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Staff Profile

Dr Ríona McArdle

NIHR Three Schools Dementia Career Development Fellow

Background

Ríona Mc Ardle is a Senior Research Fellow. She holds expertise in gait and digital mobility analysis, combining quantitative and qualitative methods to understand and support mobility in people living with dementia and related conditions. Her work applies wearable sensors, signal processing, and clinical gait assessment to uncover how mobility changes with disease, and how these changes can inform diagnosis, prognosis, and care. Alongside this, she embeds participatory and qualitative approaches to ensure that digital health solutions are co-designed with patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.


She collaborated across clinical, engineering, and data science disciplines, and lead projects that bridge technical innovation with lived experience. Her goal is to deliver user-centred digital health solutions that improve diagnosis, care, and quality of life for people with dementia.



Her research spans three core themes:


1. Gait & Digital Mobility Science


  • Applying and validating wearable sensor methods for gait and turning analysis
  • Comparing mobility patterns across lab and real-world environments
  • Using gait and mobility outcomes as digital biomarkers for dementia research


2. Clinical & Translational Applications


  • Characterising mobility profiles in Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia and other dementia related conditions
  • Investigating disease-related and socio-ecological influences on mobility impairment (e.g., cognition, environment, social context)
  • Using these insights to guide intervention design, falls prevention strategies, and models of care
  • Investigating links between mobility decline, falls, independence, and quality of life
  • Incorporating digital mobility outcomes into longitudinal studies and clinical interventions


3. Embedding the many voices of lived experience in mobility research


  • Co-designing research with people with dementia, carers, and practitioners
  • Exploring lived experiences of mobility loss and perspectives on digital monitoring tools
  • Embedding PPIE and co-production throughout research design and delivery


Evidence of Leadership

  • Principal Investigator (PI) on multiple NIHR- and charity-funded studies, leading research programmes on digital health and mobility in dementia and ageing.
  • Supervisor of three PhD students (and one completed PhD) and multiple MSc dissertations, supporting early career researchers in dementia and mobility research.
  • Public Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Lead for the Digital Health, Ageing Innovation and Inclusion Theme in 缅北禁地's NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.
  • Early Career Researcher Lead for the Ageing and Geroscience Research Theme, 缅北禁地.
  • Inequalities Lead on “Technology Empowered Dementia Independence (TEDI) EPSRC Network Plus.
  • Member of national and international collaborations in digital health, mobility, and dementia care, with invited talks delivered across Europe and internationally.
  • Recognised Emerging Leader in the field, awarded the Emerging Scientist Award (2022) by the International Society of Posture and Gait Research.


 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Research

Dr Ríona McArdle’s research spans the full spectrum of mobility research in ageing and neurodegeneration, with a focus on dementia and related disorders. She combines digital health technologies, advanced analytics, and mixed methods approaches (longitudinal quantitative analysis, qualitative inquiry, and participatory co-design) to understand mobility across disease and care contexts.


Her work characterises gait, turning, sedentary behaviour, and ambulatory activity to identify both disease-related mechanisms and socio-ecological influences on mobility. This evidence supports the development of clinical markers for earlier and more accurate dementia subtype diagnosis and informs post-diagnostic interventions and care models that promote independence, wellbeing, and equity for people living with dementia and their families.


Ríona's research has been published in leading journals including Alzheimer’s & Dementia. To date, she has secured over £1 million in research funding as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator, supported by NIHR, Alzheimer’s Research UK, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.


Grants as Principal Investigator

·NIHR Three Schools’ Dementia Research Programme 2025, 缅北禁地: £488,188. Principal Investigator for the “Enhancing Mobility support for people with dementia: BRidging the gap between needs And CarE” (EMBraCe) study, March 2025 – March 2028

·NIHR Three Schools’ Dementia Research Programme Call for Dementia Career Development Awards 2024, 缅北禁地: £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, 缅北禁地: £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) 缅北禁地 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) 缅北禁地 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 (缅北禁地), and the acquisition of new research skills. 


