Biography

Kate is a Lecturer in the School of Public Health and a Research Fellow in Epidemiology. Kate holds a BSc in Public Health (1st class honours, graduating top of her class) from UCC, a MPhil in Epidemiology from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from UCC. Kate is involved in teaching and assessment in Epidemiology and Public Health at undergraduate level (BSc Public Health Sciences, MB BCh BAO Medicine, and BSc Medical and Health Sciences degrees) and postgraduate level (Master of Public Health [MPH]). She is currently a co-PI and Research Fellow on a HRB-funded project titled "SocialPaths: Sex-specific socioeconomic pathways to cardiovascular disease risk across the life course". Prior to this, Kate worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher in epidemiology on a HRB-funded project SCaRLeT which aimed to improve understanding of the sex-specific aetiology of cardiovascular disease across the life course thus informing more effective cardiovascular disease prevention during different life course transitions. 

Kate completed her PhD in 2018 which estimated the economic burden of diabetes in Ireland and explored the potential for current policy approaches, including a sugar-sweetened beverage levy, to impact on the public health burden of diabetes. With a background in epidemiology and public health, she is interested in the generation of robust epidemiological evidence to inform public health policy. In her role as Chair of the Early Career Researcher Subcommittee of the Society for Social Medicine and Population Health, Kate advocated for early career researchers and facilitates engagement among members.

Research Grants

  Project Funding
Body 		Start Date End Date Award
Early Career Researcher Event Health Research Board €4,930.00
The Public Health and Econo Burden of Diabetes. Health Research Board 22-JUN-20 24-JUL-20 €1,500.00
STrADA – Summer Training in Applied Data Analysis Health Research Board €4,940.00

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2023) 'Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and trajectories of cardiometabolic risk factors during childhood and adolescence: A prospective cohort study'
O'Neill KN;Aubrey E;Howe LD;Stergiakouli E;Rodriguez S;Kearney PM;O'Keeffe LM; (2023) 'Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and trajectories of cardiometabolic risk factors during childhood and adolescence: A prospective cohort study'. Plos One, 18 (4) [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Application of multilevel linear spline models for analysis of growth trajectories in a cohort with repeat antenatal and postnatal measures of growth: a prospective cohort study'
O'Keeffe LM;Yelverton CA;Bartels HC;O'Neill KN;McDonnell C;McAuliffe FM; (2023) 'Application of multilevel linear spline models for analysis of growth trajectories in a cohort with repeat antenatal and postnatal measures of growth: a prospective cohort study'. Bmj Open, 13 (3) [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Associations between maternal metabolic parameters during pregnancy and fetal and child growth trajectories from 20 weeks' gestation to 5 years of age: Secondary analysis from the ROLO longitudinal birth cohort study'
Bartels, HC; O'Keeffe, LM; Yelverton, CA; O'Neill, KN; Geraghty, AA; O'Brien, EC; Killeen, SL; McDonnell, C; McAuliffe, FM (2023) 'Associations between maternal metabolic parameters during pregnancy and fetal and child growth trajectories from 20 weeks' gestation to 5 years of age: Secondary analysis from the ROLO longitudinal birth cohort study'. Pediatric Obesity, 18 [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Trends in incidence of ischaemic stroke in people with and without diabetes in Ireland 2005-2015'
Bambury N;O'Neill K;Buckley CM;Kearney PM; (2023) 'Trends in incidence of ischaemic stroke in people with and without diabetes in Ireland 2005-2015'. Diabetic Medicine, [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Sex-specific associations of adiposity with cardiometabolic traits in the UK: A multi-life stage cohort study with repeat metabolomics'
O'Keeffe LM;Bell JA;O'Neill KN;Lee MA;Woodward M;Peters SAE;Smith GD;Kearney PM; (2022) 'Sex-specific associations of adiposity with cardiometabolic traits in the UK: A multi-life stage cohort study with repeat metabolomics'. Plos Medicine, 19 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Adoption and Initial Implementation of a National Integrated Care Programme for Diabetes: A Realist Evaluation'
O'Neill, K;Riordan, F;Racine, E;Tracey, M;Papoutsi, C;Kearney, PM;Mchugh, SM (2022) 'Adoption and Initial Implementation of a National Integrated Care Programme for Diabetes: A Realist Evaluation'. International Journal of Integrated Care, 22 :1-14 [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Puberty Timing and Sex-Specific Trajectories of Systolic Blood Pressure: a Prospective Cohort Study'
O'Neill, KN; Bell, JA; Smith, GD; Tilling, K; Kearney, PM; O'Keeffe, LM (2022) 'Puberty Timing and Sex-Specific Trajectories of Systolic Blood Pressure: a Prospective Cohort Study'. Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979), 79 :1755-1764 [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Maternal prenatal anxiety and depression and trajectories of cardiometabolic risk factors across childhood and adolescence: a prospective cohort study'
Matvienko-Sikar, K;O' Neill, K;Fraser, A;Hayes, C;Howe, L;Huizink, AC;Kearney, PM;Khashan, A;Redsell, SA;O'Keeffe, LM (2021) 'Maternal prenatal anxiety and depression and trajectories of cardiometabolic risk factors across childhood and adolescence: a prospective cohort study'. Bmj Open, 11 [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Epidemiology of undiagnosed depression in people with diabetes mellitus: a comparative analysis of Ireland, England and the USA'
McGrath, N;Neill, KO;McHugh, SM;Toomey, E;Kearney, PM (2021) 'Epidemiology of undiagnosed depression in people with diabetes mellitus: a comparative analysis of Ireland, England and the USA'. Bmj Open, 11 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Trends in national pharmaceutical expenditure on diabetes in Ireland 2011-2015: A repeated cross-sectional study'
O'Neill, KN; Bennett, KE; McHugh, SM; Fitzgerald, AP; Kearney, PM (2020) 'Trends in national pharmaceutical expenditure on diabetes in Ireland 2011-2015: A repeated cross-sectional study'. Bmj Open, 10 (10):1-7 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Cycle of Care for people with diabetes : an equitable initiative ? [ version 1 ; referees : awaiting peer review ]'
O'Neill, Kate N; McHugh, SM; Kearney, PM (2019) 'Cycle of Care for people with diabetes : an equitable initiative ? [ version 1 ; referees : awaiting peer review ]'. Hrb Open Research, 2 (3):6-11 [Details]
(2019) 'Impact of population distribution shifts in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption on type II diabetes incidence in Ireland'
O'Neill, KN and Fitzgerald, Anthony P. and Kearney, Patricia M. (2019) 'Impact of population distribution shifts in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption on type II diabetes incidence in Ireland'. Annals Of Epidemiology, In press [Details]
(2019) 'Choosing Healthy Eating for Infant Health (CHErIsH) study: Protocol for a feasibility study'
Matvienko-Sikar, Karen and Toomey, Elaine and Queally, Michelle and Flannery, Caragh and O Neill (2019) 'Choosing Healthy Eating for Infant Health (CHErIsH) study: Protocol for a feasibility study'. Bmj Open, 9 (8):1-15 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Health service utilization and related costs attributable to diabetes'
O'Neill, KN; McHugh, SM; Tracey, ML; Fitzgerald, AP; Kearney, PM (2018) 'Health service utilization and related costs attributable to diabetes'. Diabetic Medicine, :1-8 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Unmet need for bariatric surgery'
O'Neill, Kate N and Finucane, Francis M and Roux, Carel W and Fitzgerald, Anthony P and Kearney, Patricia M (2017) 'Unmet need for bariatric surgery'. Surgery For Obesity And Related Diseases : Official Journal Of The American Society For Bariatric Surgery, 13 (6):1052-1056 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Epidemiology of diabetes and complications among adults in the Republic of Ireland 1998-2015: A systematic review and meta-analysis'
Tracey, M.L. and Gilmartin, M and O'Neill, K. and Fitzgerald, AP and McHugh, SM and Buckley, CM and Canavan, RJ and Kearney, PM (2016) 'Epidemiology of diabetes and complications among adults in the Republic of Ireland 1998-2015: A systematic review and meta-analysis'. BMC Public Health, 16 (132) [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Evaluating the implementation of a national clinical programme for diabetes to standardise and improve services: a realist evaluation protocol'
McHugh, S. and Tracey, M. L. and Riordan, F. and O'Neill, K and Mays, N. and Kearney, P. M. (2015) 'Evaluating the implementation of a national clinical programme for diabetes to standardise and improve services: a realist evaluation protocol'. Implementation Science, 11 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'WHO needs targets?'
Stein C;Sadana R;Alderslade R;O'Neill K; (2012) 'WHO needs targets?'. European Journal of Public Health, 22 (4) [DOI] [Details]

