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Professor Catherine Comiskey

Professor Of Healthcare Modelling (School of Nursing & Midwifery)
DOLIER STREET - SCHOOL OF NURSING
      
Profile Photo

Professor Catherine Comiskey

Professor Of Healthcare Modelling (School of Nursing & Midwifery)
DOLIER STREET - SCHOOL OF NURSING

 Catherine.Comiskey@tcd.ie

 3531896 2776


Professor Catherine Comiskey holds a MA and a B.A.(Mod) degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin University, Ireland and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in biomathematics with statistics and epidemiology from Dublin City University, Ireland. Professor Comiskey has almost 30 years research and lecturing experience in statistics and mathematics applied to healthcare and her personal research interests are in substance use, child wellbeing and innovation. In 2024 Catherine was invited by the United Nations to join an expert group to inform the annual World Drug Report. From 2017 to 2024 Professor Comiskey was elected by EU members as Vice Chair and subsequently Chair of the Scientific Committee of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, a committee with a legal remit from the EU. From 2017 to present she was invited by Minister Byrne to be the sole academic expert on the National Drug Strategy Implementation Committee. From 2014 to 2017 she was invited by Minister Varadkar to serve on the Oversight Forum on Drugs. From 2014 to 2017 she was invited by Minister White to Chair the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol. In 2007 to 2010 she was appointed by Minister of Education and Science to serve on the board of The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, (IRCSET). Catherine has served as EU Academic Director of CHARM-EU (2020-2023), Head of School (2019-2020 and 2014-2017), Director of Research (2008-2011 and 2011-2014), Inaugural Director and Founder of the Trinity Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation (TCPHI)(2014-2017), Inaugural and Founding Chair of the Children's Research Network of Ireland and Northern Ireland CRNINI (2010-2014) and Professor in Healthcare Statistics at the School of Nursing and Midwifery (2008-present). Catherine has had responsibility for developing, writing and implementing the School of Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan, the School's Financial Plan the Staffing Plan, the School's Research Plan, the TCPHI Strategic Plan, the CRNINI Strategic and Financial Plan, and is currently leading on quantitative methodologies and directing and promoting innovation and research in nursing, midwifery and healthcare education, practice and policy. Professor Comiskey has over 200 peer reviewed publication in her research topics, she has successfully graduated to completion 24 PhDs, DScs and MDs. She is currently supervising an additional 10 PhDs. Catherine mentors emerging academics and school children and has been a judge at the Young Scientists Exhibition from 2012 to 2018.
  Addiction   Addiction and substance abuse   Biostatistical methods   Cervical cancer   Child centred research questions, study design, data analysis   Clinical research, trials   Drug Abuse   Epidemiology   Health outcomes   Infectious diseases   Mathematical modelling   Population Studies   Substance Abuse   Surveys & Survey Research
Project Title
 Estimating the prevalence of asymptomatic Covid-19 cases in Ireland
From
May 2020
To
August 2021
Summary
The aim of this research is to model using back calculation and incubation period distribution the prevalence of asymptomatic cases of Covid-19
Funding Agency
Health Research Board
Programme
HRB/IRC Rapid Response to Covid-19 Funding
Project Type
Research
Project Title
 Substance Use and Mental Health Interventions using Digital Technology
From
January 2025
To
January 2029
Summary
Funding Agency
Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)
Programme
Peace Plus
Project Type
Digital Technology
Project Title
 Development of an online addiction training course
From
2020
To
2021
Summary
Development of an international Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for nursing and healthcare professional working with people experiencing drug and alcohol addiction.
Funding Agency
HSE
Project Type
Online development and training
Project Title
 Building capacity in child health research and education
From
January 2018
To
September 2022
Summary
The aim of this research is to develop capacity in child health research and education with a particular emphasis on developing capacity for the National Children's Hospital.
Funding Agency
NCH Foundation
Project Type
Research capacity building
Project Title
 The implementation and evaluation of the 'Know the Score' Programme
From
2023
To
2027
Summary
The primary goal of the schools-based `Know the Score" programme is to increase the knowledge of adolescents and young people and to support them in increasing health literacy by delaying the early onset of alcohol and drug use.
Funding Agency
Department of Health Drug Policy Unit
Programme
Prevention and Education Funding Programme

