Yvonne Nolan is a Professor in Anatomy and Neuroscience, Funded Investigator in APC Microbiome Ireland and a Science Foundation Ireland Investigator. She leads a research team investigating the impact of modifiable lifestyle factors such as exercise, stress and diet on memory and mood though the lifespan. Recent work focuses on adolescence, middle age an Alzheimer's. The role of the gut microbiome and hippocampal neurogenesis is of particular interest. Research in Professor Nolan’s team investigates Yvonne graduated from NUI, Galway with a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry, and a PhD in Neuropharmacology. She was a visiting scholar at McGill University Montreal, Canada and held postdoctoral positions in Trinity College, Dublin. In 2003 she was appointed as Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, UCC, in 2011 she was promoted to Senior Lecturer and to Professor in 2020. Research in Professor Nolan's laboratory focuses on the effects of inflammation, exercise, stress and diet on hippocampal plasticity and neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons) and on associated learning, memory and mood throughout the lifespan. To date she has supervised >30 PhD/MSc/postdoctoral researchers/to completion and has also supervised numerous visiting and undergraduate students. She was awarded UCC’s Research Supervisor of the Year Award, 2016. She has a number of collaborations with academic and industrial partners and her team have had recognition for research in the form of prizes, image exhibition and media coverage. She has published >80 full-length journal articles and >150 conference abstracts. Her H-index is 37 (Google Scholar) and her work has been cited >5500 times. She has secured ~€5.5M in research funding as Lead Investigator from Science Foundation Ireland, Marigot Ireland Ltd, Molecular Medicine Ireland, Irish Research Counci

Research in Dr. Nolan’s group is focused on understanding how lifestyle factors such as exercise, stress and diet throughout the life course impact upon neuronal functions and behaviour, with a focus on inflammation as a critical mediator. We work on the role of the gut microbiome and hippocampal neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons) in mediating these environmental influences on the brain and behaviour. Concurrently, an awareness of modifiable lifestyle factors (exercise, diet, music) for brain health is promoted. The inter-related aims of Dr. Nolan’s research programme are: 1. To understand the mechanisms underpinning the interplay between chronic neuroinflammation and exercise on hippocampal neurogenesis (a form of brain plasticity involving the production of new neurons from stem cells) and behaviour (memory and mood) during sensitive periods of the lifespan, specifically adolescence and older age 2. To interrogate the role of the gut microbiota in Alzheimer’s disease and in exercise-induced changes in inflammation, brain plasticity and behaviour in ageing 3. To identify the inflammatory mechanisms underlying the negative effects of a cafeteria diet on brain and behaviour and to investigate exercise as a mitigating strategy 4. To increase understanding of learning strategies, academic motivation, well-being, and anxiety linked with inflammation in adolescent undergraduate students in UCC 5. To investigate musical training on cognition and sociability in children with Down Syndrome

Leadership in Neuroscience: Dr. Nolan was Director of the BSc Neuroscience (2015-2020) and co-ordinates (currently/past five years) seven neuroscience modules (AN2020; AN3001; AN4011; AN4013; AN4014; AN4015; AN6031).She established a staff-student liaison committee, peer mentoring, career advisory sessions, Student Declaration and Code of Conduct, Work placement module, alumni talks, information video, Twitter handle and programme email address for prospective students. She also co-ordinated the Intercalated BSc in Neuroscience for Medical students. Leadership in Anatomy: Dr. Nolan has developed curriculum, taught and assessed Anatomy to students in Occupational, Speech and Language Therapy, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and to postgraduate students in Anatomy, Osteoarchaeology and Audiology since her appointment in 2003. She was Anatomy liaison for School of Clinical Therapies (2004–2016). She has represented the department at School and Exam Boards and in the accreditation and re-accreditation of both Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy programmes since 2006. She co-ordinates/previously co-ordinated six anatomy modules (AN1060; AN1061; AN1074; AN3005; AN3006; AN6001). Research-led teaching: Dr. Nolan draws on her expertise in cognitive function, inflammation and lifestyle factors influencing the brain in her teaching. She leads an active research group in Neuroscience and impart her expertise in three research-based modules (AN4011, AN4013, AN4014) which she coordinates. She has supervised 6 taught MSc dissertation students, >50 undergraduate projects, >60 library projects and seven ERASMUS projects (Grenoble, Beijing, Amsterdam, Toulouse). Teaching Qualification: 2005: Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning