Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Statement
Research interests
My research focuses on enhancing maternal and child health and wellbeing, with a particular interest in identifying and evaluating what works for families from the antenatal period through to the early years of childhood.
I have experience of conducting economic evaluations alongside intervention-based studies (randomised controlled trials, cluster RCTs, pilot trials and feasibility studies). Previous research projects have included investigating preferences for a third routine ultrasound scan in pregnancy for healthy, low-risk women, using a discrete choice experiment (PhD research); developing a decision analytic model to assess the cost-effectiveness of strategies to detect meningococcal disease in children with a fever without source, and a cost-effectiveness analysis of music therapy in children and adolescents with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD). Continuing in the area of improving outcomes for children with SEBD, I am part of a team assessing the impact of nurture group provision for primary school children in Northern Ireland through a cluster RCT. My role in the study has been to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of nurture provision in comparison to mainstream education and a strategic review of the potential long term economic impact. The economic evaluation provides evidence of short-term cost-effectiveness along with vital cost savings in the future for the education system, public agencies and families affected.
I also have experience in conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. I have conducted reviews on the reliability and validity of pregnancy-specific stress measures and systematic reviews on the public health role of the midwife. I am currently working on a Cochrane Review assessing home visiting for socially disadvantaged mothers, a systematic review and meta-analysis of music interventions to reduce prenatal maternal stress, and a systematic review and meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for parents with an infant admitted into neonatal intensive care.
Leadership roles (QUB)
- Parent and Child Health and Wellbeing Research Programme Lead, Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation
- Programme Director, MSc in Caring for Children and Young People with Complex Health Needs
- Module coordinator, Perspectives on Childhood and Youth
- Module coordinator, Childhood and Youth Research in Practice
- Module coordinator, Economic Impact of Childhood Interventions
- Module coordinator, Clinical Trials
- Member, School Research Committee
- Member, School Education Committee
- Joint coordinator, Research Internship Scheme
Leadership roles (external)
- Secretary, Northern Ireland Health Economics Group
- Member, International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research
- Member, International Health Economics Association
- Member, UK Health Economists' Study Group
- Fellow, Higher Education Academy
Teaching roles
Undergraduate module:
- Evidence Based Midwifery
Postregistration module:
- Clinical Trials
Postgraduate modules:
- Perspectives on Childhood and Youth
- Childhood and Youth Research in Practice
- Enhancing Care and Practice for Children with Complex Health Care Needs
- Economic Impact of Childhood Interventions
Current graduate supervision
Kyrsten Corbijn van Willenswaard, Aisha Omairan, Fakher Gli, Jean Carragher (DMP), Ahmet Butun, Anna Carolina Raduenz Huf Souza (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brasil)
Currently funded research projects
- McNeill J, Alederdice F, Lynn F, Gildea A, Millen S, Gribben S. The Apple Project: A Parenting and Professional Learning Evaluation. HSC R& D Office.
- Alderdice F and Lynn F. Reaching Out: Supporting Families. Big Lottery Fund via TinyLife.
- Alderdice F, McNeill J and Lynn F. National Survey of Women's Experiences of Maternity Care. HSC R&D Office.
- Sloan S, Winter K, Lynn F, Gildea A, Connolly P. The Impact and Cost-effectiveness of Nurture Groups in Primary Schools in Northern Ireland. Department of Education for Northern Ireland.
Completed research projects
- Porter S, Holmes V, McConnell T, Lynn F, McLaughlin K and Cardwell C. Music in Mind: a RCT measuring the effects of music therapy on the communicative skills of children and adolescens with behavioural and emotional problems and/or pervasive developmental disorders. Big Lottery Fund
- McNeill J, Alderdice F and Lynn F. The Public Health Role of the Midwife: scoping current education provision on public health and inequalities. NHS Education Scotland
- McNeill J, Alderdice F and Lynn F. Midwifery 2020: A review of systematic reviews of literature on the public health role of the midwife. Midwifery 2020.
