics analysis on stored samples and access data from existing well characterised cohorts, both prospective studies (maternal-offspring pairs) and randomised controlled trials in pregnancy and older age. Genomic DNA extracted from maternal, child and older adult blood samples will be analysed for differentially methylated regions by genome-wide methylation analysis (850k microarray). Dietary, nutrient biomarker and epigenetic data will be linked with cognition in children and older adults. Brain function assessment will also include neuroimaging data using state-of-art magnetoencephalography (MEG) conducted in early and late life on B-vitamin trial participants to study the effects of methyl donor nutrients on neurological functioning. The EpiBrain project will provide scientific substantiation to support nutritional strategies for sustaining better brain health through the lifespan.
Planned Impact
Our proposal aligns closely with the JPI HDHL vision to support high-quality, translational, collaborative research and addresses the specific aim of this call, to further understanding of diet-epigenome relationships and their effect on human health across the lifespan. The proposed research focuses on methyl donor nutrients and their related epigenetic effects in relation to brain outcomes. We anticipate that results will contribute valuable data to help develop effective targeted nutritional strategies to promote better brain health throughout the lifespan and that the project overall will result in important societal impacts.
Health Impacts
The proposed research is well aligned with the goal of promoting health and wellness across the life span in global populations. The benefits of folic acid fortification in relation to the prevention of neural tube defects are well established however the role of folate and related B-vitamins on other key health outcomes, particularly neurodevelopment and brain function are less well understood but are suggested to be mediated by 1-carbon related epigenetic mechanisms. We plan to investigate these associations and in particular whether the epigenetics related to brain function in early life are also related to cognitive function in later life, and how these relationships are impacted by dietary intake and biochemical B-vitamin status. The current proposal thus offers a unique opportunity to investigate these associations in populations (Canadian, British and Spanish) with very different exposures to folate and related methyl nutrients thus providing novel data to help advance our understanding in this important research area across the global intake range. The findings will provide scientific substantiation to support intervention strategies for sustaining better health and preventing disease across the lifespan and align with a recent call from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that prioritised the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and a targeted exploitation of available human epidemiological and clinical data to investigate the association between epigenetic changes and health effects. In their report outlining a 'A Cross-Council vision for Food, Nutrition and Health research' the Research Councils in the UK reported that many of the mechanisms underpinning the effects of food and nutrition on long-term health were under-investigated and called for multidisciplinary partnerships to deliver a robust and authoritative evidence base crucial to the development of healthier food products, optimisation and stratification of dietary guidelines, and determination of effective intervention strategies. https://mrc.ukri.org/documents/ pdf/cross-council-fnh-bk-26-march-2015/. It is envisaged the proposal will make a significant contribution to the evidence base for the European commission framework programme for research and innovation (Horizon 2020) 'Societal Challenges' relating to: 'Improving understanding of the determinants of health and disease prevention' and the European Innovation Partnership Strategic Implementation Plan on active and healthy ageing for: 'Prevention of functional decline, both physical and cognitive, in older people.
Societal and other impacts
EpiBrain brings together researchers with expertise in nutrition, epigenetics and neurodevelopment to engage in diet and health research at an international level.
It will establish a critical mass of expertise in this research area, allowing for excellent science and sharing of innovative approaches and infrastructures, and the data gathered will be made available to the wider research community.
A highly relevant aspect of EpiBrain will be to provide stakeholders, policy-makers, influencers and healthcare regulatory bodies at national and international levels with up-to-date and easily adaptable scientifically robust. recommendations for evidence-based action.
Health Impacts
The proposed research is well aligned with the goal of promoting health and wellness across the life span in global populations. The benefits of folic acid fortification in relation to the prevention of neural tube defects are well established however the role of folate and related B-vitamins on other key health outcomes, particularly neurodevelopment and brain function are less well understood but are suggested to be mediated by 1-carbon related epigenetic mechanisms. We plan to investigate these associations and in particular whether the epigenetics related to brain function in early life are also related to cognitive function in later life, and how these relationships are impacted by dietary intake and biochemical B-vitamin status. The current proposal thus offers a unique opportunity to investigate these associations in populations (Canadian, British and Spanish) with very different exposures to folate and related methyl nutrients thus providing novel data to help advance our understanding in this important research area across the global intake range. The findings will provide scientific substantiation to support intervention strategies for sustaining better health and preventing disease across the lifespan and align with a recent call from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that prioritised the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and a targeted exploitation of available human epidemiological and clinical data to investigate the association between epigenetic changes and health effects. In their report outlining a 'A Cross-Council vision for Food, Nutrition and Health research' the Research Councils in the UK reported that many of the mechanisms underpinning the effects of food and nutrition on long-term health were under-investigated and called for multidisciplinary partnerships to deliver a robust and authoritative evidence base crucial to the development of healthier food products, optimisation and stratification of dietary guidelines, and determination of effective intervention strategies. https://mrc.ukri.org/documents/ pdf/cross-council-fnh-bk-26-march-2015/. It is envisaged the proposal will make a significant contribution to the evidence base for the European commission framework programme for research and innovation (Horizon 2020) 'Societal Challenges' relating to: 'Improving understanding of the determinants of health and disease prevention' and the European Innovation Partnership Strategic Implementation Plan on active and healthy ageing for: 'Prevention of functional decline, both physical and cognitive, in older people.
Societal and other impacts
EpiBrain brings together researchers with expertise in nutrition, epigenetics and neurodevelopment to engage in diet and health research at an international level.
It will establish a critical mass of expertise in this research area, allowing for excellent science and sharing of innovative approaches and infrastructures, and the data gathered will be made available to the wider research community.
A highly relevant aspect of EpiBrain will be to provide stakeholders, policy-makers, influencers and healthcare regulatory bodies at national and international levels with up-to-date and easily adaptable scientifically robust. recommendations for evidence-based action.
