Our aims
- To develop implementation research capability and support implementation methodologies to encourage the uptake of evidence-informed policy and programmes in areas identified as problematic in routine public service delivery.
- To be a trusted advisor with expertise in developing strategies to support implementation.
- To build capacity in implementation science nationally and internationally through teaching and contributions to the academic literature.
Work of the Centre
To build capacity in implementation science nationally and internationally, to work on policy focused research projects, to deliver place-based implementation solutions for societal “wicked problems”, to develop implementation science theories, methods and tools and to contribute to the academic literature through excellent research outputs.
Our origins
Although science is identifying more effective and efficient solutions to real world problems, uptake of those solutions is still patchy and marginal in routine practice. Issues such as ineffective compliance technologies and a lack of understanding of local context hinder the uptake of evidence-informed programmes in the delivery of public services. Irish policies and strategies are developed with the implementation of key actions at their core. For example, “implement” is mentioned in the National Development Plan 2021 to 2023, Programme for Government and the National Strategy for Higher Education. However, there is an implementation gap.
The Centre was predated by the Health Implementation Science and Technology (HIST) Research Cluster at the Health Research Institute, University of Limerick. A collaboration of HIST and Research Evidence into Policy, Procedures and Practice (REPPP) at University of Limerick led by Prof. Alice Coffey and Dr Seán Redmond has culminated in the development of the Centre for Implementation Research at University of Limerick (CIRcUL).
Configuration
The Centre has a core staff and members with mastery levels of implementation science knowledge and a network of researchers and policy makers trained and mentored by the Centre. We also support a number of PhD students, both within the Centre and affiliated with the Centre.
Centre staff
Dr Laura Keyes is the Director of the Centre. She brings a wealth of implementation science, epidemiology and public health expertise. She has previously worked at HIQA, Cambridge University, Manchester Met University and University College Cork.
Dénia Claudino is the Projects Coordinator of the Centre. Before joining CIRcUL, Dénia worked at the UL Participatory Health Research Unit - School of Medicine. She brings a wealth of experience in project management, community engagement, event planning, and funding support (pre and post-award).
Deirdre Fullerton is a Senior Research Fellow of the Centre.
Deidre is a Research psychologist with over 25 years’ experience in academic and independent research. Co-founder and director of Insights Health and Social Research, an independent research consultancy specialising in evidence reviews, stakeholder consultations, independent evaluations and primary research to inform policy and practice. She has worked with government departments, universities, and statutory and voluntary organisations. As Director of Insights Health and Social Research, she prepared bids, managed contracts, and client liaison, managed subcontractors, conducted desk research (systematic reviews) and fieldwork (interviews/surveys), completed reports and shared findings.
Before joining the Centre, Deirdre held academic posts at the University of Limerick (Research Psychologist), Ulster University (Research Lecturer), University of York Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (Research Fellow) and University College London Institute of Education (Research Officer). Her outputs have been published in international journals (e.g. British Medical Journal, the Journal of Adolescent Health, Quality in Health Care) as well as book chapters and published reports. She co-authored a textbook on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and is an external reviewer for several academic journals.