Ciara McCormack

Ciara McCormack is an Assistant Professor in Sport Science and Health at Maynooth University and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. She is affiliated with the Faculty of Science & Engineering and the Sport Science and Nutrition department. Her research focuses on leveraging exercise and lifestyle interventions to manage chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.

Education: PhD in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Dublin City University). She leads national programs at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, integrating physical activity into clinical pathways for pulmonary hypertension patients. Her work emphasizes scalable interventions for adults aged 40+ and those with chronic illnesses, with a focus on addressing health inequalities.

Research Interests:

• Exercise in chronic disease prevention/management
• Patient-centered intervention design
• Digital health solutions for rehabilitation
• Behavioral science-driven programs

Recent Article Trends: Her publications emphasize remote exercise programs (e.g., PHAHB intervention), patient-reported outcomes in pulmonary hypertension trials, and barriers to exercise rehabilitation. Key areas include telehealth applications, qualitative patient experiences, and clinical trial methodologies.

Awards:

• American Thoracic Society
• European Respiratory Society
• DCU Invent

Teaching & Outreach: Coordinates modules like SN252 (Cardiovascular Physiology) and SN254 (Exercise Testing). Engages in national campaigns (e.g., RTÉ’s Operation Transformation) and advises healthcare groups on evidence-based physical activity programs.

Collaborations: Works with institutions like the University of Sheffield (UK) and Royal Papworth Hospital. Serves on national committees including Ireland’s Physical Activity Guidelines Working Group and the Exercise is Medicine (EIM) initiative.