Publications
McNulty H
(2023)
Causes and Clinical Sequelae of Riboflavin Deficiency.
in Annual review of nutrition
Amenyah SD
(2020)
Riboflavin supplementation alters global and gene-specific DNA methylation in adults with the MTHFR 677 TT genotype.
in Biochimie
Zhang FF
(2020)
Health effects of vitamin and mineral supplements.
in BMJ (Clinical research ed.)
Ondicová M
(2022)
Folic acid intervention during pregnancy alters DNA methylation, affecting neural target genes through two distinct mechanisms.
in Clinical epigenetics
Amenyah SD
(2020)
Nutritional Epigenomics and Age-Related Disease.
in Current developments in nutrition
Dyer A
(2021)
Glycated haemoglobin (HbA 1c ), diabetes and neuropsychological performance in community-dwelling older adults
in Diabetic Medicine
EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods And Food Allergens (NDA)
(2022)
Guidance for establishing and applying tolerable upper intake levels for vitamins and essential minerals: Draft for internal testing.
in EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority
| Title | Additional file 1 of Folic acid intervention during pregnancy alters DNA methylation, affecting neural target genes through two distinct mechanisms |
| Description | Additional file 1. Fig. S1: FA increases promoter methylation of DUSP22 and decreases methylation of micro-RNA MIR4520A/B. a Genome browser UCSC schematic of DNA methylation difference within the promoter of DUSP22 gene obtained by EPIC array (top track presenting blue bars increase, red bars-decrease in methylation). UCSC RefSeq gene construction is shown in blue. The position of pyroassay product for methylation and RT-qPCR product for accessing expression of the gene is shown in black. ?ß, mean difference in ß value between placebo and FA-treated groups; maximum gain and loss also shown (+ 0.11ß = 11%, - 0.13ß = 13% methylation). b Methylation increase in DUSP22 promoter as a response to FA treatment in CB samples analysed by EPIC array showing the specific CG sites corresponding to the pyroassay product shown in a. c Comparison of two methylation analyses EPIC array and pyroassay showing a difference in methylation at the DUSP22 promoter between placebo and FA-treated CB samples. Components of the table same as Fig. 2D. d Methylation levels at individual CG sites covered by the pyroassay in WT (HCT116, blue) and knockout (DKO, orange) cells. Values are shown as mean +/- SD for each site: *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. e RT-qPCR showing no change in transcription of the gene in HCT116/ DKO cells using the primers indicated in a, values normalized to HPRT. f Genome browser UCSC schematic of DNA methylation difference within the MIR4520A/B obtained by EPIC array (top track presenting red bars- decrease in methylation). UCSC RefSeq gene construction is shown in blue. The position of the pyroassay product for methylation of the gene is shown in black. ?ß, mean difference in ß value between placebo and FA-treated groups; maximum loss also shown (- 0.11ß = 11% methylation loss). g Significant methylation decrease in MIR4520A/B as a response to FA treatment in CB samples analysed by EPIC array and confirmed by pyrosequencing within the MIR4520A/B region covering the CG site corresponding pyroassay product shown in f. h Comparison of two methylation analyses EPIC array and pyroassay showing loss in methylation of the MIR4520A/B (location is shown in Fig. S1f) between placebo and FA-treated CB samples. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/figure/Additional_file_1_of_Folic_acid_intervention_dur... |
| Title | Additional file 1 of Folic acid intervention during pregnancy alters DNA methylation, affecting neural target genes through two distinct mechanisms |
| Description | Additional file 1. Fig. S1: FA increases promoter methylation of DUSP22 and decreases methylation of micro-RNA MIR4520A/B. a Genome browser UCSC schematic of DNA methylation difference within the promoter of DUSP22 gene obtained by EPIC array (top track presenting blue bars increase, red bars-decrease in methylation). UCSC RefSeq gene construction is shown in blue. The position of pyroassay product for methylation and RT-qPCR product for accessing expression of the gene is shown in black. ?ß, mean difference in ß value between placebo and FA-treated groups; maximum gain and loss also shown (+ 0.11ß = 11%, - 0.13ß = 13% methylation). b Methylation increase in DUSP22 promoter as a response to FA treatment in CB samples analysed by EPIC array showing the specific CG sites corresponding to the pyroassay product shown in a. c Comparison of two methylation analyses EPIC array and pyroassay showing a difference in methylation at the DUSP22 promoter between placebo and FA-treated CB samples. Components of the table same as Fig. 2D. d Methylation levels at individual CG sites covered by the pyroassay in WT (HCT116, blue) and knockout (DKO, orange) cells. Values are shown as mean +/- SD for each site: *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. e RT-qPCR showing no change in transcription of the gene in HCT116/ DKO cells using the primers indicated in a, values normalized to HPRT. f Genome browser UCSC schematic of DNA methylation difference within the MIR4520A/B obtained by EPIC array (top track presenting red bars- decrease in methylation). UCSC RefSeq gene construction is shown in blue. The position of the pyroassay product for methylation of the gene is shown in black. ?ß, mean difference in ß value between placebo and FA-treated groups; maximum loss also shown (- 0.11ß = 11% methylation loss). g Significant methylation decrease in MIR4520A/B as a response to FA treatment in CB samples analysed by EPIC array and confirmed by pyrosequencing within the MIR4520A/B region covering the CG site corresponding pyroassay product shown in f. h Comparison of two methylation analyses EPIC array and pyroassay showing loss in methylation of the MIR4520A/B (location is shown in Fig. S1f) between placebo and FA-treated CB samples. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| URL | https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/figure/Additional_file_1_of_Folic_acid_intervention_dur... |
| Description | Low or imbalanced dietary and biomarker status of folate and interrelated B-vitamins (methyl donor nutrients) perturb 1-carbon metabolism, and adversely affect brain development in early life and brain function in later life. Human studies show that improved maternal folate status during pregnancy is associated with improved cognition in the offspring, whilst optimal folate and related B-vitamin status may prevent cognitive decline in later life. The biological mechanisms explaining these relationships are not clear but may involve DNA methylation of epigenetically controlled genes related to brain development and function. A better understanding of the mechanisms linking relevant B-vitamins and the epigenome with brain health at critical stages of the lifecycle is necessary to support evidence-based health improvement strategies. The EpiBrain project has led to improved understanding of the role of B vitamins, their epigenetic effects and brain function in childhood and older age, with expected results anticipated to provide scientific substantiation to support nutritional strategies for sustaining better brain health through the lifespan. The consortium, including partners from Ulster University, Northern Ireland (UU), Health Sciences Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain (URV), University of Calgary, Canada (UC) and University of British Columbia, Canada (UBC), has strong expertise in B vitamin nutrition and epigenetics and a track record of working together across our institutions in Canada, UK and Spain. From the FASSTT trial, the Ulster Team discovered epigenetically regulated genes were perturbed in cord blood as a result of folic acid supplementation in the second and third trimesters, which was published in a high impact nutrition journal. This paved the way to the EpiBrain project which allowed the team to further investigate the effects of folic acid supplementation in the FASSTT trial, in preliminary analysis of cord blood