Grants as co-investigator

·NIHR Three Schools’ Dementia Research Programme 2025: £ 499,311. “DETERMIND-LS-Y3: DETERMinants of quality of life, care and costs, and consequences of INequalities in people with Dementia and their carers: Long term followup with Seldom heard group enhancement - Year 3 assessment”, March 2025 – March 2026. PI: S Banerjee. Co-I’s: R Mc Ardle, B.Hicks, L.Robinson, A. Thomas, P. Donaghy, Y. Birks, R. Wittenberg, E. Miles, M. Knapp, M. Dangoor, S. Read, D. King, B. Hu, J. Dixon, K. Gridley, J. Hammond, C. Mueller, R. Oakley, M. A. Rauf, C. Cooper.

·EPSRC Network Plus: £1,998,824, Inequalities Lead on “Technology Empowered Dementia Independence (TEDI) Network Plus”, 2025-2028. PI: Prof. Arlene Astell, Co-I’s: D Kirk, K. Brittain, L Robinson, D Craig, D Jackson, H Collingham, P McMeekin, R Wilson, W Lok Woo, P Joddrell, A Taylor-Beswick. September 2025-September 2028.

· Alzheimer’s Research UK: £70,000, Co-applicant and 缅北禁地 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. (Passed July 2025).
  • 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 缅北禁地'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 缅北禁地 NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. Co-supervised by Dr Silvia Del Din, Professor Alison Yarnall, and Dr Chloe Hinchcliffe. 2024-present.
  • Jack Lumsdon - "Cross-contextual comparison of physical activity in people with Parkinson’s in the UK and Ghana: Exploring the influence of disease related and socioecological factors." Funded by ESRC Nine DTP. Co-supervised by Professor Katie Brittain and Dr Tash Fothergill-Misbah. 2025-present.
Teaching

Current Teaching

  • Guest lecturer for 缅北禁地's Postgraduate Development Programme on topics relating to public engagement, scientific communication and conducting systematic reviews.
  • Supervisor for MRes in Neuroscience and BScs in Biomedical Sciences, Sports Science and Physiology, Psychology, 缅北禁地

Past Teaching

  • Essay Supervisor and marker for “PSY1001: Psychological Inquiry” module, BSc Psychology, 缅北禁地. Module leader: Dr. Amy Fielden.
  • Mentor for the NIHR BRC Doctoral Trainees.

