Personal profile
Biography
Professor Declan Devane (PhD, MSc, PgDip(Stats), BSc, DipHE, RGN, RM, RNT) is an Established Professor of Health Research Methodology and Deputy Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences at the University of Galway, Ireland. With over twenty years of experience in clinical trials and evidence synthesis, Declan focuses on improving healthcare interventions, enhancing clinical trial methodology, advancing evidence synthesis methods, and promoting patient-centred research.
He is the founder and director of Evidence Synthesis Ireland, Cochrane Ireland, and the Health Research Board-Trials Methodology Research Network, initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality and impact of health research nationally and internationally. His research spans multiple clinical areas, including diabetes, maternal health, critical care, and infectious diseases, emphasising methodologies that actively involve patient perspectives.
Declan has published over 310 peer-reviewed papers, including more than 30 influential Cochrane systematic reviews (h-index: 54 Scopus; 64 Google Scholar), and has secured over €20 million in research funding as Principal Investigator and over €100 million as co-applicant/collaborator. He has led numerous clinical trials with participant numbers ranging from 100 to over 3,000, serving on various national and international Trial Steering Committees and Data Monitoring Boards.
His work has informed global healthcare guidelines, including those by the World Health Organization, and he continues to train and mentor researchers, contributing actively to the field of health research methodology.
Research Interests
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Clinical trials
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Randomised trials
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Trials methodology
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Evidence synthesis and systematic reviews
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Patient-centred research approaches
Teaching Interests
- Research methods
- Evidence based health care
- Systematic reviews and meta analysis
- Trials methodology
Education/Academic qualification
PhD,PGDip,MSc,BSc,DipHE,RGN,RM,RNT
PhD,MSc,PgDip,BSc,DipHE,RGN,RM,RNT
Accepting PhD Students
- Accepting PhD Students
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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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Jurisdictional scans: methodological considerations for systematically analyzing and comparing policy approaches across different jurisdictions
Saif-Ur-Rahman, K. M., Waddell, K., Lavis, J. N., Burke, N. N., Tierney, M., Whelan, B. & Devane, D., Jan 2026, In: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 189, 112025.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
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A meta-core outcome set for stillbirth prevention and bereavement care following stillbirth in LMIC
Dube, K., Marenga, F., Ayebare, E. O., Bedwell, C., Chaudhry, N., Chilinda, I., Chimwaza, A., Devane, D., Fattepur, S., Goshomi, U., Kiran, T., Laisser, R., Lavender, T., Mills, T. A., Nabisere, A., Un Nisa, Z., Vwalika, B., Wakasiaka, S. & Kirkham, J. J., 28 Jan 2025, In: BMJ Global Health. 10, 1, e017688.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
A Rapid Evidence Support System Assessment (RESSA) of health policymaking in Ireland – A Protocol [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]
Whelan, B., Tierney, M., Burke, N. N., Saif-Ur-Rahman, K., Creely, C., Duffy, T., Gill, C., Horgan, M., Lavis, J. N., Maguire, T., O'Driscoll, M., O'Neill, J., Waddell, K. & Devane, D., 23 Jun 2025, In: HRB Open Research.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Beyond the binary: integrating “real-world evidence” with randomized trials in contemporary health care
Devane, D., Emir, B., Watt, S. & O'Donnell, M., Aug 2025, In: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 184, 111821.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Comment/debate
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Comparing Artificial Intelligence and manual methods in systematic review processes: protocol for a systematic review
Pang, X., Saif-Ur-Rahman, K., Berhane, S., Yao, X., Kothari, K., Taneri, P. E., Thomas, J. & Devane, D., May 2025, In: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Activities
- 4 Current Postgraduates (Research) Supervised
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Mengqi Li
Devane, D. (Primary Supervisor)
2024 → …Activity: Other › Current Postgraduates (Research) Supervised
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Johanna Pope
Devane, D. (Primary Supervisor)
2024 → …Activity: Other › Current Postgraduates (Research) Supervised
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Xuenan Pang
Devane, D. (Primary Supervisor)
2024 → …Activity: Other › Current Postgraduates (Research) Supervised
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Simone Lepage
Devane, D. (Primary Supervisor)
2024 → …Activity: Other › Current Postgraduates (Research) Supervised