DNA, we used the EPIC methylation array (Illumina). Overall, the folic acid-supplemented samples showed more loss than gain of methylation, though the numbers of sites showing differences in methylation large enough to verify in the lab (>5%) were small. Gene ontology analysis highlighted significant enrichment for genes involved in cognition with a low false discovery rate (FDR). The top-ranked differentially methylated region (DMR) from the epigenome-wide association studies was located upstream of ZFP57, which encodes a zinc finger protein known to regulate imprinted genes. A pyroassay designed to match this region showed good concordance in cord blood samples, and we showed that folic acid drives a similar gain in methylation in maternal blood samples. Since then, the team have been focussing on carrying out the same methylation analysis on paired maternal samples at gestational week 14 and gestational week 36 (pre- and post- folic acid intervention) in order to determine the effects on the maternal epigenome, a study which is nearing completion for publication and will give insight to women regarding the effects of taking folic acid supplementation for the entirety of pregnancy. In addition, the team have delved into molecular analyses of the ZFP57 region and determined key single nucleotide polymorphisms which act in linkage disequilibrium and correlate with the cognitive outcomes of the child at ages 3, 7 and 11 years, with the folic acid supplemented children having unique DNA methylation signatures with is associated with genotype. In later life, the team have extracted DNA from BrainHOP samples and are carrying out EPIC array analyses to determine epigenetic changes related to B-vitamin supplementation and using multivariate linear regression models to confirm relation to cognitive performance and functional brain activity, as assessed using magnetoencephalography (MEG). In addition, the team have used the new approach with the Twist human methylome sequencing panel to examine additional methylation sites in these samples. This provides greater granularity in examining methylation changes. We were one of the first users in the UK and help set up both the method and the current analysis pipeline, the results of which are expected to provide an additional high-impact publication. The project team have measured maternal plasma concentrations of homocysteine, methionine, free choline, dimethylglycine, betaine and other one-carbon metabolites, using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS); We are designing multivariate linear regression models to assess the maternal predictors of infant genome-wide DNA methylation. Further, we are determining the association of maternal methyl donor nutrient intake and status before pregnancy and at different stages of pregnancy with neurodevelopmental outcomes. |
| Exploitation Route | A better understanding of the mechanisms linking relevant B-vitamins and the epigenome with brain health at critical stages of the lifecycle is necessary to support evidence-based health improvement strategies. The EpiBrain project has substantial reach and significance, directly contributing to UK society, economy and culture, and demonstrates leadership of this UK research by bringing together researchers with expertise in nutrition, epigenetics and neurodevelopment to engage in diet and health research at a pan-European and international level. The research so far (as described in our Folic acid Impact Case Study submitted in REF2021) has been pivotal in bringing international policy discussions to a successful conclusion and helped formulate policy for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) to establish international dietary recommendations. Optimising folate and related B-vitamin status in older populations (through fortification or supplementation programs) may have particular impacts on neuropsychiatric health and in turn help to preserve better quality of life in ageing. The EpiBrain project has also improved scientific capacity and capability via the establishment of a critical mass of expertise in this research area and the sharing of innovative approaches and infrastructures. The teams have generated significant volumes of richly profiled human trial data, which includes epigenome-wide profiling, magnetoencephalography imaging data, and psychological profiling. The epigenome-wide data is publicly available upon publication. This is of significant value to the scientific community and aligns with a call from EFSA that prioritised the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and a targeted exploitation of available human epidemiological and clinical data to investigate the association between epigenetic changes and health effects. In their report outlining a 'A Cross-Council vision for Food, Nutrition and Health research', the Research Councils in the UK reported that many of the mechanisms underpinning the effects of food and nutrition on long-term health were under-investigated and called for multidisciplinary partnerships to deliver a robust and authoritative evidence base crucial to the development of healthier food products, optimisation and stratification of dietary guidelines, and determination of effective intervention strategies. Regarding societal impact and awareness, the project is providing data to generate evidence-based guidelines for periconceptional and prenatal supplementation and formulation of supplements. Notably, the minimally effective dose and duration of supplemental folic acid for neural tube defect prevention and other birth outcomes has been identified as a knowledge gap in a recent Canadian workshop on challenges and solutions to aligning supplemental folic acid intakes with current evidence-based recommendations. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Communities and Social Services/Policy Education Environment Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology Other |
| URL | https://epibrain-folate.com/ |
| Description | Since the start of the transnational EpiBrain project, and despite the COVID-related delays and research curtailments, the team has made excellent progress and can report on novel findings and the development of a new software for quantitative methylation analysis. The Folic Acid Supplementation during the Second and Third Trimesters (FASSTT) Trial from UU is the first study to test the effect of folic acid beyond the first trimester and has to date shared novel findings that find international interest and possible public health implications. Results from the FASSTT Trial showed that children of mothers who received folic acid supplementation in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, compared to placebo, had higher overall cognition scores at 3 years of age and higher word reasoning scores at 7 years of age compared to the children of mothers in the placebo group. Follow-up of the children at 11 years also showed that language processing speed was higher in girls of mothers in the folic acid supplemented group compared to children of mothers in the placebo group. These findings have now been published in high-impact peer-reviewed medical and nutrition journals. Notably, Prof Colum Walsh and Dr Sara-Jayne Thursby from UU developed the user-friendly tool CandiMeth, which allows researchers with access to DNA methylation data from arrays to look at specific genes and regions more easily without having to write any code or use command line. The tool was developed particularly with colleagues such as those in nutrition in mind so they could try analysis of methylation themselves. The development and application of the tool has been published and the CandiMeth software is available publicly in the GitHub repository at https://github.com/sjthursby/CandiMeth. Together with the core genomics team at Queen's University Belfast and the SciLifeLab Clinical Genomics team at Linköping, the team have also set up a Twist human methylome analysis pipeline available and being used by other PIs at QUB and throughout Sweden. The impact for career progression of individuals at all levels and at an organisational level has exceeded all expectations with