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

  • Articles

    • Hanrahan M, Wilson C, Rochester L, Keogh A, McArdle R, Brittain K. . Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology 2026, epub ahead of print.
    • Mc Ardle R, Alcock L, Hunter H, Galna B, Godfrey A, Lawson RA, Del Din S, Yarnall A, Klenk J, Rochester L. . Journal of Parkinson's Disease 2026, 16(2), 375-382.
    • Tangen GG, Engedal K, Persson K, Selbaek G, Dakhil S, Mc Ardle R, Mjorud M, Rosvik J, Mengshoel AM, Knapskog AB. . Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2025, 103(4), 1013-1022.
    • Mc Ardle R, Ryan LJ, Rehman RZU, Dignan E, Thompson A, Del Din S, Galna B, Thomas A, Rochester L, Alcock L. . Gait & Posture 2025, 118, 141-147.
    • Akinyemi RO, Kunkle BW, Akinyemi JO, Kushch NA, Olalusi OV, Rajabli F, Ogunde GO, Martinez IM, Zaman AF, Sarfo FS, Akpalu A, Njamnshi AK, Damasceno A, Ayele BA, Zenebe Y, Adoukonou T, Ikanga JN, Boshe J, Ndetei D, Obiako R, Ogundele A, Wahab K, Osaigbovo G, Nwani P, Mlaki DA, Lwere K, Olowoyo P, Elugbadebo OO, Ogunronbi M, Arulogun O, Nichols M, Paddick S-M, Farombi TH, Okubadejo NU, Walker R, Baiyewu O, Owolabi MO, Byrd GS, Seixas AA, Guerchet M, Seshadri S, Cuccaro M, Vance JM, Reitz C, Bush WS, Haines JL, Kalaria RN, Pericak-Vance M, Ogunniyi A. . Alzheimer's & Dementia 2025, 21(S6), e107688.
    • Mc Ardle R, Taylor L, Del Din S, Rochester L, Kerse N, Klenk J. . Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences 2025, 80(11), glaf197.
    • Walter S, McArdle R, Largent EA, Edelmayer R, Sexton C, Loyola Sandoval S, Medsger H, Meserve N, Samaroo R, Sierra C, Smeitink M, Gibson A, Gregory S, Karamacoska D, Leroi I, Molina Henry D, Suarez Gonzalez A, Glover C. . Alzheimers & Dementia 2025, 21(1), e14350.
    • Wales JL, Hinchliffe C, Falck RS, Yarnall AJ, Del Din S, Mc Ardle R. . Alzheimer's & Dementia 2025, 21(S4), e099653.
    • Hanrahan M, Wilson C, Keogh A, Barker S, Rochester L, Brittain K, Lumsdon J, McArdle R. . Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research 2025, 25(2), 137-154.
    • Kim,SW,Kim,DH,Hong,JY,Mun,KR,Jung,D,Hong,I,Mc Ardle,R,Seong,JK,Baek,MS. . Scientific reports 2025.
    • Mc Ardle R, Dsouza A, Hagan A, Al-Oraibi A, Hanjari M, Stephan BCM, Brayne C, Lafortune L, Bains M, Qureshi N, Robinson L. . International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2025, 40(2), e70057.
    • Connolly EM, Mc Ardle R, Bimpong KAA, Slight SP. . Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2024, 101(3), 715-729.
    • Farina,N,Niazi,U,Mc Ardle,R,Eronen,J,Lowry,R,Banerjee,S. . Aging Medicine 2024. In Press.
    • Farina N, Mc Ardle R, Lowry R, Banerjee S. . Journal of Ageing and Physical Activity 2024, 32(4), 480-487.
    • Mc Ardle R, Taylor L, Cavadino A, Rochester L, Del Din S, Kerse N. . JMIR Aging 2024, 7, e53020.
    • Brar M, Mc Ardle R, Hagan A, Al-Orabi A, Hanjari M, Stephan B, Brayne C, Lafortune L, Bains M, Qureshi N, Robinson L. . Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2024, 100(4), 1315-1331.
    • Hicks B, Gridley K, Dixon J, Baxter K, Birks Y, Colclough C, Karim A, Perach R, Moseley E, Russell A, Sondh H, Storey B, Tipping E, Mc Ardle R, Donaghy P, Dangoor M, Miles E, Robinson L, Rusted J, Waine H, Wheatley K, Banerjee S. . International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2023, 38(2), e5886.
    • Jabbar KA, Mc Ardle R, Lord S, Kerse N, Del Din S, Teh R. . Sensors 2023, 23(17), 7615.
    • Keogh A, Mc Ardle R, Diaconu MG, Ammour N, Arnera V, Blazani F, Brittain G, Buckley E, Buttery S, Cantu A, Corriol-Rohou S, Delgado-Ortiz L, Duysens J, Forman-Hardy T, Gur-Arieh T, Hamerlijnck D, Linnell J, Leocani L, McQuillan T, Neatrour I, Polhemus A, Remmele W, Saraiva I, Scott K, Sutton N, van de Brade K, Vereijken B, Wohlrab M, Rochester L. . Journal of Medical Internet Research 2023, 25, e44206.
    • Wilson S, Tolley C, Mc Ardle R, Beswick E, Slight SP. . Journal of Medical Internet Research 2023, 25, e46711.
    • Debelle H, Packer E, Beales E, Bailey HGB, Mc Ardle R, Brown P, Hunter H, Ciravegna F, Ireson N, Evers J, Niessen M, SHI JQ, Yarnall AJ, Rochester L, Alcock L, Del Din S. . Frontiers in Neurology 2023, 14, 1111260.
    • Lawson L, Mc Ardle R, Wilson S, Beswick E, Karimi R, Slight S. . Journal of Medical Internet Research 2023, 25, e45658.
    • Mc Ardle R, Hamilton C, Del Din S, Kingston A, Robinson L, Galna B, Thomas AJ, Rochester L. . Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2023, 95(1), 265-273.
    • Wilson S, McArdle R, Tolley C, Slight S. . Alzheimer's & Dementia 2022, 18(S2), e059820.
    • Mc Ardle R, Del Din S, Morris R, Alcock L, Yarnall AJ, Burn DJ, Rochester L, Lawson RA. . Sensors 2022, 22(3), 871.
    • Mc Ardle R, Del Din S, Donaghy P, Galna B, Thomas A, Rochester L. . Sensors 2021, 21(3), 813.
    • Yemm H, Robinson L, Paddick SM, Dotchin C, Goodson ML, Narytnyk A, Poole M, Mc Ardle R. . Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2021, 83(1), 451-474.
    • Ardle RM, Jabbar KA, Din SD, Kerse N, Rochester L, Callisaya ML. . Alzheimer's & Dementia: The journal of the Alzheimer's Association 2021, 17(S11), e055547.
    • Mc Ardle R, Pratt S, Buckley C, Del Din S, Galna B, Thomas A, Rochester L, Alcock L. . Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 2021, 9, 639337.
    • Mc Ardle R, Del Din S, Donaghy P, Galna B, Thomas A, Rochester L. . Gerontology 2020, 66, 197-208.
    • Mc Ardle R, Del Din S, Galna B, Thomas A, Rochester L. . Gait & Posture 2020, 76, 372-376.
    • Quinn TJ, Elliott E, Hietamies TM, Martinez G, Tieges Z, Mc Ardle R. . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020, 2020(9), CD013724.
    • Mc Ardle R, Galna B, Donaghy P, Thomas A, Rochester L. . Alzheimer's and Dementia 2019, 15(10), 1367-1377.
    • Mc Ardle R, Morris R, Hickey A, Del Din S, Koychev I, Gunn RN, Lawson J, Zamboni G, Ridha B, Sahakian BJ, Rowe JB, Thomas A, Zetterberg H, MacKay C, Lovestone S, Rochester L. . Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2018, 63(1), 331-341.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