Page 1 of 10
Details Date
Re-elected as Chairperson of the Scientific Committee of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Lisbon, Portugal. Jan 2023 to present
Elected Chairperson of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Scientific Committee 2020 to present
Expert Advisory Panel Member, Elton John Aids Foundation, Toolkit for pregnant women who use drugs in South Africa. 2022-2023
Expert consultant to the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board 2020 to 2021
External expert consultant to the EU body the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) on children of parents who use drugs 2019 to 2020
Elected Vice Chair of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Scientific Committee 2017 to 2019
Appointed as a member of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Scientific Committee 2014 to 2017
Academic Expert- National Drug Strategy Implmentation Committee - Ministerial Appointment 2017 to present
Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol (NACDA), appointed by the Minister for Health 2013 to 2017
Member of the National Drug Strategy Planning Group -Ministerial Appointment 2015 to 2017
Inaugurial Chairperson of the Children's Research Network of Ireland and Northern Ireland (CRNINI) 2010 to 2014
Member of the Board of The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, (IRCSET). Ministerial Appointment. 2007 to 2010
Invited external consultant and expert statistical reviewer for the Health Techology Assessment (HTA) funding programme of the National Health Service, UK 2008 to present
Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
French Basic Basic Basic
Irish Medium Basic Medium
Details Date From Date To
Chartered Mathematician 1998 Present
Curtis, Elizabeth A. and Comiskey, Catherine, Implementing Person-Centered Care into a Community Setting: Can the Combined Use of Distributed Leadership and a Community Recovery Model Help?, 2026, 151 - 169pp, Notes: [Cited by: 0], Book, PUBLISHED  DOI
Elizabeth A. Curtis, Catherine Comiskey, Implementing Person-Centered Care into a Community Setting, Community Centred Health and Wellbeing, 2026, p151-169 , Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Peter Kelly, Catherine Comiskey, Barry Mc Brien, Adam Winstock, Philip James, Nurse Prescribing of Opioid Agonist Treatment in Ireland: Evidence, Governance, and the Politics of Drug Policy Decision-Making, International Journal of Drug Policy, 149, 2026, Notes: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105153], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI  URL
Annunziata K, James P, Lavelle Cafferkey S, Zeni MB, Menon U., Comiskey C, Kelly P, When we are allowed to do good things, we do great things; An Exploration of Nurse and Midwife Prescribing in Substance Use Treatment, Journal of Addictions Nursing, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  URL
Philip James, Michael Nash, Sonam Prakashini Banka-Cullen, Catherine Comiskey, Demographic and Route to Treatment Differences Between People Using Different Substances in the Republic of Ireland: A Comparative Analysis Using Data From an EU Wide Treatment Demand Protocol, Journal of Drug Issues, 2026, p1-15 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI  URL
Hollywood, E., Banka-Cullen, S., Comiskey, C and Murphy, M., An Evaluation of a Supervised Playground Service for Childrenand Families Living in a Disadvantaged Area, Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing, 49, (1), 2026, p70 - 93, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Walsh, O., Eustace-Cook, J., Comiskey, C., Kelly, P. and Hollywood, E., Strength in the Margins A Narrative Review of Culturally Responsive and Strengths-Based Care for Pregnant Women Who Use Substances, International Journal of Addiction Nursing, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  URL
Catherine M. Comiskey, Ian D. Marder, Melissa Corbally, Understanding and preventing drug-related interpersonal violence in Ireland through a public health approach, International Journal of Drug Policy, 149, 2026, p105156 - 105156, p105156-105156 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Fitzgerald, A., James, P., Hollywood, E., Comiskey, C., Reilly, R., Annunziata, K and Kelly, P., A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of Barriers and Facilitators for the Implementation of School-based Substance Misuse Prevention Programmes, Global Implementation Research and Applications, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  URL
Lavelle-Cafferkey, S., Wuytack, F., James, P., Comiskey, C., Dada, S., Jefferys, L., Gibbons, M., Hollywood, E and Banks-Cullen, S., An Exploration of Substance Use and Treatment Access for Migrants in Dublin's North Inner City, University College Dublin, August, 2026, p1 - 68, Notes: [Funded by the North Inner-City Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce], Report, PUBLISHED
  

