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.