this project. The EpiBrain teams have a particular focus on supporting progression and providing mentorship for PhD students and early career researchers. In evidence of our impact in career progression, the teams secured funding to support a total of five PhD students (two at Ulster University, one at the University of British Columbia, and two at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili), in addition to postdoctoral researchers at all centres. Regarding capacity building, there are a number of outstanding achievements by team members. These include a number of awards by Dr Aoife Caffrey, Postdoctoral Researcher at UU who received the DSM Bright Science Award in 2019 for Innovative PhD Research (€6,000) for her studies on "Maternal folate nutrition and offspring brain health", presented at the 13thFederation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS) conference, October 2019, in Dublin, Ireland. Dr Aoife Caffrey also received the University of Ulster Best PhD Thesis Award in 2020 (£250). For her virtual poster presentation at the FASEB Summer Research Conference on Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, and One-Carbon in August 2020, Dr Caffrey won the competitive FASEB Postdoctoral Poster Presentation Award (US $400). We are further pleased to report that Dr Sara-Jayne Thursby from UU was appointed (in 2020) to a prestigious postdoctoral position at the Johns Hopkins Medical School in the US. In addition, Miroslava Ondicova, having completed her PhD at UU (2017-2021) secured a postdoctoral position at UBC (2021). Further, Dr Rachelle Irwin secured a position as a Lecturer in Genomic Medicine at UU, where she remains actively involved in her research program in epigenetics (including interaction with nutrition) and has taken on core teaching roles. Dr Rachelle Irwin has since received an Ulster University Research Excellence Awards Certification of Commendation and in addition to this recognition, achieved an Ulster University Early Career Researcher Collaboration Award (£1500); this award supported Dr Irwin's recent visit to Sao Paolo, Brazil as an invited speaker at SLACAN 15 Latin American Symposium on Food Science and Nutrition. Luke Hilman, a now final year PhD student at UU in the epigenetics team, is in the finishing stages of thesis completion. Luke received the Best Postgraduate Poster Award (£100) at the Irish Society of Human Genetics (2023) and the prize supported travel to Glasgow to attend the European Society of Human Genetics. Luke secured a Genetics Society Conference Grant (£552) to present a poster at the Keystone Symposium Conference Canada and disseminate findings to an international audience (2023). Building upon this opportunity, Luke visited collaborators at UBC and presented up to date findings from his work. Prof. Helene McNulty (an elected Member of the Royal Irish Academy since 2008) was elected to Council of the Academy in 2021 - the RIA is Ireland's leading body of experts in sciences and humanities. Furthermore, in 2021, she was elected Member of the Advisory Council to the international Micronutrient Forum. Prof. Walsh moved to a chair in Medical Genetics at the Medical Faculty at Linköping University in Sweden in 2023. He has also been appointed Platform Scientific Director for Clinical Genomics, part of the national Science for Life Laboratory network in Sweden and vice-chairman for Genomic Medicine Sweden's Southeast Centre, both of which are key national initiatives translating advances in genomic medicine into clinical use. Notably, Prof. Mary Ward was elected as President of the Nutrition Society of the UK and Ireland in 2023. In addition, Prof. McNulty and Prof Mary Ward are members of the Public Health Nutrition committee for the Food Safety Authority in Ireland, which aims to improve public wellbeing, quality of life and change public attitudes. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Chairing of National Committee on Food standards |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | We have played an important role in translating the science concerning folate and related B-vitamins through the lifecycle, and disseminating scientific evidence into practice for: 1. health professionals (to ensure that the patients they care for can benefit) and 2. policy makers in public health and food sectors (so that consumers in the general population can benefit). Notably, Prof Helene McNulty chaired the Folic Acid Review Committee at the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (2014-2016), the outcome of which was an extensive policy document Folic Acid and the Prevention of Birth Defects in Ireland |
| URL | https://www.fsai.ie/news_centre/press_releases/folic_acid_report_04052016.html |
| Description | Dr Mark Rollins involvement at The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Conference 2021 |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty: Member of the European Advisory Board for Nestlé Nutrition Institute: Infant & Toddler Nutrition |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | Prof Helene McNulty was a Member of the European Advisory Board for Nestlé Nutrition Institute: Infant & Toddler Nutrition (2015-2018) |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty: Member of the Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit (NICTU) Advisory Group |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| URL | http://www.nictu.hscni.net/about-us/ |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty: Member of the Public Health Nutrition Sub-Committee, Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | Prof Helene McNulty is currently a Member of the Public Health Nutrition Sub-Committee, Food Safety Authority of Ireland (2012-) |
| Description | Epigenome-wide associations of premature cardiovascular disease in a UAE population |
| Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | American University of Sharjah |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 12/2024 |
| Description | Influence of prenatal status in methyl donor nutrients and habits on development and health in children and adolescents. Reus-Tarragona Birth Cohort. |
| Amount | € 100,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Institute of Health Carlos III |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Spain |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| Description | Interplay between prenatal nutrient-gene regulation, parental smoking and epigenetic processes that determine the blueprint for child development and health. The Reus Tarragona Birth Cohort. |
| Amount | € 121,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 19/00844 (ISCIII), FIS |
| Organisation | Institute of Health Carlos III |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Spain |
| Start | 12/2019 |
| End | 12/2022 |
| Description | Irish Student Wellbeing and ADHD project |
| Amount | € 199,417 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Letterkenny Institute of Technology |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Ireland |
| Start | 05/2022 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | Role of riboflavin in epigenetic modulation of hypertension £62,394 |
| Amount | £62,394 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 409069 |
| Organisation | Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Association (NICHS) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2022 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | Ulster Gene Editing Academy £10,469.05 |
| Amount | £10,469 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Garfield Weston Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| Title | Development of Language Task Response Tool for use in Magnetoencephaology |
| Description | Our studies on children born to mothers who received folic acid supplementation in trimesters 2 and 3 of pregnancy have shown that these children perform better in standardised tests of verbal reasoning and other language tasks using standardised psychology tests such as WPPSSI. In order to gain greater insight into the biological underpinnings of this improved brain function, we wished to try and identify and quantitate and differences in brain activity between children in the placebo and folic acid supplement groups using a physical device. With colleagues in brain imaging and in collaboration with researchers at Aston University, we adapted existing computer-based tests to allow their use in a magnetoencephalography setting, which required substantial adaptation of both the questions and the format of delivery |
| Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The work has led to a number of exciting findings in terms of differences in brainwave activity in the placebo versus control children as measured by the superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) in the MEG, which can quantify changes in real-time in a non-invasive and relatively child-friendly setting. These results are currently being written up for submission as a further scientific paper by team members |
| Title | CandiMeth |
| Description | DNA methylation microarrays are widely used in clinical epigenetics and are often processed using R packages like ChAMP or RnBeads by trained bioinformaticians. However, looking at specific genes requires bespoke coding which wet-lab biologists or clinicians are not trained for. This leads to high demands on bioinformaticians, who in turn may lack insight into the specific biological problem. We therefore wished to develop a tool for mapping and quantification of methylation differences at candidate genomic features of interest, without using coding, to bridge this gap. We generated the workflow CandiMeth (CANDIdate METHylation) in the web-based environment Galaxy. CandiMeth takes as input any table listing differences in methylation generated by either of the popular R-based packages above and maps these to the human genome. A simple interface then allows the user to query the data using lists of gene names. CandiMeth generates 1)Tracks in the popular UCSC genome browser with an intuitive visual indicator of where differences in methylation occur between samples, or groups of samples 2) Tables containing quantitative data on the candidate regions, allowing interpretation of significance. In addition to genes and promoters, CandiMeth can analyse methylation differences at LINEs and SINEs. Cross-comparison to other open-resource genomic data at UCSC facilitates interpretation of the biological significance of the data and the design of wet lab assays to further explore methylation changes and their consequences for the candidate genes. CandiMeth (RRID:SCR_017974; Biotools:CandiMeth) allows rapid, quantitative analysis of methylation at user-specified features without the need for coding and is freely available, with extensive guidance, at CandiMeth GitHub repo. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | We use this extensively in our work, and it has helped underpin new grants with colleagues in other disciplines such as the JPI EpiBrain award. |
| URL | https://github.com/sjthursby/CandiMeth |
| Title | Supporting data for "CandiMeth: Powerful yet simple visualization and quantification of DNA methylation at candidate genes" |
| Description | DNA methylation microarrays are widely used in clinical epigenetics and are often processed using R packages like ChAMP or RnBeads by trained bioinformaticians. However, looking at specific genes requires bespoke coding which wet-lab biologists or clinicians are not trained for. This leads to high demands on bioinformaticians, who in turn may lack insight into the specific biological problem. We therefore wished to develop a tool for mapping and quantification of methylation differences at candidate genomic features of interest, without using coding, to bridge this gap.
We generated the workflow CandiMeth (CANDIdate METHylation) in the web-based environment Galaxy. CandiMeth takes as input any table listing differences in methylation generated by either of the popular R-based packages above and maps these to the human genome. A simple interface then allows the user to query the data using lists of gene names. CandiMeth generates 1)Tracks in the popular UCSC genome browser with an intuitive visual indicator of where differences in methylation occur between samples, or groups of samples 2) Tables containing quantitative data on the candidate regions, allowing interpretation of significance. In addition to genes and promoters, CandiMeth can analyse methylation differences at LINEs and SINEs. Cross-comparison to other open-resource genomic data at UCSC facilitates interpretation of the biological significance of the data and the design of wet lab assays to further explore methylation changes and their consequences for the candidate genes. CandiMeth (RRID:SCR_017974; Biotools:CandiMeth) allows rapid, quantitative analysis of methylation at user-specified features without the need for coding and is freely available, with extensive guidance, at CandiMeth GitHub repo. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Extensive use of the software within the group and by our collaborators |
| URL | http://gigadb.org/dataset/100753 |
| Description | Collaboration with Center for Research and Development, Region Gävleborg/Uppsala University |
| Organisation | Region Gävleborg |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Joint funding application "Post covid-19 follow up in Region Gävleborg with focus on the elderly population- an interdisciplinary research proposal" submitted March 15 2022 submitted to the Swedish Natural Sciences Foundation, aiming to carry out long-term follow up on elderly patients who contracted covid-19 to clarify symptoms as well as monitor health status and psychological well-being. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We provide advice on data analytics based on our experience with our own datasets, as well as cross-comparisons between our cohorts and those in Sweden. |
| Impact | Joint funding application through the Science Research Council of Sweden to look at mental health consequences of long covid. Multidisciplinary team including a clinical epidemiologist, clinical psychologists and a data analyst. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Title | To determine whether taking folic acid during the later stages of pregnancy has any beneficial effects of the cognitive development and growth of the offspring |
| Description | The Trial has shown, using a variety of measures including clinical psychology tools, brain imaging, cognitive assessment, biomarker evaluation and epigenetic analysis, that continued supplementation of pregnant mothers beyond the first trimester (current recommendations in UK) has positive impacts on the offspring psychosocial and cognitive development. Through our champions on the FSA Ireland (McNulty) and European FSA (Pentieva) Committees this evidence is contributing to ongoing consultation on food fortification with folic acid. Through follow-on funding from the HDL/BBSRC we are now extending this work to look at epigenetic correlates of b-vitamin intervention in different countries as well as at different stages of the life course (see further funding section). |
| Type | Preventative Intervention - Nutrition and Chemoprevention |
| Current Stage Of Development | Late clinical evaluation |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2018 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | Consultation on food fortification with folic acid in the UK is still on-going, but the results of our Trial have been reported in high-ranking journals in our respective fields as evidenced in the Publications attributed to the award |
| URL | http://www.bristol.ac.uk/integrative-epidemiology/epigenetics-social-science-network/research-projec... |
| Title | CandiMeth- a software tool for quantifying and visualising DNA methylation changes |
