Ep 44 Part 1 - Professor John Nolan "Preventing Macular Degeneration Through Science"

Professor John Nolan is a Fulbright Scholar and currently holds a Chair for Human Nutrition Research at the School of Health Science, Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland. Prof Nolan is the Founder and Director of the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI) and is also the Principal Investigator of the Macular Pigment Research Group (MPRG, a specialised research group within this centre). His research group studies the role of nutrition for vision, cognitive function and prevention of age-related disease. In 2011, Prof Nolan won a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) research grant to study the impact of nutritional supplementation on visual function via two major clinical trials (CREST 281096; Central Retinal Enrichment Supplementation Trials). These trials identified how targeted nutrition can improve visual function for the general population, and for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Current studies at the NRCI are investigating the link between nutrition and brain health and function, and over the last number of years the Nolan and team have published novel papers on how targeted nutrients enhance cognitive function for the general population and improve quality of life for patients suffering with Alzheimer’s disease. Nolan’s work has had a major societal impact for patients suffering with AMD and for enhancing vision of the general population; for recognition, the CREST project was recently selected for presentation at a high-level conference entitled ‘EU Research & Innovation in Daily Life’, which took place at the European Parliament in Brussels to highlight the impact of EU-funded research and innovation in daily life. Prof Nolan has published 106 peer-reviewed scientific papers on his area of research (5150 = citations, H index = 44). In 2014, he successfully edited a CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group book publication entitled “Carotenoids and Retinal Disease.” He has also edited a special issue in the prestigious Journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research (MNF) “Nutrition for the Eye and Brain”. Professor Nolan has editorial roles at the European Journal of Ophthalmology and the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. A major career highlight is his role as Chair of the International Brain and Ocular Nutrition Conference (BON Conference), which is held at Downing College, Cambridge University (www.bonconference.org). See www.profjohnnolan.com for further details and access to the scientific publications. Orcid ID Google Scholar - H Index