    • Buckley C, Mc Ardle R, Galna B, Thomas A, Rochester L, Del Din S. . In: 41st Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. 2019, Berlin: IEEE.

  • Editorial

    • Mc Ardle R, Del Din S, Yarnall A. . Advances in Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation (ACNR) 2021.

  • Notes

    • Connolly EM, Slight S, Mc Ardle R. . Alzheimer's and Dementia 2022, 18(S8), e062834.
    • Mc Ardle R, Hamilton C, Del Din S, Kingston A, Robinson L, Galna B, Thomas AJ, Rochester L. . Alzheimer's and Dementia 2022, 18(S2), e066878.

  • Reviews

    • Wilson C, Hanrahan M, Brittain K, Mcardle R, Arieh TG, Rochester L, Keogh A. . Age and Ageing 2025, 54(11).
    • Wilson S, Tolley C, Mc Ardle R, Lawson L, Beswick E, Hassan N, Slight R, Slight S. . npj Digital Medicine 2024, 7(1), 173.
    • Mc Ardle R, Jabbar KA, Del Din S, Thomas AJ, Robinson L, Kerse N, Rochester L, Callisaya M. . Journal of Medical Internet Research 2023, 25, e44352.
    • Lyall D, Kormilitzin A, Lancaster C, Sousa J, Petermann-Rocha F, Buckley C, Harshfield E, Iveson M, Madan C, Mc Ardle R, Newby D, Orgeta V, Tang E, Tamburin S, Thakur L, Lourida I, Deep Dementia Phenotyping Network The, Llewellyn D, Ranson J. . Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association 2023, 19(12), 5872-5884.
    • Beishon LC, Elliott E, Hietamies TM, Mc Ardle R, O'Mahony A, Elliott AR, Quinn TJ. . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2022, (4), CD013724.
    • Mc Ardle R, Sverdrup K, Del Din S, Lord S, Kerse N, Rochester L, Taylor L. . Ageing Research Reviews 2021, 67, 101298.
    • Buckley C, Alcock L, Mc Ardle R, Rehman RZU, Del Din S, Mazzà C, Yarnall A, Rochester L. . Brain Sciences 2019, 9(2), 34.
    • Wilson J, Allcock L, Mc Ardle R, Taylor JP, Rochester L. . Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 2019, 100, 344-369.
    • Mc Ardle R, Morris R, Wilson J, Galna B, Thomas AJ, Rochester L. . Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2017, 60(4), 1295-1312.