2006 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Dublin City University
Evelyn Gordon
Health4Life — the research portfolio of the School of Nursing, Dublin City University

Health4Life represents the evolving and vibrant inter-professional research portfolio of the School of Nursing, DCU. Health4Life was officially launched in May 2006, an important event in the history of research in Ireland that celebrated the research activity and strategy of the School and more generically highlighted the existence, quality and growth potential of inter-professional and inter-organisational research across the island. To mark this occasion the School hosted a very successful research conference, incorporating a children's conference, an ethics conference and a number of methodology master-classes. This conference marked the beginning of the School's research conference programme and provided the opportunity to hear about cutting edge research projects and innovative research practices from national and international presenters, and to identify research collaborations. It is envisaged that the School will host an annual Spring research conference.


Chris Stevenson, Director of Research, Chair in Mental Health and Head of School who is responsible for developing H4L

Health4Life is underpinned by a robust infrastructure, lead by Prof. Chris Stevenson, Director of Research, that facilitates and supports quality research. This includes expert advice and guidance to internal staff and external partners and collaborators, team support, technology, library facilities and dedicated staff that operate within clearly defined support roles and structures.

Research activities span School, University, national and international levels with a rapidly growing number of research partners and collaborators. The Health4Life portfolio represents key research interests and current priorities within the School clustered under a number of streams, each with embedded projects, including:

Judgement and decision-making,
Educational processes,
Care and presence
Psycho-social health,
Parasite immune modulation.


Judgement and decision-making

Prof. P. Anne Scott

Examining; patterns of, factors influencing and processes involved in clinical judgement, perception, judgement and decision in the moral/ethical domain of clinical practice; and factors involved in joint decision-making involving patients/ clients, relatives, parents and practitioners.


Educational processes

Dr. Donal O'Mathuna & Dr. Jean Clarke

Exploring innovative, engaging and effective teaching and learning structures and processes across interdisciplinary programmes and educational systems at different levels.


Care and presence

Dr. Jean Clarke

Exploring the nature, place and value of caring and presence within professional discourses and practices.


Psycho-social health

Dr. Pamela Gallagher & Dr. Gemma Kiernan

Examining the multifaceted nature, perceptions and experiences of health and well being at individual, family, community and social levels, and within a range of professional and cultural contexts.


Parasite immune modulation

Dr. Sandra O'Neill

The focus of the parasite immune modulation group is to isolate and characterise immune modulators as potential vaccine candidates and as potential therapeutics for the treatment of immune mediated diseases.



A number of crosscutting strands underpin all research activities, including:

  • High quality, relevant and innovative research with clearly defined outputs.

  • A critical perspective on evidence, practice and education.

  • Service user participation at all levels of inquiry.

  • Collaboration with clinicians, educators, researchers and funders from a wide range of contexts.

  • Technological innovation and informatics.

It is the explicit goal of Health4Life to:

  • Promote inter-professional and interorganisational research

  • Push the boundaries in research innovation

  • Enhance meaningful links between research, theory and practice

  • Promote quality training and support for researchers

  • Inform policy development.

Contact Details:
Administration, School of Nursing,
Dublin City University,Glasnevin Dulin 9
Tel: 353-1-7005947
E-mail: [email protected]