Mary O’Malley

Dr. Mary O’Malley is a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Worcester, and a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society. She specializes in dementia research, focusing on improving quality of life for people living with dementia, particularly younger individuals, through environmental design and public involvement initiatives.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology, Bournemouth University
• PGCert in Research Degree Supervision, University of Northampton
• BSc in Psychology with Professional Placement, Cardiff University

Research Focus: Mary’s work addresses timely dementia diagnosis, supportive environmental design, and reducing isolation through arts-based interventions. She leads the Wellcome Trust-funded DEFIN-YD project to engage younger dementia patients in research and advocacy. Previously, she co-led the CultureBox Study exploring arts interventions in care homes during the pandemic.

Grants & Collaborations:

• Principal Investigator: Wellcome Trust (DEFIN-YD Project)
• Co-Investigator: CultureBox Study (UKRI AHRC/Wellcome Trust)
• Collaborations with NHS, Dementia UK, and Alzheimer Society

Affiliations: Member of the Association for Dementia Studies and actively involved in public dissemination of research findings.