Sophia Amenyah

Dr Sophia Amenyah

  • Post Doctoral Research Fellow
  • BG504, Bournemouth Gateway Building
UN SDGs:
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Biography

Dr Sophia D. Amenyah is a Registered Nutritionist, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Bournemouth University. She is principal investigator on three externally funded research projects. These include a Dunhill Medical Trust funded research fellowship and two projects funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Food4Years Ageing Network and Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) Southcoast network. Her previous postdoctoral role was as the lead of the evaluation team of the European Regional Development Fund project, Adding to Social capital and individual Potential In disadvantaged REgions (ASPIRE).

Sophia is an interdisciplinary researcher with expertise and experience in innovative quantitative and qualitative research methods. She has expertise in epigenetics, nutrigenomics, realist synthesis & evaluation, systematic reviews & meta-analysis, nutrition assessment, design and implementation of innovative digital tools...

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Research

My current research is focused on understanding the determinants of inequalities and co-creating innovative and inclusive solutions with communities to improve healthy ageing in underserved communities. Current projects include:

1. An incLusivE coMmunity fOod model for health wellbeiNg and sociAl connectedness of olDer pEople (LEMONADE). Funding: Dunhill Medical Trust. Role: Principal investigator.

2. A novel approach to investigating inequalities in nutrition and healthy ageing for older Black African adults in the UK (2023). Funding: UKRI (BBSRC/MRC) Food4Years Pump Priming award. Role: Principal investigator

3. The interconnection between lifestyle factors and dementia risk in minority ethnic communities in the UK(2022-2023). Funding: Alzheimer’s Research UK South Coast Network pump priming grant. Role: Principal investigator

4. Healthy Brain Healthy Life (2022-2023). Funding: Alzheimer’s Research UK South Coast Network pump priming grant. Role: Principal investigator

5. Adding to Social capital and individual Potential In disadvantaged REgions (ASPIRE) (2020-2023). Funding: European Regional Development Fund. Role: Co-investigator.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:

No poverty

"End poverty in all its forms everywhere"

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Zero hunger

"End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture"

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Good health and well-being

"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"

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Reduced inequalities

"Reduce inequality within and among countries"

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Journal Articles

  • Amenyah, S.D., Waters, D., Tang, W., Fenge, L.A. and Murphy, J.L., 2022. Systematic realist synthesis of health-related and lifestyle interventions designed to decrease overweight, obesity and unemployment in adults. BMC Public Health, 22 (1).
  • Dahodwala, H., Amenyah, S.D., Nicoletti, S., Henry, M.N., Lees-Murdock, D.J. and Sharfstein, S.T., 2022. Evaluation of site-specific methylation of the CMV promoter and its role in CHO cell productivity of a recombinant monoclonal antibody. Antibody Therapeutics, 5 (2), 121-129.
  • Amenyah, S.D., Murphy, J. and Fenge, L.A., 2021. Evaluation of a health-related intervention to reduce overweight, obesity and increase employment in France and the United Kingdom: a mixed-methods realist evaluation protocol. BMC Public Health, 21 (1).
  • Amenyah, S.D. et al., 2021. DNA methylation of hypertension-related genes and effect of riboflavin supplementation in adults stratified by genotype for the MTHFR C677T polymorphism. International Journal of Cardiology, 322, 233-239.
  • Amenyah, S.D. et al., 2020. Influence of nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism on DNA methylation in adults-a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews, 78 (8), 647-666.
  • Amenyah, S.D. et al., 2020. Riboflavin supplementation alters global and gene-specific DNA methylation in adults with the MTHFR 677 TT genotype. Biochimie, 173, 17-26.
  • Amenyah, S.D., Ward, M., Strain, J.J., McNulty, H., Hughes, C.F., Dollin, C., Walsh, C.P. and Lees-Murdock, D.J., 2020. Nutritional epigenomics and age-related disease. Current Developments in Nutrition, 4 (7), 1-16.
  • Michels, N. and Amenyah, S.D., 2017. Body size ideals and dissatisfaction in Ghanaian adolescents: role of media, lifestyle and well-being. Public Health, 146, 65-74.
  • Amenyah, S.D. and Michels, N., 2016. Body size ideals, beliefs and dissatisfaction in Ghanaian adolescents: sociodemographic determinants and intercorrelations. Public Health, 139, 112-120.

Conferences

  • Oliveira, N., Amenyah, S.D., Tang, W., Fenge, L. and Murphy, J.L., 2023. Self-efficacy of participants in a holistic intervention to reduce unemployment and obesity in France and England. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY, 82 (OCE3).
  • Amenyah, S.D., Fenge, L.-A., Stallard, J., Lerwil, P., McGannan, B., Oliveira, N., Tang, W. and Murphy, J.L., 2023. Body composition and motivations for accessing an innovative, digital community health engagement tool in socially deprived areas. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY, 82 (OCE3).
  • Amenyah, S. et al., 2020. DNA methylation of hypertension-related genes is influenced by the MTHFR 677TT genotype and riboflavin supplementation. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY, 79 (OCE2), E237.
  • Amenyah, S.D. et al., 2018. Epigenetic effects of riboflavin supplementation on hypertension in adults screened for the MTHFR C677 T polymorphism. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY, 77 (OCE3), E62.
  • Amenyah, S.D. and Michels, N., 2015. Role of diet, physical activity and media in body size and dissatisfaction in Ghanaian adolescents. ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM, 67, 402.

Profile of Teaching PG

  • Research Project (Dissertation)
  • Nutrition for Brain and Mental Health
  • Community Health and Wellbeing
  • Contemporary Nutrition

Profile of Teaching UG

  • Nutrition in Health and Disease
  • Advances in Applied Nutrition
  • Nutritional Requirements throughout Life

Grants

  • ESRC Festival of Learning - Through my lenses: a journey from hopelessness to hopefulness (Economic and Social Research Council, 02 Oct 2023). Awarded
  • LEMONADE: Community food model for older people (Dunhill Medical Trust, 03 Jul 2023). Awarded
  • Impact of a novel, inclusive, community-based food model on health, wellbeing and social connectedness of older people (LEMONADE) (Dunhill Medical Trust, 03 Jul 2023). Awarded
  • A novel approach to investigating inequalities in nutrition and healthy ageing for older Black African adults in the UK. (UKRI Food4Years Pump Priming Award, 03 Jan 2023). Awarded
  • The interconnection between lifestyle factors and dementia risk in minority ethnic communities in the UK (Alzheimer's Research UK, 01 Nov 2022). Awarded
  • Healthy Brain Healthy Life (Alzheimer's Research UK, 02 May 2022). Awarded

Public Engagement & Outreach Activities

  • Healthy Brain Healthy Life Project (02 May 2022-31 May 2023)
  • Dementia Research Charity Chatathon - A Diet for the Brain & Measuring Quality of Life
  • Bournemouth University Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) Virtual Research Coffee Mornings.
  • Key Speaker – Bournemouth University 2022 Online Public Lecture Series – Living better for longer: staying healthy in later life.
  • Key speaker – Café Scientifique Highcliffe – BrainFit: healthy Eating for a Healthy Brain
  • Soapbox Science Exeter

Qualifications

  • PhD in Nutrition and Genomics Medicine (Ulster University, 2020)
  • MSc in Nutrition & Rural Development (Public Health Nutri (Ghent University, Belgium, 2015)
  • BSc (Hons) in Nutrition and Food Science (University of Ghana, 2011)

Memberships