About Me

Hi, I’m Professor John Nolan and I am pleased that you have visited my website. Here’s my story. I was born and raised in the Republic of Ireland. I am originally from Carrick-on- Suir, Co. Tipperary. I now live in Waterford, Ireland, where I am happily married to Jane and have two little girls, Penny and Bea. When I finished school, I studied Science at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). It was here where I obtained my primary degree. I also completed my PhD at WIT. Following this, I worked at the Medical College of Georgia in the US as part of my Fulbright Scholarship. Upon successful completion of my Fulbright Scholarship, I returned to Waterford, where I established the Macular Pigment Research Group. This group of scientists have spent 18 years studying the role of nutrition for the eye, with some key discoveries. In 2011, I won the prestigious European Research Council Starting Grant where we conducted the Central Retinal Enrichment Supplementation Trials (CREST). This work essentially confirms the scientific discovery that the use of meso-zeaxanthin, in conjunction with lutein and zeaxanthin (the three nutritional pigments that are found at the back of the eye), can enhance vision in healthy subjects and in patients with early age-related macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness in the western world). In 2016, I founded the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland, which is a multidisciplinary group studying the role of nutrition and lifestyle for human well-being. Our current research interests include the study of key nutrients for cognitive function and brain health with a major goal of identifying ways to reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease. I feel truly blessed that as a scientist I get to work in a time where we have access to bright ideas, state-of-the-art technology, and skilled scientists that have already contributed to reducing risk of blindness. We are committed to continuing our scientific works to help people with Alzheimer’s disease.

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