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Staff Profile

Dr Ríona McArdle

NIHR Advanced Fellow

Background

Background

I am an NIHR Advanced Fellow and an interdisciplinary researcher with a background in psychology and applied neuropsychology. My research aims to improve the lives of people living with dementia and other age-related conditions by developing and implementing digital solutions to assess and support mobility impairments.


I completed an Alzheimer’s Society-funded PhD (2015-2019) investigating instrumented and digitally-derived gait outcomes as diagnostic markers for dementia subtypes. I was awarded an NIHR Advanced Fellowship (2021-2025) to develop guidance on mobility measurement in dementia and explore socio-ecological influences on mobility-related activity, followed by an NIHR Three Schools Dementia Career Development Award (2025-current) to build capacity in participatory action research and intervention development. I was awarded the 2022 ISPGR Emerging Scientist Award for contributions to gait research early in my career. I am PI on eight research grants (~£1.5M) and supervise three PhD students working on mobility in dementia and neurodegeneration, digital health inclusion, and under-served populations. I lead public patient involvement and engagement (PPIE) for the Digital Health theme in Newcastle’s NIHR BRC. My research aims to bridge digital innovation, mobility support, and dementia care, ensuring equitable, user-centred solutions with real-world impact.


Leadership roles

  • Public Patient Involvement and Engagement Lead for the Digital Health, Ageing Innovation and Inclusion Theme in Newcastle's NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.
  • Early Career Research Lead for Newcastle's Ageing and Geroscience Theme.
  • Research Leader within the Brain and Movement Research Group.


 

Researchgate profile

 

Google Scholar profile

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Research

Research Interests

My research interests relate to neurodegenerative disorders, particularly dementia, cognitive processes, human movement and mobility, and applications of technology to diagnosis and care.


In particular, I am interested in improving the quality of life and diagnostic outcomes of people with dementia by developing clinical markers for earlier, more accurate diagnosis of dementia subtype, and by understanding how we can empower people with dementia to maintain their independence through service provision, education or application of technology in care.


I conducted the GaitDem study between 2015-2019, investigating the potential applications of wearable technology and gait analysis to dementia diagnosis and disease monitoring. Findings from this study have been published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and Gerontology.


Grants as Principal Investigator

·NIHR Three Schools’ Dementia Research Programme Call for Dementia Career Development Awards 2024, Newcastle University: £54,939, Principal Investigator for the “Forging research leadership in digital mobility interventions for dementia: Building networks and co-producing future solutions” (DigiDem Future) study, March 2025 – July 2026.

·Neuroscience Accelerator Award, Newcastle University: £47,500, Principal Investigator for the “Measuring what matters: A cross cultural mapping of the meaningfulness of validated digital mobility outcomes in people with Parkinson’s disease in Ghana and Tanzania” study, January-December 2025

·National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre studentship: £89,288, Principal Investigator for the “Characterising sedentary behaviours across the spectrum of cognitive impairment using digital technology” studentship, October 2024-September 2027.

·National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre studentship: £112,008, Principal Investigator for the “Measuring what matters: a representative exploration of experiences of mobility loss in people with Parkinson’s disease and their carers to inform digital mobility assessment” studentship, October 2023-November 2027.

·Ageing Research Translation (ART) of Healthy Ageing Network, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI): £12,500, Principal Investigator on “Investigating social and environmental influences on physical ACTIVity in older adult DYADs” (ActivDyad) study. January 2023-October 2023.

·National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Advanced Fellowship: £426,994. Three-year research fellowship, leading the “Identifying modifiable psychosocial outcomes to maintain physical ACTIVity and promote independence in DEMentia” (ActivDem) study. November 2021 – March 2025.

·National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Research Capability Funding, £21,190.50, via North East Commissioning Services Unit (September 2020-March 2021): Six months’ full time salary funded to support development of research, collaboration with the Ageing, Health and Society Research Group (Newcastle University), and the acquisition of new research skills. 


Grants as co-investigator

· Alzheimer’s Research UK: £70,000, Co-applicant and Newcastle site Lead on “Characterising digital mobility signatures of atypical dementia”. PI: Dr Keir Yong, UCL. May 2024-June 2025.

·Michael J Fox Foundation: $250,000, Co-applicant on the “Measuring what matters – in whom it matters – ensuring diversity and equity in Parkinson’s disease research and care” study, PI: Professor Katie Brittain. January 2023 – January 2025.

·National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre Funding: £4,000. Co-applicant on the “Developing novel tools to accurately identify dementia subtypes: application of wearable-based gait analysis and machine learning approaches” project, PI: Dr Rana Rehman. April 2021-April 2022 


PhD students

  • Sarah Wilson - "Strategies to promote digital health equity". Funded by Alzheimer's Research UK. Co-supervised with Professor Sarah Slight, Dr Clare Tolley and Mr Bob Slight. 2022-present
  • Megan Hanrahan - "Measuring what matters: a representative exploration of experiences with mobility loss in people with Parkinson's disease and their carers to inform digital mobility assessment". Jointly funded by Newcastle's NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and MJ Fox Foundation. Co-supervised with Professor Katie Brittain. 2023-present
  • Jenny Wales - “Characterising sedentary behaviours across the spectrum of cognitive impairment using digital technology”. Funded by Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. Co-supervised by Dr Silvia Del Din, Professor Alison Yarnall, and Dr Chloe Hinchcliffe. 2024-present.
Teaching

Current Teaching

  • Essay Supervisor and marker for “PSY1001: Psychological Inquiry” module, BSc Psychology, Newcastle University. Module leader: Dr. Amy Fielden.
  • Mentor for the NIHR BRC Doctoral Trainees.
  • Supervisor for MRes in Neuroscience and BScs in Biomedical Sciences,  Sports Science and Physiology, Psychology, Newcastle University

Past Teaching

PhD Tutor for the Brilliant Club.  Designed and delivered the following courses for high school students:

  1. "Mind your step: what can walking tell us about the brain?" (KS4; March-May 2016)
  2. "Dementia: One size doesn't fit all" (KS4, June -September 2016)
  3. "Watch your step: How does the brain influence walking?" (KS4; March - May 2017)
  4. "Walking and the brain" (KS5; October 2017 - January 2018)

"Watch your step: How does the brain influence walking?" (KS4; October 2017 - January 2018)

Publications