Chronic kidney disease, palliative care, qualitative research methods, mixed methods, end of life care.

As a Senior Lecturer I have made a substantial contribution to improving the care offered to patients with end-stage kidney disease approaching the end of life as evidenced by my publications in leading international journals and my leadership of several research studies including a successful multi-institutional study funded by NIHR. I have a consistent record of publishing peer reviewed publications in the top quartile of impact factored journals in my field. I was successfully returned at REF 2014 and on target to be returned in 2020, as assessed by the School of Nursing and Midwifery REF 2020 review Group. I have a sustained record of leading, and managing to successful completion, a coherent programme of research including successful research bids. Over the past four years, I have exceeded my School’s targets for research funding, bringing into QUB over £560,000 in research income.

As evidence of my significant contribution to QUB’s international profile in research, I am Scientific Programme Committee member of the European Dialysis and Transplant Nursing Association annual conference (previous Chair) and commence a new post as their Chair of the newly established Renal Research Group. In addition I am Associate Editor of Evidence Based Nursing, Associate Editor BMC Nephrology and was previous Editor and English Co-Editor of the Journal of Renal Care. I regularly receive funded invitations to speak at international Conferences, most recently in Sydney Australia at the Renal Society of Australasia in 2017 as International Keynote Speaker. I have received several awards for my work including ‘Eminent Scientist of the year 2009’, an International Award in the field of Nephrology, by the World Scientists Forum; the City University Staff Research Prize, 2009 and the Student Representative Award, City University London, 2010. In 2016 I received the Renal Association Walls Bursary, made by the professional body for nephrologists and renal scientists in the UK, “acknowledging Dr Noble’s significant contribution to the field of academic Nephrology”. I am a Fellow of the Chronic Illness and Palliative Care Research Programme at the Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation at QUB.

I have published widely in research and clinical journals including seminal papers identifying the need for a supportive and palliative care approach for people with end-stage kidney disease. My ‘Concept Analysis’ published in 2007 determined Renal Supportive Care as a dynamic and emerging concept with relevance for the renal community, and I recommended its integration into everyday nephrology practice. One of my papers was the top downloaded article in EBN 2015, with over 26,000 downloads. 'Issues of validity & reliability' http://ebn.bmj.com/content/18/2/34.full and is part of the Research Made Simple series.

Achievements and Distinctions

Leadership Roles

·        Associate Editor: Evidence Based Nursing 2012-

·        Associate Editor BMC Nephrology 2017-

Editorial Board

·        End of Life Journal 2008-

·        Journal of Renal Care 2004-

·        Member of QUB Academic Council - 2017 -

·        Faculty post doctoral group mentoring programme - 2017 - 

·        WAM working group: 2017 -

·        Northern Ireland Palliative Care Research Forum Committee Member 2012-

·        Northern Ireland Kidney Patient Association Committee Member 2012-

·        Scientific Progamme Committee Member - European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association (EDTNA) 2011-

·        International Scientific Advisory Panel member, RCN annual international nursing research conference 2009-

·        Committee Member of User and Carer Renal Group with South Bank University 2014-

·        Member of Renal Research Nurse Leaders Meeting 2015-

·        Module lead for 3 post graduate renal modules 2013-

·        Quality Gender Initiative Mentor (Feb 2015- ) Member

·        SWAN: Research Internship Scheme – Co Lead 2012-

·        Committee Member – School Research Ethics Committee 2015-

·        Committee Member - Teaching Excellence Student Support Group 2015-

·        Grant Reviewer for The NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC), based at the University of Southampton which manages evaluation research programmes and activities for the NIHR.

