Professor Aaron Liew is a Consultant Physician in Diabetes, Endocrinology and General Internal Medicine at Portiuncula University Hospital and Galway University Hospital since 2015. He is also the Associate Professor in Diabetes and Endocrinology at National University of Galway (NUIG), Dean of Ballinasloe Medical Academy and the Academy Clinical Simulation Lead (ACSL) for NUIG. He is the clinical supervisor for Medical internship, Basic Specialist Training (General Internal Medicine) and GP Senior House Officer (SHO) schemes in Portiuncula University Hospital.Professor Liew graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in 2000, and completed his Higher Specialist Training (HST) in Diabetes and Endocrinology with General Internal Medicine in 2010. During his Higher Specialist Training in Ireland, Professor Liew was awarded the Clinical Research Training Fellowship from the Health Research Board and completed a PhD, in the Regenerative Medicine Institute, NUIG in 2008 under the supervision of Professor Timothy OBrien. His PhD thesis was entitled Diabetes related dysfunction of endothelial progenitor and mature endothelial cells. Following his HST in 2010, he continued his research in cell therapy in critical limb ischaemia as a post-doctoral researcher under the supervision of Professor OBrien in NUIG. He obtained the Ulysses Grant which allowed him learn the novel electrogene transfer method for human mesenchymal stromal cell inGustave Roussy, Laboratoire de Vectorologie et Therapeutiques Anticancereuses, Villejuif, France in 2011. He was involved in the first clinical trial conducted in Ireland to examine the safety and feasibility of autologous intramuscular transplantation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cellsas a novel therapy for people with no-option critical limb ischemia (EudraCT number: 2013-003447-37).In 2014, Professor Liew was appointed as the Principal Research Associate in the Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University and Institute of Transplantation, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. His research included the Diabetes UK funded Project, entitled Biomedical and Psychosocial Outcomes of Islet Transplantation, led by Professor James Shaw. He was also involved in the first phase 3, double-blind, randomised controlled trialwhich evaluates the efficacy of an investigational anti-inflammatory small molecule (reparixin) in preventing graft dysfunction following pancreaticislet transplantation in people with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Professor Liews current research interests focus on diabetes mellitus and frailty. His other research interest includesthe management of diabetes mellitus and its related vascular complications, in particularly regenerative medicine with cell therapy and gene therapy, as well as anti-thrombotic therapy for venous and arterial thrombosis. He is involved inmultiple collaborative network forsystematic reviews and meta-analyses.Professor Liew and Dr. OCaoimh were Co-Principal Investigators from NUIG for the ADVANTAGE Joint Action (JA) on the prevention of frailty. This Joint Action involved 22 Member States (MS) and over 35 organizations and it was co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the MS. NUIG-HSE led the Work Package 5 (Knowing frailty at population level) of this project (a target=_blank rel=nofollow href=http:www.advantageja.euindex.phpprojectcontent-researchwp5http:www.advantageja.euindex.phpprojectcontent-researchwp5 ).The ADVANTAGE Joint Action Research Team (NUIGHSE):Professor Aaron Liew (Work Package 5 LeaderNUIG)Dr. Ronan OCaoimh (Work Package 7 Task LeaderNUIG)Dr. Duygu Sezgin (Post-Doctoral researcherNUIG)Mr. Mark ODonovan (Research AssistantNUIG)Dr. Siobhan Kennelly (National Clinical Advisory Group Lead Older PersonsHSE)Dr. Helen Whitty (Programme Manager for National Clinical Programme for Older PeopleRCPI)Results of the ADVANTAGE Joint Action: a target=_blank rel=nofollow href=http:advantageja.euindex.phphome-3http:advantageja.euindex.phphome-3 Face Up to Frailty! Campaign: a target=_blank rel=nofollow href=https:www.inrca.itinrcaadvantagefaceupToolkit.asphttps:www.inrca.itinrcaadvantagefaceupToolkit.asp Professor Liew was also a Co-Principal Investigator for the EMERGEtrial (NCT02980276) for Portiuncula University Hospital site, with the Lead Principal Investigator, Professor Fidelma Dunne for GUH site. This is a very important double blind placebo controlledphase 3 randomised controlled trialwith a specific aim to determine whether metformin plus usual care, when compared with placebo plus usual care (introduced at the time of initial diagnosis of GDM), reduces: a) the need for insulin use, or hyperglycemia (primary outcome measure); b) excessive maternal weight gain; c) maternal and neonatal morbidities and, d) cost of treatment for women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

1) Dean of Medical Education of Ballinasloe Medical Academy (NUIG)2) Senior Lecturer in Endocrinology at National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) 3)Medical trainer in Portiuncula University Hospitalfor: a) Senior House Officer in Basic Specialist Training (Internal Medicine)b) Senior House Officer in General Practice Scheme (Internal Medicine)c) Medical Intern Scheme4) Research supervisor for Master Thesis Postgraduate students: MSc in Clinical Research (NUIG) 2021 Dr. Georgina Bergero2020 Dr. Yogesh Acharya2020 Mr. Mark ODonovan (Co-supervision with Dr Rónán OCaoimh)2019 Dr. Shereen Mohamed Saleh Esmael2018 Dr. Muniza Satti2018 Dr. Ciara de Buitleir2017 Ms. Michelle Conboy MSc of Multidisciplinary Radiology (NUIG) 2018Dr. Arlene Weir (Co-supervision with Prof. Peter McCarthy) MSc in Regenerative Medicine (NUIG) 2011 Dr. Rory DurcanProspective candidates can discuss their proposed PhDMDMSc projects and potential funding opportunities by email: [email protected]