PhD Graduates

2024 PhD Graduates

Dr Eoin Hurley

Supervisors: Prof Stephen Byrne, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Kieran Dalton, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Elaine Walsh, Department of General Practice, UCC; Prof Tony Foley, Department of General Practice, UCC

Thesis Title: The expansion of the pharmacist's role in primary care in Ireland: a mixed methods study.

Graduated: 2024

Dr Khaled Elkassas

Supervisors: Prof Abina M Crean, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Sonja Vucen, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Spectroscopic Insights into the Behaviours of lyophilised Biopharmaceuticals

Graduated: 2024

LinkedIn: Khaled's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Ayse Kont

Supervisors: Prof Caitriona O'Driscoll, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Design and Synthesis of new Biomimetic Materials with tunable Biodistribution Profiles for RNA delivery in Gene Therapy focusing on Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Graduated: 2024

LinkedIn: Ayse's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Yao Sun

Supervisors: Prof Caitriona O'Driscoll, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Smart drug delivery systems for siRNA therapeutics in prostate cancer immunotherapy

Graduated: 2024

Dr Clara Heinrich

Supervisors: Dr Maria Donovan, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Suzanne McCarthy, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Sheena McHugh, School of Public Health, UCC

Thesis Title: Deprescribing for frail older adults residing in long-term care facilitates: a mixed-methods study

Graduated: 2024

LinkedIn: Clara's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Emily Knox

Supervisors: Prof Catriona O'Drilscoll, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof John Cryan, Anatomy and Neuroscience, APC Microbiome Ireland, UCC; Prof Gerard Clarke, Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, APC Microbiome Ireland, UCC; Dr Maria Rodriguez Aburto, APC Microbiome Ireland, UCC

Thesis Title: Mechanistic insights in the role of bacterial metabolites in blood-brain barrier physiology

Graduated: 2024

LinkedIn: Emily's career profile on LinkedIn

2022 PhD Graduates

Dr Andrea Diaz Diaz

Supervisors: Prof Christian Waeber, School of Pharmacy, UCC and Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, UCC; Dr Anne Moore, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, UCC

Thesis Title: Preclinical characterisation of fingolimod as a potential therapeutic agent for stroke

Graduated: 2022

LinkedIn: Andrea's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Kyle Malone

Supervisors: Prof Christian Waeber, School of Pharmacy, UCC and Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, UCC; Dr Anne Moore, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, UCC

Thesis Title: The Role of Regulatory T Cells in Stroke Recovery

Graduated: 2022

Dr Harriet Bennett-Lenane

Supervisors: Prof Brendan Griffin, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Joey O'Shea, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof Caitriona O'Driscoll, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Computational pharmaceutics approaches to inform drug developability: focus on lipid-based formulations

Graduated: 2022

LinkedIn: Harriet's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Frank O'Riordan

Supervisors: Dr Aoife Fleming, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Frances Shiely, School of Public Health, UCC; Prof Stephen Byrne, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Opportunities to measure and improve antimicrobial stewardship in the Irish hospital setting

Graduated: 2022

LinkedIn: Frank's career profile on LinkedIn

2021 PhD Graduates

Dr Thérèse Lyons

Supervisors: Dr Tim O'Sullivan, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Cormac Gahan, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Synthesis and evaluation of novel quorum sensing inhibitors

Graduated: 2021

Dr Valeria Gervasi

Supervisors: Dr Abina Crean, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Sonja Vucen, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Lyophilisation of high concentration protein formulations

Graduated: 2021

LinkedIn: Valeria's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Gary O'Brien

Supervisors: Prof Stephen Byrne, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof Valerie Walshe, Health Service Executive; Prof Mark Mulcahy, Cork University Business School, UCC

Thesis Title: Using the health policy triangle framework to describe local, regional and national healthcare policy changes within Ireland's diverse healthcare settings

Graduated: 2021

LinkedIn: Gary's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Cian O'Mahony

Supervisors: Prof Stephen Byrne, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof Denis O'Mahony, School of Medicine, UCC; Dr Kevin Murphy, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: A mixed-methods evaluation of novel services for vulnerable patient groups in Ireland

Graduated: 2021

LinkedIn: Cian's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Ana Luiza Queiroz

Supervisors: Prof Abina Crean, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Sonja Vucen, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Application of pharmaceutical quality approaches and the development of process analytical technologies to improve pharmaceutical product and process understanding

Graduated: 2021

LinkedIn: Ana's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Ziad Sartawi

Supervisors: Dr Katie Ryan , School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof Christian Waeber, School of Pharmacy, UCC and Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Thesis Title: Spatiotemporal control of siponimod delivery for the regeneration of critical bone defects

Graduated: 2021

LinkedIn: Ziad's career profile on LinkedIn

2020 PhD Graduates

Dr Seif Yahia Salah El Hadidi

Supervisor: Dr Margaret Bermingham, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof Stephen Byrne, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof Ebtissam Darweesh, Faculty of Pharmacy, Future University in Egypt

Thesis Title: Guideline-Led Prescribing to Heart Failure Patients in Ireland and Egypt

Graduated: 2020

LinkedIn: Seif's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Laura Henze

Supervisor: Prof Brendan Griffin, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Exploring the utility of the pig model for predicting bioavailability in humans

Graduated: 2020

LinkedIn: Laura's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Alexandra-Roxana Ilie

Supervisors: Dr Brendan Griffin, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr. René Holm, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV

Thesis Title: Design and development of supersaturated lipid-based drug delivery systems for applications in pharmaceutical industry

Graduated: 2020

LinkedIn: Alexandra-Roxana's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Niklas Köhl

Supervisor: Prof Brendan Griffin, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Exploring the utility of lipid-based formulation technology to enhance oral bioavailability of BCS class IV molecules

Graduated: 2020

LinkedIn: Niklas's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Sarah Marshall

Supervisors: Dr Laura Sahm, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Anne Moore, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Dr Aoife Fleming, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Exploring vaccine decision-making to identify and address barriers to vaccine uptake in Ireland.

