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CREST Project Team

Co-applicants

‌	Professor Dympna Casey (RGN, B.A., M.A., Ph.D) is the Principal Investigator of the CREST project and established professor of Nursing at NUI Galway. Her research interests include care of older people, dementia, self-management of chronic diseases and health promotion. She has a keen interest in promoting healthier lifestyles for older people and in examining ways of supporting and maintaining the health and functional capacity of older people.
	Professor Kathy Murphy is a professor emeritus with the National University of Ireland, Galway. Kathy worked in the University Sector for the last 25 years, as a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Deputy Head, Head and Professor. She taught at undergraduate and post-graduate level and supervised research and PhD students, mostly in nursing and midwifery. Her research interests are in older people, dementia and chronic disease. Her recent research has focused on dementia and resilience.
	Professor Declan Devane is Professor of Midwifery at NUI Galway, the Director of Evidence Synthesis Ireland and Director of Cochrane Ireland. He holds the Chair in Midwifery and is Deputy Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at NUI Galway. He is also Scientific Director of the HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network, and Principal Investigator with the INFANT - Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research.
	Professor Gill Windle is a Professor of Ageing and Dementia Research with Bangor University. Gill is a social scientist with a background in psychology working across disciplinary boundaries. Her research combines arts, science and public engagement to investigate health, well-being, creativity and resilience in later life. Gill was a member of the Wales Dementia Strategy task and finish group.
‌	Professor Eamon O'Shea is a Personal Professor in the School of Business & Economics and was inaugural Director of the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG) at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Eamon is also a HRB Research Leader and Director of the Centre for Economic and Social Research on Dementia. His work has been influential in setting the agenda for the reform of services and policies for people with dementia in Ireland. He was Chair of the National Economic and Social Forum Expert Group on Care of the Elderly in 2005/06 and co-authored the influential Creating Excellence in Dementia Care report in 2012. He is currently a member of the Implementation Group for the Irish National Dementia Strategy.
	Professor Pat Dolan is joint founder and Director of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre and an Academic Director of the M.A. in Family Support Studies. Prof. Dolan holds the prestigious UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement, the first to be awarded in the Republic of Ireland. The UNESCO Chair delivers a comprehensive programme of work towards the objective of promoting civic engagement and leadership skills among children and youth.

CREST Core Working Group

	Professor Dympna Casey (RGN, BA, MA, Phd) is the Principal Investigator of the CREST study and member of the Core research team.
	Doctor Siobhan Smyth (RPN, DipCPN, RNT, PG.DipCHSE, BNS, MSc, PhD) is a member of the Core research team. Siobhán is a registered mental health nurse and is also registered as a nurse tutor with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
	Priscilla Doyle (BA, MA) is the project manager of the CREST study. Priscilla has an honours degree in Business, Tourism and Sport from Athlone Institute of Technology and a Masters in Health Promotion from National University of Ireland, Galway. Her research interests include dementia, health literacy, media, technology and health, physical activity and health communication.
	Niamh Gallagher (BA, MA) is a research assistant on the CREST study. Niamh has an honours degree in Psychology & French and a Masters in Health Promotion, both from National University of Ireland, Galway. Niamh’s research interests include older people, health literacy and dementia research.

Dementia Advisory Forum members
	Helen Rochford Brennan is a member of the Irish Dementia Working Group (IDWG) and has used her time with the IDWG to raise awareness of dementia and raise the profile of human rights for people with dementia. She is also on the Monitoring Committee of Ireland’s first National Dementia Strategy and is a Global Dementia Ambassador. Helen joined the European Working Group of People with Dementia (EWGPWD) in October 2014 and served as a Vice-Chairperson for two years (2014-2016). On 30 October 2016, she was elected as Chairperson, thus also joining the Board of Alzheimer Europe. Helen was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the National University of Ireland Galway.
	Carmel Geoghegan is an advocate and supporter of campaigns that keep the spotlight on Dementia and End of Life Care as a national health priority. Carmel’s advocacy work stems from becoming primary carer for her late Mum Angela in January 2011 and supported her to end of life January 2014. Carmel has established ‘Dementia Ireland Empowering Communities’ social enterprise to build awareness at community level and hopes to connect those affected by a diagnosis through sharing of knowledge, experiences and learning. Carmel advocates for involvement of all in research, building an inclusive society and promoting social health. Carmel supports Helen Rochford Brennan who is living with Early Onset Alzheimer to travel to Europe to continue to advocate for People with Dementia in her role as Chairperson of the European Working Group of People with Dementia and al so as a board member of Alzheimer Europe.
	Des O'Doherty is a dementia expert.
	Rita O'Doherty is a caregiver of a person living with dementia.
	Doctor Louise Hopper is an Assistant Professor in Psychology in the School of Nursing and Human Sciences in Dublin City University (DCU). Louise coordinates and delivers modules in Psychology Research Skills on undergraduate and post-graduate psychology programmes. She also co-ordinates the Level 8 and Level 9 standalone professional development modules for the school.
	Elaine Howard is a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Global Brain Health Equity in Dementia. She is the founder of Dementia Focus, a dementia services consultancy providing capacity building and service enhancement solutions to health and social care sectors.
	Maureen Mannion is a Dementia Advisor in Galway City and County for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. Maureen works with people with dementia and their families and carers to provide a highly responsive and individualised information and signposting service.
	Tom McCann is a Dementia Nurse Specialist for Western Alzheimers.