Recently Completed Research

• Phair, G, Agus, A, Brazil, K, Burns, A, Hallahan S, Normand,C, Roderick,P, Maxwell, AP, Yaqoob, MM, Noble, H (2018). Healthcare use, costs and quality of life in patients with end-stage kidney disease receiving conservative management: results from a multi-centre observational study. In Press
• Jawoniyi O, Gormley K, McGleenan E, Noble HR (2018). Organ Donation and Transplantation: Awareness and Roles of Healthcare Professionals – A systematic Literature Review. Journal of Clinical Nursing. Mar;27(5-6)
• Madkhali, N. A., Santin, O., Noble, H. & Reid, J. (2017) Understanding Breast Health Awareness in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review of the Literature. World Journal of Nursing Sciences. 3, 1: 19-32
• Noble, H, Brazil, K, Burns, A, Hallahan S, Normand,C, Roderick,P, Maxwell, AP, Yaqoob, MM Clinician views of patient decisional conflict when deciding between dialysis or conservative management: qualitative findings from the PAlliative Care in chronic Kidney diSease’ (PACKS) study. Palliative Medicine, 2017 Apr 1:269216317704625. doi: 10.1177/0269216317704625. [Epub ahead of print]
• O'Halloran, P., Noble, H., Brazil, K., Fogarty, D., Shields, J., Brown, J., Clarke, M. (2016). Protocol: Advance Care Planning with Older Patients who Have End-stage Kidney Disease - Feasibility of a Deferred Entry Randomised Controlled Trial Incorporating a Mixed Methods Process Evaluation. Palliative Medicine, 30(6), NP66. [MTE3]. 10.1177/0269216316646056
• Noble HR, Shields JS, Brown J, Maxwell AP, Fogarty, DG (2015) An appraisal of end-of-life care in persons with Chronic Kidney Disease dying in hospital renal units. Journal of Renal Nursing. Article first published online: 19 NOV 2014 DOI: 10.1111/jorc.12097http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jorc.12097/abstrac

• Noble H, Porter S & Price J (2014) The challenge to health professionals when carers resist truth-telling at the end of life: a qualitative secondary analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing. IF:  ISI Journal Citation Reports © Ranking: 2012: 21/104 (Nursing (Social Science)); 25/106 (Nursing (Science)) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24850420

• McIlfatrick, S (PI)., Hasson, F., McLaughlin, D., Johnston, G., Rutherford, L., Noble, H (co-investigator) and Kelly, S (2012-2013). Exploring public awareness of palliative and end-of-life care and attitudes to death and dying in Northern Ireland: a pilot study HSC R&D Division

• Noble H (2012-2013). Preparing for ‘PACKS’. Florence Nightingale Association
• Noble, H (Chief Investigator) Fogarty, D, Shields, J. Crowe, L and Brown, J (2012-2013). Exploring renal deaths in Northern Ireland and the views of carers. GAIN funding.
• Thomas, N. Jones, J. Noble, H. Chamney, M (2011-2102) Establishing a Patient and Carer Advisory Group for the Kidney Research and Education Initiative. British Kidney Patient Association.
• Fogarty, D (PI), Shields, J. Noble, H. and Savage G (2011-2012). Healthcare planning in advanced Chronic Kidney Disease. Centre for Health Improvement – Queens University Belfast

Currently Funded Research Projects

• Kelly, D, Reid, J, Noble, H (2018-) (Co-investigator) Strengthening the future role of Executive Nurse Directors: a UK study.

• Noble, H Matthews, M (2017-2018) A Pilot Study to Examine Perceived Benefits of Reflexology Undergoing Hospital Based Haemodialysis (PI).

• O’Hallrahan, P, Brazil, K, Cardwell C, Clarke, M, Noble, H. (2016-2018). Advance care planning with patients who have chronic kidney disease: A mixed methods feasibility study incorporating a deferred entry RCT. Dunhill Charity (Co-investigator)https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02631200?term=acredit&rank=1

• Reid, J, Noble, H, Maxwell, P (2016-2018). Establishing a clinical phenotype for cachexia in chronic kidney disease HSC R&D Office, Northern ireland. (Co-investigator)

Graduate Supervision outside QUB

• Carmela Arteaga Jorda – (Category B Supervisor): The concept of Self management and the Expert Patient Programme– Expected to finish 2018 – City University London.

Postregistration modules:

Module Leader

• DNP 9009 - Doctorate in Nursing Practice - Independant Module.
• HSN3076 - Nephrology Introductory Module
• HSN3074 - Renal Nursing
• HSN3075 - Renal Replacement Therapies (RRT)

External Examiner

• University of Hertfordshire & Lincoln University College (Malaysia)
• BSc (Hons) International Nursing programme (Malaysia)
• BSc Contemporary Nursing
• MSc Contemporary Nursing