Project Area: Health policy and systems research Project Summary BACKGROUND: Depression is a common comorbidity in cancer, affecting up to 30% of patients, with around 10% meeting criteria for major depression. Untreated depression is associated with poorer adherence to cancer treatment, increased symptom burden, reduced quality of life (QOL), and […]

Project Area: Population health research Project Summary Housing insecurity, characterised through frequent involuntary residential moves, poor-quality and overcrowded housing, insecure tenancies, and homelessness, is a core social determinant of health. Early childhood is considered a critical period for brain development and the formation of secure relationships, making infants and children […]

Project Area: Health policy and systems research Project Summary Obesity is the most pressing current and future health challenge in Ireland. Yet, it is only recently that healthcare professionals (HCPs) are starting to acknowledge it as a chronic disease, with most still focused on willpower and self-control as solutions to […]

Project Area: Population health research Project Summary This PhD project will develop and evaluate “Pain Cafés”—a new, community‑based model of support for older adults living with chronic pain. Pain Cafés are informal sessions held in local community spaces, offering education, peer support, and opportunities for social connection. The project will […]

Project Area: Health policy and systems research Project Summary BRIDGE – Building Routine Integration of Data on Housing and Mental Health for Guiding Evidence‑Based Recovery Homelessness and mental health are deeply interconnected. People with severe mental illness are disproportionately represented among the homeless population, and unstable housing often leads to […]

Project Area: Health service and technology evaluation Project Summary Rehabilitative palliative care integrates rehabilitation principles into palliative care and end-of-life care for people with life-limiting illness. Rehabilitative palliative care assists people to live as independently as possible and to adapt to changes associated with deteriorating health. The escalating global burden […]

Project Area: Health policy and systems research Project Summary The Problem:The “”Invisible”” Majority Of the estimated 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland, the vast majority are supported within general practice. Despite this, our national understanding of the condition relies almost exclusively on hospital-based data sources, such as memory clinics. […]

Project Area: Health service and technology evaluation Project Summary Overcrowding in Emergency Departments, also known as the ‘Trolley Crisis’ is a serious public health issue in Ireland. Long waiting times mean that some patients health can deteriorate before being treated by medical staff. Older adults are particularly at high risk […]

Project Area: Health policy and systems research Project Summary Ireland’s health system is undergoing a substantial period of structural reform. Central to this transformation is the introduction of six new HSE Health Regions, alongside a reconfigured HSE Centre, with responsibility for planning, managing resources, and delivering services increasingly devolved from […]

Project Area: Health service and technology evaluation Project Summary Healthcare systems are increasingly moving towards digital-first models of care. While new technologies promise efficiencies and improved coordination, they also bring significant changes to how healthcare professionals work, make decisions, and relate to patients. This PhD project focuses on what digital […]