Graduated: 2020

LinkedIn: Sarah's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Jacinta Walsh

Supervisors: Dr Brendan Griffin, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Niall Hyland, Physiology Department, UCC; Dr Gerard Clarke, Psychiatry Department, UCC

Thesis Title: Gut microbiome-xenobiotic interactions: focus on drug metabolism

Graduated: 2020

LinkedIn: Jacinta's career profile on LinkedIn

2019 PhD Graduates

Dr Kieran Dalton

Supervisor: Prof Stephen Byrne, School of Pharmacy, UCC & Prof Denis O'Mahony, School of Medicine, UCC

Thesis Title: Factors affecting prescriber implementation of medication appropriateness recommendations in hospitalised older adults

Graduated: 2019

LinkedIn: Kieran's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Elaine Enright

Supervisor: Dr Cormac Gahan, School of Microbiology, UCC & Dr Susan Joyce, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, UCC

Thesis Title: Gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism: implications for oral drug absorption

Graduated: 2019

LinkedIn: Elaine's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Ken Howick

Supervisor: Dr Brendan Griffin, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Harriet Schellekins, Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, UCC

Thesis Title: Targeting the ghrelin receptor in appetite and reward (original title)

Graduated: 2019

LinkedIn: Ken's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Raghu Peddapatla

Supervisors: Dr Abina Crean, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Maria Sousa-Gallagher, Process & Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, UCC

Thesis Title: A study of magnesium stearate behaviour in pharmaceutical blends and tablets employing Broadband Acoustic Resonance Dissolution Spectroscopy (BARDS)

Graduated: 2019

LinkedIn: Raghu's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Christina Rae Hansen

Supervisor: Prof Stephen Byrne, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof Denis O'Mahony, School of Medicine, UCC; Prof Patricia Kearney, School of Public Health, UCC

Thesis Title: An exploration of deprescribing barriers and facilitators for older patients in primary care in Ireland – the potential role of the pharmacist

Graduated: 2019

Dr Elaine Walsh

Supervisor: Dr Laura Sahm, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof Colin Bradley, Department of General Practice, UCC; Prof Patricia Kearney, School of Public Health, UCC

Thesis Title: Medication Error at the Primary Secondary Care Interface: Costs, Causes, Consequences

Graduated: 2019

2018 PhD Graduates

Dr Mary Ellen Crowley

Supervisor: Dr Abina Crean, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: A study of microcrystalline cellulose variability and how this impacts compaction performance

Graduated: 2018

LinkedIn: Mary Ellen's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Aoife McGillicuddy

Supervisor: Dr Laura Sahm, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Abina Crean, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Oral dosage form modifications for older adults: A mixed methods investigation

Graduated: 2018

LinkedIn: Aoife's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Michelle O'Driscoll

Supervisor: Dr Laura Sahm, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof Stephen Byrne, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Mindfulness in Pharmacy Education: A national study

Graduated: 2018

LinkedIn: Michelle's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr David O'Riordan

Supervisor: Prof Stephen Byrne, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: The role of the pharmacist in optimising prescribing in community-dwelling older adults

Graduated: 2018

LinkedIn: David's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Joey O'Shea

Supervisor: Dr Brendan Griffin, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof Caitriona O'Driscoll, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Mechanistic understanding of bio enabling formulation approaches to improve oral bioavailability using porcine in vivao and in silico models

Graduated: 2018

LinkedIn: Joey's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Kieran Walsh

Supervisor: Prof Stephen Byrne, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Suzanne Timmons, Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, UCC; Prof John Browne, School of Public Health, UCC; Dr Jennifer McSharry, School of Psychology, NUIG

Thesis Title: Rationalising antipsychotic prescribing in dementia: A mixed methods investigation

Graduated: 2018

LinkedIn: Kieran's career profile on LinkedIn

2017 PhD Graduates

Dr Maria Kelly

Supervisor: Dr Suzanne McCarthy, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Laura Sahm, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Prof Ronan O'Sullivan, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Bon Secours Hospital; Dr Frances Shiely, School of Public Health, UCC

Thesis Title: Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of parents on fever and febrile illness in children

Graduated: 2017

LinkedIn: Maria's career profile on LinkedIn

Dr Elena Presas

Supervisor: Prof Caitriona O'Driscoll, School of Pharmacy, UCC; Dr Brendan Griffin, School of Pharmacy, UCC

Thesis Title: Pre-clinical development of cyclodextrin-based nanoparticles for oral delivery of peptide/protein drugs – in vitro and in vivo evaluation

Graduated: 2017

LinkedIn: Elena's career profile on LinkedIn