Page 1 of 23
Prof. Catherine Comiskey, Dr. Dave McDonagh, Dr. Prakashini Banka, Mr. Philip James, Ms. Sadie Lavelle Cafferkey & Ms. Jessica Eustace Cook, A systematic review and meta-analysis of substance use and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, March, 2025, Report, PUBLISHED
David McDonagh, Sonam Prakashini Banka-Cullen, Philip James, Sadie Lavelle Cafferkey, Jessica Eustace-Cook and Catherine Comiskey, The prevalence, risk and protective factors and service needs in relation to the co-morbidity of substance use and neurodiversity., Trinity College Dublin / Citywide, February, 2025, Report, PUBLISHED
Comiskey C., Kelly P., Hennessy A., Hyland M., O Neill D.,Prakashani Banka-Cullen S., Lavelle Cafferkey S.,, A Consulation to inform the delivery of new integrated alcohol services., November 2023, 2023, Notes: [Report commissioned by HSE], Report, PUBLISHED
Comiskey C, Snel A and Banka P, The second wave: estimating the hidden asymptomatic prevalence of COVID-19 in Ireland as we plan for imminent immunisation, HRB Open Research, 4, (19), 2022, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Banka Cullen, S., Lavelle, S. McDonagh, D., Walsh, R. and Comiskey, C. , In Plain Sight: A Rapid Review of the International Literature and a National Estimate of the Prevalence of Women Who Use Substances and Experience Domestic Violence in Ireland., European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, SAOL , Dublin, Ireland, 2022, Report, PUBLISHED
Comiskey, C., Banka, S., McDonagh, D and Galligan, K., An evaluation of the co-design and roll out of an anti-stigma training programme.. , European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, CityWide, Dublin, Ireland., 2021, Report, PUBLISHED
Marie Hyland, Caitriona Dennehy and Catherine Comiskey , The InBetweeners Hospital Study: Nurses experience and training needs in relation to caring for children"s mental health in a children"s hospital setting. , European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Practice Development Office, NCH Tallaght., 2021, Report, PUBLISHED
Banka, P. and Comiskey, C., The incubation period of COVID-19: A scoping review and meta-analysis to aid modelling and planning. , MedRxiv , 2020, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Comiskey C and O'Sullivan, K. , An evaluation of Clinishift, a communication platform and smart phone application for hospital managers. , Dublin, Ireland, Trinity College for Enterprise Irealnd , 2018, Notes: [Relevant to hospital managers planning staff allocations.], Report, PUBLISHED
Curtis E.A, Duffy E,Comiskey C, O'Rourke F, Griffiths C, Sheerin F., Nursing and Midwifery Career Guide: A guide for newly qualified nurses and midwives in the Republic of Ireland., Dublin., 2018, p1 - 43, Report, PUBLISHED

  


Page 1 of 2
Award Date
Fellow of Trinity College Dublin 2020
Fellow of the Institute of Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications 1998
Post Doctoral Scholarship awarded from The AIDS Fund 1991
Post Doctoral Scholarship, Society of Actuaries 1991
Doctoral Scholarship The AIDS Fund 1989
Doctoral Scholarship The Health Research Board 1988
My role as a leader in addiction research has been recognised internationally and nationally by all of the relevant leading addiction bodies. I use my training in epidemiology and bio-mathematics to address research questions in addiction epidemiology across the lifespan, from prevalence estimation of children living with parental drug use to ageing and substance use, to modelling treatment outcomes. A summary of my external indicators of esteem and impact can be seen in my appointments as an academic expert to the United Nations, The EU Drugs Agency, the Irish National Oversight Committee for the implementation of the national drug strategy and to the Board of the Ana Liffey Drug Project. A summary of my research inputs is also provided below. September 2024, invited by the United Nations to join as an expert contributor to the writing of the World Drug Report. Appointed June 2024 until June 2028 to the Inaugural Scientific Committee of the new European Union Drugs Agency EUDA In October 2022 invited to address the EU's Working Party on Drugs in Brussels on Drug Research Priorities for the European Union. In 2020 - 2022 inclusive, elected by my EU peers as Chairperson on the Scientific Committee of the European Union's European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. She has been invited to be nominated for this role again from 2023-2024 inclusive. In 2020 appointed by the United Nations as their external consultant for the International Narcotics Control Board. In 2020 invited to address United Nations in Vienna on my consultancy on ageing and substance use globally. In 2019 appointed by the European Union's European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) as an external consultant to advise on children of parents who use drugs. From 2019-present served on the International Review Board of Xchange, the international registry of drug prevention programmes. From 2017-2020 inclusive elected by my scientific peers to serve as the Vice Chair of the EU's EMCDDA Scientific Committee From 2014 to Present selected to serve on the Scientific Committee of the EMCDDA from an international competition From 2017 to Present nominated by Minister Catherine Byrne as the academic expert on the Implementation Committee of the National Drug Strategy. I continue to be the current Ministers appointed Academic Expert to the National Implementation Committee. From 2015-2017 nominated by then Minister of Health, Leo Varadkar to serve on the National Drug Strategy Team From 2012 to 2016 nominated by Ministers Alex White and Aodan O'Riordan to serve as the Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol From 2017 to Present I have served voluntarily on the Board of the Ana Liffey Drug Project Charity. From 2006-2008 I was appointed by Minister of Education, Mary Hannafin to serve on the Board of the Irish Research Council. From 2023 to 2024 I obtained €515,000 in national and international research grants. From 2020 to 2024 I obtained approximately €1,066,566 in competitive research funding as Principal Investigator In total I have personally obtained over €7m in competitive funding as PI or or as Leading Quantitative Investigator. In addition, I currently have approximately €985,000 in grant funding submitted and awaiting outcome from the Special EU Programme Body (€895,000) and the Clondalkin Prevention Hub(€90,000).