Structured Population and Health-services Research Education
Cohort 2023
David Aluga
HEI: Trinity College Dublin
Supervisor name: Prof. Susan M. Smith
Funding Source: Health Research Board (HRB)
Area of research: Health service and technology evaluation
Project title: Developing a model for evidence-based resource allocation in Ireland RESOURCE ALLOCATION IN IRELAND ___________________________________________
I have a bachelor's degree in pharmacy and a master's degree in public health, and I have worked in both the hospital and community settings. I have also worked as a Special Assistant to a State Governor in Nigeria, where I assisted the Governor in planning and budgeting the State's resources. My research interest is around evidence-based allocation of resources for health technologies to improve access to quality health services. I also hope to explore ways of assisting decision-makers to disinvest in low-value health technologies, especially medicines and medical devices.
Zeinab El-Dirani
HEI: RCSI
Supervisor name: Dr Angela Flynn
Funding Source: SFI (Converge scholar)
Area of research:
Hyperemesis GravidarumProject title:
Developing a Digital Toolkit to Support Women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum in Ireland ___________________________________________I hold a Master’s in Public Health from the American University of Beirut. Over the past eight years, I have built extensive research and field experience across the Middle East and North Africa, with a particular emphasis on qualitative research methods. My research interests focuses on maternal health, refugee and migrant health, mental health and psychosocial support, as well as sexual and reproductive health..
Claire Griffin
HEI: RCSI
Supervisor name: Prof. Frances Horgan & Prof. Helen French (School of Physiotherapy, RCSI)
Funding Source: Research Ireland (Irish Research Council) Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme
Area of research: Use of technology to optimise upper limb therapy dosage following stroke or brain injury
Project title: The OUTDO Study - Optimising Upper Limb Therapy Dosage & Opportunity for practice using technology in an in-patient neurorehabilitation setting: a mixed methods design ___________________________________________
I am qualified as a physiotherapist in 2009 and gained clinical experience in the UK, Switzerland and most recently in Ireland as a Senior Physiotherapist in Peamount Healthcare. I have worked primarily in age-related rehabilitation and neurological rehabilitation, completing an MSc in Neurology & Gerontology in RCSI in 2020. My research interests include optimising the dosage of upper limb therapy provided in neurorehabilitation, and the use of technology as an adjunct to therapy. My PhD research uses a mixed-methods design to explore the use of technology to optimise upper limb therapy dosage and opportunity for practice following stroke or brain injury.
Dr Reham A. Lasheen
HEI: RCSI
Supervisor name: Professor Frank Doyle
Funding Source: Health Research Board (HRB)
Area of research: Tobacco Control, Implementation Science
Project title:
COMmunity PArticipation to set direction on design and implementation of financial incentives in Stop Smoking services for individuals with Multi-morbidity in Ireland: COMPASS-M ___________________________________________I am a medical graduate and senior House Officer from Egypt with interests in women’s health, mental health, and chronic disease prevention. I have delivered lectures for non-Arabic-speaking medical students and worked temporally as a research assistant at Queen’s University Belfast. My Master’s focused on health determinants, with a dissertation on barriers and facilitators to cancer pain management in Vietnam. Most recently, I have collaborated with EMPHNET to investigate childhood trauma and help-seeking in Jordan. Currently, I am working on the COMPASS project in Ireland, co-developing and evaluating a financial incentive intervention for smoking cessation. My research interests are diverse, including mental well-being, implementation science, and chronic diseases among others.
Katarina Medved
HEI: University College Cork
Supervisor name: Dr. Frances Shiely, Prof. Patricia Kearney, Dr. Alice Biggane, Dr. Laia Raigal
Funding Source:
Area of research: Patient and Public Involvement in Clinical Trials
Project title: Engagement and Retention of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Contributors in Cancer Clinical Trial PPI Activities
___________________________________________I am a SPHeRE and HRB-TMRN scholar based at School of Public Health, University College Cork. I hold first class honours bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Science with Drug Development from IT Sligo and Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Trials from University College Cork. My PhD research is focused on engagement and retention of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) contributors in cancer clinical trials. My broader research interests lie in public health, clinical research methodologies, and the integration of patient perspectives in healthcare decision-making..
Rebecca Trower
HEI: University College Cork
Supervisor name: Dr Frances Shiely, Prof. Patricia Kearney, Dr Alice Biggane, Dr Laia Raigal
Funding Source:
Area of research: Patient and Public Involvement in Clinical Trials
Project title: Engagement and Retention of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Contributors in Cancer Clinical Trial PPI Activities
___________________________________________I am a SPHeRE and HRB-TMRN scholar based at School of Public Health, University College Cork. I hold first class honours bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Science with Drug Development from IT Sligo and Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Trials from University College Cork. My PhD research is focused on engagement and retention of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) contributors in cancer clinical trials. My broader research interests lie in public health, clinical research methodologies, and the integration of patient perspectives in healthcare decision-making.