Palliative Care Research on the Island of Ireland
Palliative Care Research Network (PCRN)

AIIHPC established the Palliative Care Research Network (PCRN) in 2012 to address the need for more collaborative multidisciplinary research in palliative care on the island of Ireland. The PCRN offers the palliative care research community on our shared island opportunities to create and engage within a collaborative environment, supporting the development of excellent, high quality, clinically relevant and innovative research projects that reflect, inform, and contribute to the advancement of AIIHPC’s work programmes.
Our Vision
As the leading Network for palliative care research on the island of Ireland, PCRN members undertake internationally recognised research that enhances palliative care knowledge and expertise and improves the quality of life of people with life limiting conditions.
Our Mission
To support the conduct of research that improves the quality of life and death of people with life limiting conditions and that contributes to the achievement of AIIHPC’s strategic work programmes to:
- Integrate research, education, and practice development of palliative care in the health and social care systems across both jurisdictions
- Partner with users, carers, and communities in relation to production of resources for palliative care
- Target the development of the specialist palliative care sector to meet current and emerging demands in respective health systems
Our Values
- Research Excellence
- Respect, Trust, and Mutual Understanding
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusiveness
- Curiosity, Collaboration, and Integration
About the PCRN | 2 minutes 55 seconds
PCRN Members
PCRN Members include leading researchers from AIIHPC’s member organisations on the island of Ireland who focus on adult and children’s palliative care research from medicine, nursing, psychology, physiotherapy, speech and hearing therapy, occupational therapy, health economics, pharmacy, and law disciplines.
PCRN Members include:
Name
Role
Affiliation
Professor of Palliative Care
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast
Professor of Children’s Nursing
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin
Associate Professor in Pharmacy Practice
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin
Established Professor/Head of School
School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Galway
Associate Professor
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin
Consultant of Palliative Medicine, Clinical Medicine
Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services
Associate Professor in General Nursing
School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University
Established Professor / Director
School of Law / Centre for Disability Law and Policy (CDLP), National University of Ireland Galway
Postdoctoral Researcher / Lecturer
Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork
Associate Professor in General Nursing
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin
Research Assistant Professor
Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin
Professor of Health Research
School of Nursing and Paramedic Science, Ulster University
Full Professor Children and Nursing/Head of School
School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University
Professor of Palliative Care and Academic Director / Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing (Palliative Care)
Institute for Training and Research, The University of Lausanne, Switzerland /School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin
Director of the Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing
School of Psychology, Ulster University
Consultant in Palliative Medicine
Consultant in Palliative Medicine, HSE Mid West; and Milford Hospice, Limerick
Research Assistant Professor in Health Economics
Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin
Professor and Chair of Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Director of the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Executive Director of the National Intellectual Disability Memory Clinic
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin.
Marie Curie Senior Research Fellow
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast
Lecturer
School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast
Dean of the Ulster Doctoral College/Head of School and Professor of Nursing and Palliative Care
School of Nursing and Paramedic Science, Ulster University
Principal Clinical Psychologist (Specialist) and Clinical Lead for Research / Adjunct Assistant Professor
LauraLynn / School of Psychology, University College Dublin
Head of Speech and Hearing Sciences
School of Clinical Therapies, University College Cork
Assistant Professor
School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University
Professor of the Economics of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation / Emeritus Professor
Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London / Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College, University of Dublin
Consultant in Palliative Medicine / Clinical Senior Lecturer in palliative medicine
St James and Our Lady's Hospice / Trinity College Dublin
Professor in Ageing & Community Nursing
School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin
Senior Lecturer
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Centre for Leadership, Ethics and Organisation, Queen’s University Belfast
Professor of Cancer and Palliative Care; Director of Research
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast
UCD Clinical Professor / Consultant in Palliative Medicine
University College Dublin / St Francis Hospice
Associate Professor in General Nursing
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin
Professor in Clinical Cancer Nursing
Ulster University, and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
Research Fellow, Public Health & Primary Care
School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin
Assistant Professor
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin
Professor of Health Systems / Public Health
School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University
Professor/Head of School
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin
Professor
Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University College Cork
PCRN Members:
- collaborate with senior researchers, clinicians, service users, policy makers and funders in palliative care and other relevant areas on the island of Ireland and internationally
- build partnerships including those with patient-public involvement through AIIHPC Voices4Care group of people with life-limiting conditions, families and interested citizens
- lead, mentor and build research capacity, including with Early Career Researcher Forum members
- ensure research is relevant and has impact on global and national policy and practice priorities
- transfer knowledge to clinicians, educators, policy makers, service users and the wider community via the palliative hub and PCRN events
- learn from global experts, share knowledge and network via PCRN events including the Annual PCRN Symposium
PCRN Membership Benefits
ENHANCE your career and credibility with access to AIIHPC’s expertise in palliative care research, education & practice, and policy & engagement in palliative care on the island of Ireland and internationally.
CONNECT with a community of leading academic and clinical researchers on the island of Ireland who are at the forefront of international research in palliative care.
ACCESS capacity building opportunities, which will give you the tools and skills to apply your knowledge and make an impact.
KNOW palliative care inside-out with timely access to news and insight.
More information on PCRN membership benefits is available here and if you are from an AIIHPC member organisation and interested in joining the PCRN please contact Acting AIIHPC PCRN Project Manager Dr Emer Brangan – ebrangan@aiihpc.org
Palliative Care Research Network Strategic Scientific Committee

