Meet the Core Team

Declan is the Scientific Director of the HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network, Director of Evidence Synthesis Ireland and Director of Cochrane Ireland. He is Professor of Health Research Methodology and Deputy Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Galway. He is also Principal Investigator with the INFANT – Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research.

Declan trained as a nurse and a midwife, meandered (with the help of opportunity, interest and luck) his way into trials methodology and evidence synthesis and his work now focusses on a blend across midwifery (and broader maternity care), randomised trials and how they are done and synthesising evidence.

Declan clinical areas of interest lie in maternity care with a particular focus on interest in the implementation and evaluation of models of maternity care and on methods of fetal monitoring. Declan’s methodological areas of expertise are randomised trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses and much of his career has focussed on building capacity in this area. He has published over 150 papers (h-index 33 Scopus, Jan 2019) including numerous Cochrane systematic reviews. He has led a number of clinical trials recruiting from 100 to over 3000 participants and serves on a number of Trial Steering Committees including those in pregnancy (e.g., EMERGE, HOLDS, PARROT) and Data Monitoring Boards (e.g., CORD, KEEP-WELL). He is editor with the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group and has authored dozens of systematic reviews. Declan has been awarded over €7 million in research funding as PI or co-PI and more than €8.0 million as co-applicant.

As National Programme Manager for the Health Research Board –Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN) Dr Galvin is responsible for the development, maintenance and expansion of an energetic, adaptive, and innovative network. Along with the Executive Committee, Sandra is responsible for shaping the strategic direction of the network as well as delivering on the core activities of the network. Sandra is responsible for the networks initiation and expansion, strategic development, coordination of events and for running the Trials Methodology and Reporting Advisory Service (TMRAS), as well as promoting the network via social media and attendance at conferences and events. Sandra has led on creating a number of key collaborations with national organisations to improve and build on the current randomised trial support infrastructure in Ireland.