Two PhD students; Jolie Morisho and Adam O'Mahony, from Sullivan, O'Keeffe and Collins lab viva on the same day

14 Nov 2025

Congratulations to PhD students Jolie Morisho and Adam O'Mahony from the Sullivan, Collins and O'Keeffe lab, who both successfully defended their PhD theses on 7th November 2025.  The lab marked this remarkable event by joining with the examination team for a group photograph.

Jolie Morisho, examined by external examiner Dr Clare Kelly, Reader in Neuroscience, Cardiff Metropolitan University, defended her thesis entitled 'Examining the neuroprotective and neurorestorative efficacy of AAV-hGDF5 and AAV-hGDNF in the AAV-αsynuclein rat model of Parkinson’s disease'.  Adam O'Mahony defended his thesis 'Defining the potential of HDAC5 and HDAC9 as therapeutic targets for Parkinson’s disease' with external examiner Dr Mariah Lelos, Brain Repair Group, Cardiff University.

Other examiners and independent chairs were Dr Sarah Nicolas, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience; Dr Cathal McCarthy, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics; Dr Aoife Fleming, UCC School of Pharmacy; and Dr Vera McCarthy, UCC School of Nursing.

Jolie and Adam both have strong associations with the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience. In 2022 Jolie graduated with an Honours BSc Neuroscience, and Adam graduated with an Honours BSc Neuroscience in 2018 followed in 2020 by an MSc research, under the supervision of Dr Gerard O’Keeffe and Professor Aideen Sullivan. 

Congratulations to Jolie and Adam and all at the Sullivan, O'Keeffe and Collins lab.

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News item and photograph Bereniece Riedewald