| Description | DNA methylation microarrays are widely used in clinical epigenetics and are often processed using R packages like ChAMP or RnBeads by trained bioinfomaticians. However, looking at specific genes requires bespoke coding which wet-lab biologists or clinicians are not trained for. This leads to high demands on bioinfomaticians, who in turn may lack insight into the specific biological problem. We therefore wished to develop a tool for mapping and quantification of methylation differences at candidate genomic features of interest, without using coding, to bridge this gap. We therefore generated the workflow CandiMeth (CANDIdate METHylation) in the web-based environment Galaxy. CandiMeth takes as input any table listing differences in methylation generated by either of the popular R-based packages above and maps these to the human genome. A simple interface then allows the user to query the data using lists of gene names. CandiMeth generates 1)Tracks in the popular UCSC genome browser with an intuitive visual indicator of where differences in methylation occur between samples, or groups of samples 2) Tables containing quantitative data on the candidate regions, allowing interpretation of significance. In addition to genes and promoters, CandiMeth can analyse methylation differences at LINEs and SINEs. Cross-comparison to other open-resource genomic data at UCSC facilitates interpretation of the biological significance of the data and the design of wet lab assays to further explore methylation changes and their consequences for the candidate genes. CandiMeth allows rapid, quantitative analysis of methylation at user-specified features without the need for coding and is freely available through Github |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | The software has been used in a number of our published papers (many listed against this award), done in collaboration with colleagues from a range of disciplines, and is empowering those in the life sciences to carry out their own analyses of epigenetic alterations without the need for extensive bioinformatics support. |
| URL | https://github.com/sjthursby/CandiMeth |
| Description | Assoc Prof Yvonne Lamers & Prof Colum Walsh: presentation at ERA-HDHL mid-term symposium (virtual) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Assoc. Prof. Yvonne Lamers & Prof. Colum Walsh (on behalf of all project partners), "EpiBrain: Epigenetic effects of B-vitamins on brain health throughout life: scientific substantiation and translation of evidence for health-improvement strategies", ERA-HDHL mid-term symposium (virtual), November 5th 2020 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Dalriada Grammar School Gel Electrophoresis Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | DNA workshop regarding folic acid metabolism, Q and A with students, demonstrated interest in the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Dr Aoife Caffrey: 13th European Nutrition Conference, Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS) 2019 in Dublin, Ireland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Aoife Caffrey presented her PhD thesis titled 'Maternal folate nutrition and offspring brain health' at the 13th European Nutrition Conference, Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS) 2019 in Dublin, Ireland; 15-18 October 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.dsm.com/corporate/science-innovation/bright-science-awards/phd-graduate-awards.html#aoif... |
| Description | Dr Aoife Caffrey: presentation at 12th International Conference on One Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine, Spain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Aoife Caffrey, "Effect of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy on cognitive performance of the child at 11 years: the FASSTT Offspring trial", 12th International Conference on One Carbon Metabolism, B-Vitamins and Homocysteine, Spain, 9th-13th June 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Dr Aoife Caffrey: presentation at FASEB Summer Research Conference on Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 and One-Carbon Metabolism (virtual) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Aoife Caffrey, "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 randomized clinical trial", FASEB Summer Research Conference on Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 and One-Carbon Metabolism (virtual) Postgraduate Poster Presentation Award Winner |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Dr Mark Rollins: plenary session video presentation at The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Annual Conference 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Mark Rollins was invited to give a plenary session presentation at The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Annual Conference 2021. The presentation was one of three plenary talks viewed by thousands of delegates worldwide. This presentation and video log was selected for the Breaking News category at this prestigious conference. "Effects of continued folic acid supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy on children's neurocognitive development at 11 years" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://qicentral.rcpch.ac.uk/news/rcpch-conference-2021-qi-highlights/ |
| Description | Dr Mark Rollins: poster presentation at The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Annual Conference 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Mark Rollins, Northern Health and Social Care Trust: presented a poster presentation at The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Annual Conference 2021. The e-poster and abstracts (x2) that were presented at this conference are published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood which is the flagship for the RCPCH and the British Medical Journal. "Effects of continued folic acid supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy on children's neurocognitive development at 11 years" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://qicentral.rcpch.ac.uk/news/rcpch-conference-2021-qi-highlights/ |
| Description | EpiBrain Project twitter account: @EpiBrain_JPI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | EpiBrain Project twitter account: @EpiBrain_JPI |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.twitter.com/EpiBrain_JPI |
| Description | European Society of Human Genetics attendance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Luke Hilman won the best poster at the Irish Society of Human Genetics Conference in Dublin, which funded attendance at the European Society of Human Genetics in Glasgow, where he discussed his research with international experts in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Insight article - online internal magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | News article online resulted in dissemination of recent and significant outcomes from the research project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Keystone Symposium Conference Canada |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Poster presentation and abstract submission at Keystone Symposium Conference Canada. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Mr Luke Hilman: poster presentation and abstract publication at 26th Meeting of the Irish Society of Human Genetics Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Luke Hilman, PhD student: Poster Presentation and abstract publication, 26th Meeting of theIrish Society of Human Genetics Conference, Dublin, Ireland, 16.09.22 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Ms Alexandra Rojas: oral presentation at the 13th International Conference One-Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine, Poznan, Poland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Ms Alejandra Rojas, EpiBrain PI at Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain, travelled to Poznan for the 13th International Conference One-Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine (11-17 September 2021). She delivered an oral communication: "Associations between pregnancy homocysteine and cobalamin status and metabolic score in the offspring" in which she highlighted finding from the Reus-Tarragona Birth Cohort study, part of the EPIBRAIN project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Ms Amy Tan: guest seminar titled "Early Pregnancy Folic Acid Supplement Use and Folate Status in the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) Study", Ulster University, Nov 2023. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Ms Amy Tan: guest seminar titled "Early Pregnancy Folic Acid Supplement Use and Folate Status in the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) Study", Ulster University, Nov 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Ms Amy Tan: oral presentation titled "Early Pregnancy Folic Acid Supplement Use and Folate Status in the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) Study", 14th European Nutrition Conference in Belgrade, Serbia, Nov 2023. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Ms Amy Tan: oral presentation titled "Early Pregnancy Folic Acid Supplement Use and Folate Status in the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) Study", 14th European Nutrition Conference in Belgrade, Serbia, Nov 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Ms Amy Tan: poster presentation at the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Ms Amy Tan, PhD Researcher, presented a poster on "Prenatal folic acid and related B-vitamins and cognitive development - a transnational approach to study early programming of brain function" at the Healthy Starts Theme Research Day held in the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute. 1-Feb-2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Ms Amy Tan: poster presentation at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Ms Amy Tan, PhD student, "Prenatal folic acid and related B-vitamins and cognitivedevelopment - a transnational approach to study early programming of brainfunction", Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Nutrition,Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD) Advisory Board Poster Session/Meet & Greet,2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Ms Maria Fernanda Mujica-Coopman: presentation at 12th International Conference on One Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine, Spain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Ms. Maria Fernanda Mujica-Coopman (PhD Researcher), "Early maternal methyl nutrient concentrations and their relationship with DNA methylation of fetal growth and obesity-related genes in the offspring: results from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study", 12th International Conference on One Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine, Spain, 9th-13th June 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Ms Miroslava Ondicova: presentation at the International Symposium Epigenetic Inheritence: Impact for Biology and Society, ETH Zurich, Switzerland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Miroslava Ondicova, "A randomized controlled trial of folic acid intervention in pregnancy highlights a putative methylation-regulated control element at ZFP57", International symposium Epigenetic Inheritance: Impact for Biology and Society, ETH Zurich, Switzerland |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Northern Ireland Science Festival Regional |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 200 school pupils partook in a DNA workshop which sparked discussion regarding EpiBrain research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Northern Ireland Science Festival Regional 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | DNA workshop sparked interest in learning about the EpiBrain research project |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation as Expert to the US National Academy of Sciences Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) Committee (Food and Nutrition Board, Health and Medicine Division). January 2021 meeting of the Committee with Experts on 'Scanning for New Evidence on Riboflavin to Support a Dietary Reference Intake Review' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation as Expert to the US National Academy of Sciences Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) Committee (Food and Nutrition Board, Health and Medicine Division). January 2021 meeting of the Committee with Experts on 'Scanning for New Evidence on Riboflavin to Support a Dietary Reference Intake Review' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Prof Colum P Walsh: presentation at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Column Walsh, "EpiFASSTT: Epigenetic effects on children's psychosocial development in a randomised trial of Folic Acid Supplementation in Second and Third Trimester", BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada, 22 March 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Prof Colum P Walsh: seminar at the Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Prof Colum Walsh, "EpiFASSTT- Epigenetic effects on children's psychosocial development in a randomised trial of Folic Acid Supplementation in Second and Third trimester", Seminar at the Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, UK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Prof H McNulty Presentation as Expert to the US National Academy of Sciences Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) Committee (Food and Nutrition Board, Health and Medicine Division) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue - Presentation as Expert to the US National Academy of Sciences Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) Committee (Food and Nutrition Board, Health and Medicine Division). January 2021 meeting of the Committee with Experts on 'Scanning for New Evidence on Riboflavin to Support a Dietary Reference Intake Review' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/01-04-2021/evidence-scanning-for-riboflavin-meeting-3 |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty - Invited lecture at the Cure Parkinson's workshop 26/06/2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Helene McNulty - Invited lecture at the Cure Parkinson's workshop on The disease modifying potential of dietary interventions for Parkinson's: "Clinical trial design for diet/nutrition". Windsor UK, 26th June 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty - Invited speaker at The Nutrition Society Training Academy Live Webinar Series 2023 (online) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | McNulty, H. 18th Jan 2023 (webinar recording) for The Nutrition Society Training Academy Live Webinar Series 2023 programme (available Feb 2023 onwards): "Folic acid fortification of food: Health effects and next steps". London (Online). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://nutritionsociety.academy/content/17192/ |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty - Invited speaker at the 10th International Nutrition and Dietetics E-Congress, Istanbul, Turkey (Online) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 10th International Nutrition and Dietetics E-Congress, Istanbul, Turkey (Online) Invited Speaker: From fetal life to ageing brain: effect of folate and related B vitamins 4th April 2021 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty - Keynote Speaker at the Taiwan National Science and Technology Council 10/11/2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Helene McNulty - Keynote Speaker at the Taiwan National Science and Technology Council jointly with the Asia Pacific Nutrigenomics & Nutrigenetics Organization Forum on Opportunity and Implications of Multidisciplinary Research in Food Science & Nutrition Health - From Basic to Human Clinical Application: Exploring Optimal Dietary Intake to Minimize Chronic Diseases Risks in Precision Nutrition and Medicine: From nutrigenomics biomarkers to the DRIs setting of one-carbon nutrients. Taipei City, Taiwan, 10th Nov 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty - Keynote Speaker at the Taiwanese Government Ministry of Health Dietary References Intake (DRI) Revision Symposium 11/11/2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof Helene McNulty - Keynote Speaker at the Taiwanese Government Ministry of Health Dietary References Intake (DRI) Revision Symposium: "Causes and Clinical Sequelae of Riboflavin Deficiency". Taipei City, Taiwan 11/11/2023 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty - Plenary lecture at The Polish Society for Nutritional Sciences |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Plenary lecture at The Polish Society for Nutritional Sciences, 3rd International Scientific Conference on Dilemmas of Human Nutrition Sciences - Today and Tomorrow : "Folate and riboflavin: why both B vitamins are crucial in women's health". Poznan, Poland. 