Assoc ProfessorGráinne O'Donoghue

Gráinne O’Donoghue’s research focuses on physical activity and exercise prescription in clinical populations, non-communicable disease prevention and management, weight bias and stigma in healthcare, and health professional and inter-professional education. Her work applies implementation science to support the translation of evidence into routine healthcare practice.

She is currently PI on two Health Research Board (HRB)–funded Applied Partnership Awards, delivered in partnership with the HSE. These include Obesity Stigma Education for All (OSE4ALL), which involves the co-design of an inter-professional e-learning resource to support the destigmatisation of obesity among healthcare professionals, and the iPAPH Study, which focuses on the development of a theory-informed implementation intervention to support the adoption and uptake of the National Physical Activity Pathways in Healthcare.

Research, Scholarship and Innovation

ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9126-2094
H-index: 31 (Google Scholar); 23 (Scopus)

Gráinne has published over 120 peer-reviewed journal articles, including 35 publications in journals ranked within the top 13% globally (impact factor >4). She has secured over €2 million in competitive research funding as Principal Investigator or Co-Applicant. She has supervised five PhD students and six Master’s students to completion, and is currently supervising two PhD students and two postdoctoral researchers.

Research Impact Summary

Her research has had demonstrable impact on clinical practice, health professional education, and national health policy in the areas of physical activity, obesity and non-communicable disease prevention. This includes contributions to the development of international entry-level physiotherapy curricula, support for the implementation of national physical activity pathways in healthcare, and leadership in addressing weight bias and stigma within health services. Impact is evidenced through high-quality publications, competitive research funding, invited national and international speaker roles, media engagement, and membership of national advisory and expert groups, informing both professional practice and healthcare policy.

Areas of Expertise

- Physical activity and exercise prescription in clinical populations

- Prevention and management of non-communicable diseases

- Weight bias and stigma in healthcare

- Health professional and inter-professional education

- Implementation science and knowledge translation

- Quantitative and qualitative research methods

- Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) in health research