The Palliative Care Research Network Strategic Scientific Committee (PCRN SSC) is responsible for supporting the strategic development of the Network. In collaboration with All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care, the Committee supports the management of proposals for activities and programmes of work for the Network. The Committee’s membership includes representatives from academic institutions, hospices, members of Voices4Care (Voices4Care is AIIHPC’s service user, carer and interested citizen group) and health funding organisations across the island of Ireland. The PCRN Strategic Scientific Committee meets four times a year.
PCRN Strategic Scientific Committee Members list is available here.
Annual Report
A yearly report on the activity of the PCRN is available for review within the AIIHPC Annual Report on the following links:
AIIHPC Annual Review 2021 | AIIHPC Annual Review 2020 | AIIHPC Annual Review 2019

AIIHPC's Palliative Care Research Network Strategic Plan 2023-2027

AIIHPC’s Palliative Care Research Network (PCRN) Strategic plan 2023-2027 sets out our core principles and commitments to continue to advance outcomes that have a positive impact on the quality of life and death for people with life-limiting conditions and supports for their families.
Download the document
AIIHPC’s Palliative Care Research Network Strategic Plan 2023-2027
Download link
Our Priorities 2023-2027
Strengthen and expand collaboration
We will work across disciplines on the island of Ireland to extend collaboration including internationally in areas of common interest that can improve the quality of life and death for people with palliative care needs.
Create an academic–clinical environment to foster innovation
We will act to improve the effectiveness of multidisciplinary academic-clinical studies to answer the most important questions by building academic-clinical capability and support structures to foster innovation.
Develop palliative care researchers and support career paths
We will support members to become recognised experts and leaders in palliative care by securing investment, mentoring, structured training, brokering involvement in national/international studies and supporting career paths.
Involve people with life-limiting conditions, family carers, and communities across research cycle
We will grow the level of involvement of people with life-limiting conditions, family carers, and interested citizens across all stages of decision making in palliative care research and evaluate their impact.
Maximise research impact on practice and policy
We will address practice and policy priorities by co-producing and mobilising research evidence with health and social care professionals, palliative care providers, commissioners, policy makers, people with life-limiting conditions and family carers.
PCRN research on the island of Ireland
Pathways toward Social Justice: Understanding Equality and Inclusion in Palliative Care (Research strand one) by Professor Philip Larkin, Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing (Palliative Care), School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin.
Philip Larkin Overall Summary PCRN Research Strand One | 4 minutes 01 second
Measurement and Evaluation of Outcomes for Palliative Care (Research strand two by Professor Charles Normand, Edward Kennedy Professor of Health Policy and Management, Centre for Health Policy and Management, Trinity College Dublin.
Charles Normand Overall Summary PCRN Research Strand Two | 4 minutes 42 seconds
For information about PCRN and ECRF members research studies on the island of Ireland, visit Research Studies.