- McNeill J, Alderdice F and Lynn F.Audit of Down's Syndrome Screening in NI: 2006-2010. GAIN.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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R6553NUR: HRB Ireland Perinatal Clinical Trials Network
McNeill, J. (PI), Lynn, F. (CoI) & Perra, O. (CoI)
16/01/2017 → …
Project: Research
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R3662EDU: Evaluation of Nurture Units
Gildea, A. (PI), Connolly, P. (CoI), Lynn, F. (CoI), Sloan, S. (CoI) & Winter, K. (CoI)
15/10/2014 → …
Project: Research
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R2674SES: Improving outcomes for children of incarcerated fathers: A Feasibility Trial of the Families Matter Programme
Percy, A. (PI), Butler, M. (CoI), Clarke, M. (CoI), Hayes, D. (CoI), Lohan, M. (CoI) & Lynn, F. (CoI)
11/12/2019 → 30/04/2022
Project: Research
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R8434NUR: Research consultancy on masculinity and the engagement of men in sexual and reproductive health and rights
Lohan, M. (PI) & Lynn, F. (CoI)
22/02/2018 → 28/02/2019
Project: Research
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R4779NUR: The APPLE Project: A Parenting and Professional Learning Evaluation
McNeill, J. (PI), Alderdice, F. (CoI), Gildea, A. (CoI) & Lynn, F. (CoI)
28/10/2016 → 31/10/2019
Project: Research
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Integrated palliative care and oncology: a realist synthesis
Bradley, N., McConnell, T., Blair, C., O'Halloran, P., Prue, G., Lynn, F., Roberts, N., Wong, G., Banks, E. & Reid, J., 09 May 2025, In: BMC Medicine. 23, 13 p., 272.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Mamas in harmony: protocol for a pilot RCT and process evaluation of a music and social support intervention establishing the feasibility of reducing anxiety and stress in postnatal mothers
Colella, C. A., McNeill, J., McCann, U. & Lynn, F. A., 10 Apr 2025, In: Pilot and Feasibility Studies. 11, 11 p., 44.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Maternal and infant (mental) health and development: our TREASURE – Introducing an EU COST Action on the impact of maternal perinatal stress
Caparros-Gonzalez, R. A., Ayers, S., Aysimi Duman, E., Calleja, N., Calleja-Agius, J., Carone, N., Dikmen-Yildiz, P., Garcia-Pintor, S., Horsch, A., Kittel-Schneider, S., Leno-Duran, E., Lynn, F., Oosterman, M., Prepušt, L., Rodriguez-Muñoz, M. F., Zietlow, A.-L., Žutić, M. & Garthus-Niegel, S., 19 May 2025, In: Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 43, 3, p. 553–556Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
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A guide for systematic reviews of observational studies
Teixeira, E. P., Lynn, F. A. & Souza, M. D. L. D., 13 May 2024, In: Texto e Contexto Enfermagem. 33, 14 p., e20230221.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile26 Downloads (Pure) -
eHealth for for care during pregnancy: a scan of systematic review protocols registered in PROSPERO
Conceição de Jesus, S., Telles Vieira, G., Lynn, F. & de Souza, M. D. L., 16 May 2024, In: Investigations in Gynecology Research & Women's Health. 4, 5, p. 379-391Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile88 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Global Research Training Programme award
Lynn, F. (Recipient), 20 Dec 2018
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Research Mobility Scholarship
Lynn, F. (Recipient), 30 Sept 2022
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Research Mobility Scholarship
Lynn, F. (Recipient), 01 Apr 2019
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Research Mobility Scholarship
Lynn, F. (Recipient), 01 Apr 2017
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
Activities
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Women’s Health in Northern Ireland-the Women’s Health Survey
McNeill, J. (Invited speaker), Lynn, F. (Contributor), Maguire, L. (Contributor), Colella, C. (Contributor), McNeill, S. (Contributor) & Meehan, K. (Contributor)
22 Jan 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Women’s Health Listening Exercise
McNeill, J. (Invited speaker), Lynn, F. (Invited speaker), Maguire, L. (Contributor), Colella, C. (Contributor), McNeill, S. (Contributor) & Meehan, K. (Contributor)
21 Nov 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
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Women's Health Listening Exercise -Launch Event
McNeill, J. (Organiser), Lynn, F. (Organiser), Maguire, L. (Organiser), Colella, C. (Organiser), McNeill, S. (Organiser) & Meehan, K. (Organiser)
11 Nov 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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The Future of Breastfeeding on the Island of Ireland
Lohan, M. (Organiser), Brennan-Wilson, A. (Organiser), Rollins, N. (Invited speaker), McClean, J. (Contributor), Stockdale, J. (Session chair), McConville, F. (Contributor), Alexander, M. (Contributor), McHugh, L. (Contributor), Dooley, B. (Contributor), Hanratty, J. (Contributor), Lynn, F. (Contributor) & McNeill, J. (Contributor)
06 Jun 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Improving Outcomes for Mothers and Infants
Lynn, F. (Invited speaker)
19 Nov 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Press/Media
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Irish-language schools conference to look at impact of `nurture' groups.
Sloan, S., Winter, K., Lynn, F. & Connolly, P.
15/03/2017
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Northern Ireland Assembly - debate on nurture groups.
Sloan, S., Winter, K., Lynn, F. & Connolly, P.
15/11/2016
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Northern Ireland Department of Education hailed nurture groups “highly successful”.
Sloan, S., Winter, K., Lynn, F. & Connolly, P.
26/09/2016
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Nurture groups improve social, emotional and behavioural outcomes for children.
Sloan, S., Winter, K., Lynn, F. & Connolly, P.
23/09/2016
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Department Education reverses nurture units funding for two Irish language schools.
Sloan, S., Winter, K., Lynn, F. & Connolly, P.
28/06/2016
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research