Abstract

  Year Publication
(2020) P56 Promoting healthy infant feeding to prevent childhood obesity: process evaluation of the choosing healthy eating for infant health (CHErIsH) intervention.
C Flannery, K O’Neill, S Calnan, H McGrath, K Matvienko-Sikar, E Toomey, M Byrne, PM Kearney, CHErIsH research team (2020) P56 Promoting healthy infant feeding to prevent childhood obesity: process evaluation of the choosing healthy eating for infant health (CHErIsH) intervention. Abstract [Details]
(2020) OP25 The sex-specific association between mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and trajectories of cardiometabolic risk factors during childhood and adolescence: a prospective cohort study.
KN O’Neill, E Aubrey, LM O’Keeffe (2020) OP25 The sex-specific association between mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and trajectories of cardiometabolic risk factors during childhood and adolescence: a prospective cohort study. Abstract [Details]
(2020) OP60 National implementation of an integrated diabetes programme in Ireland: realist evaluation.
KN O’Neill, FM Riordan, E Racine, ML Tracey, C Papoutsi, PM Kearney, SM McHugh (2020) OP60 National implementation of an integrated diabetes programme in Ireland: realist evaluation. Abstract [Details]
(2019) P04 Trends in incidence of ischaemic stroke in people with and without diabetes in Ireland 2005–2015.
N Bambury, K O’Neill, CM Buckley, PM Kearney (2019) P04 Trends in incidence of ischaemic stroke in people with and without diabetes in Ireland 2005–2015. Abstract [Details]
(2019) Trends in renal transplantation among people with diabetes in Ireland.
N Bambury, K O’Neill, CM Buckley, PM Kearney (2019) Trends in renal transplantation among people with diabetes in Ireland. Abstract [Details]
(2019) P46 Trends in national pharmaceutical expenditure on diabetes 2011–2015; the rising cost of blood glucose-lowering medications.
O'Neill, Kate N. Bennett, Kathleen E. McHugh, S. Fitzgerald, AP, Kearney, PM (2019) P46 Trends in national pharmaceutical expenditure on diabetes 2011–2015; the rising cost of blood glucose-lowering medications. Abstract [Details]

Articles

  Year Publication
(2020) Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and trajectories of cardiometabolic risk factors during childhood and adolescence: a prospective cohort study.
O'Neill, K N and Aubrey, E and Howe, L D and Stergiakouli, E and Rodriguez, S and Kearney, P M and O'Keeffe, L M (2020) Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and trajectories of cardiometabolic risk factors during childhood and adolescence: a prospective cohort study. Articles [DOI] [Details]

Editorship

  Year Publication
(2021) Timely testing: who needs to do what differently to improve adherence to guideline-recommended glycaemic monitoring?.
McHugh, Sheena M.; O'Neill, Kate N.;Kearney, Patricia M. (2021) Timely testing: who needs to do what differently to improve adherence to guideline-recommended glycaemic monitoring?. LONDON: Editorship [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]

Published Letters

  Year Publication
(2023) Early career researchers' thoughts on academic careers: updated evidence from the Society for Social Medicine and Population Health.
;Hayes CB; (2023) Early career researchers' thoughts on academic careers: updated evidence from the Society for Social Medicine and Population Health. Published Letters [DOI] [Details]

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
International Epidemiology Association Member /
Society of Social Medicine and Population Health Member /
SPHeRE Network Member /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Society of Social Medicine ECR representative /
ECR Subcommittee Society of Social Medicine Chair /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2020 University College Cork Certificate Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
2019 University College Cork Phd Epidemiology & Public Health
2015 University of Cambridge MPhil Epidemiology
2013 University College Cork BSc Public Health and Health Promotion

Teaching Interests

Module coordinator: EH1007 Introduction to Health Information Systems, EH2007 Public Health Research Report, EH3014 Data analysis for Public Health 

Lecturer: EH6031 Advanced Epidemiology

Recent Postgraduates

  Graduation Year Student Name Institution Degree Type Thesis Title
2023 Emma Kearney UCC MPH The association between socioeconomic position and cardiovascular disease in Ireland: A structured life course analysis of The Irish Longitudinal Study of Aging, wave 1 2009-2011.
2023 Ashling Kennedy UCC MPH The association between socioeconomic position and cardiovascular disease in Ireland: A structured life course analysis of The Irish Longitudinal Study of Aging, wave 1 2009-2011.
2020 Minhal Ahmed UCC MPH Sex differences in the association of socioeconomic position with trajectories of cardiovascular risk factors across early life
2019 Treasa Kelleher UCC MPH Protective factors for incident depression in older adults with multimorbidity: results from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing
2019 Niamh Bambury UCC MPH Trends in incidence of ischaemic stroke in people with and without diabetes in Ireland 2005-2015