22nd June 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty - Radio interview on BBC Radio 4 Health special programme looking at 'Folic acid fortification' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Radio interview by Helene McNulty on BBC Radio 4 Health special programme looking at 'Folic acid food fortification'. BBC Radio 4 - Inside Health, The Nobel Prize for Medicine, new plans to add nutrients to foods |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fprogrammes%2Fm0010... |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty - Session Moderator at The Young Academy Ireland launch event: 'What is it like to be a Young Academy member?' Royal Irish Academy, Dublin 25/4/23 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Session Moderator at The Young Academy Ireland launch event: 'What is it like to be a Young Academy member?' Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, 25th Apr 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty: Chair of the Epigenetics in Health and Disease Workshop, April 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Prof Helene McNulty was invited to Chair the Epigenetics in Health and Disease Workshop: Current views and interdisciplinary research through the life-course, Ulster University, Coleraine, April 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty: Co-chair of the Executive Committee, 13th FENS European Nutrition Conference, Oct 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Helene McNulty was the Co-Chair of the Executive Committee, 13th FENS European Nutrition Conference, Dublin 15-18 Oct 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.fens2019.org/welcome/letter-from-co-chairs/ |
| Description | Prof Helene McNulty: presented at the 12th International Conference on One Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine, Spain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Helene McNulty, "Achieving Optimal Folate Status for Health (in European Populations): natural food folates versus folic acid", 12th International Conference on One Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine, Spain, 9th-13th June 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Prof Kristina Pentieva: presentation at the FENS 2019 conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Kristina Pentieva presented 'Maternal folic acid supplementation and offspring health: are there benefits beyond NTD?' at the Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE) Symposium at FENS 2019 conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/events/696/program-app/submission/133490 |
| Description | Prof Mary Ward: invited professional interview for Irish Nutrition and Dietetics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited professional interview for Irish Nutrition and Dietetics Publication: An all Island approach to Dietetics: Professional Nutrition and Dietetic Review, Winter 2020 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Prof Mary Ward: invited speaker at CluB12 UK meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Mary Ward was an invited speaker at the CluB12 UK meeting chaired by Prof Julian Owens, Cambridge University (Online; 15 January 2021) Invited Speaker: Impact of riboflavin status on health outcomes in adult populations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Prof Mary Ward: invited speaker at The 6th International Vitamin Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Mary Ward was an invited speaker at The 6th International Vitamin Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark (22 Oct 2021) Invited Speaker: Why vitamin research is important in 2021 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Prof Michelle Murphy: invited lecture "Early pregnancy folate and cobalamin status and mid-childhood health and development in the offspring. The Reus Tarragona Birth Cohort Study" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Michelle Murphy: Invited lecture "Early pregnancy folate and cobalamin status and mid-childhood health and development in the offspring. The Reus Tarragona Birth Cohort Study". 14th International Conference One Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine 17-20 September, Cambridge, UK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Prof Michelle Murphy: invited lecture "Early pregnancy homocysteine and B12 predict pregnancy outcome and offspring health. The Reus Tarragona Birth Cohort Study" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Michelle Murphy: invited lecture "Early pregnancy homocysteine and B12 predict pregnancy outcome and offspring health. The Reus Tarragona Birth Cohort Study". 1st International Conference of B12 deficiency in Clinical Practice 7-10 June 2023 Rotterdam, NL |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Prof Michelle Murphy: plenary lecture at the 13th International Conference One-Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine, Paznan, Poland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Michelle Murphy, EpiBrain PI at Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain, travelled to Poznan for the 13th International Conference One-Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine (11-17 September 2021). She delivered a plenary lecture "Maternal and paternal folate and cobalamin status, pregnancy outcome and early development. The Reus-Tarragona Birth Cohort Study", highlighting findings from the EPIBRAIN project. She acted as the onsite chair of the session on B-vitamins, Homocysteine, Early Development and Pregnancy Outcomes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Prof Michelle Murphy: presenation at the FASEB Summer Research Conference on Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, and One-Carbon Metabolism (virtual) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Michelle Murphy, "Preconception and first trimester folic acid supplement use and folate status. The Reus Tarragona Birth Cohort", FASEB Summer Research Conference on Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, and One-Carbon Metabolism (virtual) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Prof Michelle Murphy: talk at the Catalan Government Agency for Public Heath European Smokefree Campaigns for Children |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Michelle Murphy participated in talks to the Working group raising of awareness of smoking risks in children and adolescents of Tarragona province, Catalan Government Agency for Public Heath European Smokefree Campaigns for Children. They presented results of secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy and in children from the Reus-Tarragona Birth Cohort Study and a summary of Smokefree Campaigns for Children in Europe. 27/04/2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Prof Yvonne Lamers: presented at the 12th International Conference on One Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine, Spain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof Yvonne Lamers, "From possible inadequacy to excess - discrepancy in folate status and folic acid intake of pregnant women across countries and supplementation guidelines", 12th International Conference on One Carbon Metabolism, B Vitamins and Homocysteine, Spain, 9th-13th June 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | SLACAN 2023 Latin American Symposium on Food Science and Nutrition - 15 SLACAN |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | International conference - dissemination of results leading to new collaboration requests and interest in the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Women in STEM BioSoc (Royal Society of Biology) talk for International Women in Science Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation followed by Q and A session demonstrated interest in the research and applications for PhDs in Genomic Medicine |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |