Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Menu Search


Trinity College Dublin By using this website you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with the Trinity cookie policy. For more information on cookies see our cookie policy.

      
Profile Photo

Dr. Sharon O'Donnell

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

Dr. Sharon O'Donnell

Associate Professor (School of Nursing & Midwifery)
DOLIER STREET - SCHOOL OF NURSING

 sodonne@tcd.ie

 3531896 3896


Dr. Sharon O"Donnell is an Associate Professor in Critical Care Nursing, with expertise in cardiovascular nursing, clinical practice, education and research, particularly Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and women"s cardiovascular health. She is Educational Facilitator for the MSc in Specialist Nursing (Cardiovascular) programme and has significant clinical experience in Coronary Care Nursing. Sharon is recognised nationally and internationally for her research in cardiovascular care, particularly women with heart disease. She has been awarded two Health Research Board Research Fellowships for doctoral and post-doctoral research, has an extensive publication record and regularly presents at national and international conferences.She leads the Trinity College Dublin component of the Horizon Europe-funded CARAMEL project, which uses an AI-supported model to personalise cardiovascular risk assessment for menopausal women across Europe and South America. The project includes surveys, interviews and co-creation workshops, with a strong focus on inclusion, including women with intellectual disabilities. A major focus of Sharon's research has been improving the ACS care pathway, through which she has secured approximately €1.5 million in research funding. Her work includes a multi-site randomised controlled trial evaluating a structured educational intervention to reduce pre-hospital delays for ACS patients. This was the only international intervention to demonstrate a significant reduction in ACS pre-hospital delay times. Sharon has translated research into clinical innovation through development of the Acute Coronary Syndrome Application (AcSAP), a Clinical Prediction Rule designed to improve ECG acquisition times in Emergency Departments. AcSAP has potential applications in primary care and emergency medical transport and is currently undergoing further validation, with plans for integration into broader digital technologies supporting critical illness care and recovery. Her research interests focus on digital health and smart technologies to improve ACS treatment times, cardiovascular prevention and recovery. Her expertise has led to invitations to participate in European EIT and Horizon 2020 consortiums, including projects exploring integration of AcSAP into wider technological solutions for critical care. Sharon has held national and international leadership roles. She served two terms on the Scientific Committee of the European Society of Cardiology Association of Cardiovascular Nurses and Allied Health Professions (ACNAP), contributing to evidence-based practice, research capacity and professional development across Europe. She has also served as Chair and Co-chair of the Cardiovascular Research Committee at Trinity College Dublin. Her doctoral research on gender differences in myocardial infarction led to her appointment to the Women"s Council of the Irish Heart Foundation. She contributed to national policy and practice through consultancy on Emergency Department Assessment of Women with Acute Coronary Syndrome, commissioned by the Women"s Health Council and the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine. She has also served as an External Examiner for postgraduate Critical Care programmes. Within the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Sharon has held four senior leadership positions, including Director of Research on two occasions, Director of Undergraduate Teaching and Learning, and Director of Postgraduate Teaching and Learning. She led the undergraduate curriculum redesign and, as Director of Research, developed the School"s Research Strategy 2023"2030. She has also chaired the International Conference Committee and served on the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee. Across her career, Sharon"s work has focused on improving cardiovascular outcomes, addressing inequalities in women"s heart health, translating research into practice, and developing innovative digital solutions to enhance patient care.
  Acute care nursing   ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION   Behavior and Health   Cardiovascular disease, pharmacology   Cardiovascular Diseases   Cardiovascular System   Changing gender role attitudes in Ireland   CLINICAL APPLICATIONS   Critical Care   EMERGENCY   Emergency Health Services   GENDER   GENDER DIFFERENCES   Gender dimensions in health and illness   Gender issues in social development   Gender issues, gender studies   Health attitudes and behaviour   Health Disparities   Health outcomes   Health status and inequalities   Health/Medical Science--Computer Technology   Heart   Heart Failure   Heart Failure and transplantation   INPATIENTS   Medical disclosure and theories of the female body   Nursing   Patient Care and Education   Patterns of health   Preventive Medicine   Symptom Management   Technology Assessment/Transfer/Outreach (Hlth   Telemedicine   Women's Health
Project Title
 CARAMEL-CArdiovascular Risk Assessment via multimodal data analysis enabling personalised prevention strategies targeting MEnopausaL women
From
Dec 1st 2024
To
Nov 30th 2029
Summary
The School of Nursing & Midwifery at Trinity College Dublin have joined a global network of researchers to revolutionize the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women aged 40-60 by delivering an innovative, AI-supported model for personalized risk assessment and preventive healthcare. The European Horizon Europe project, CARAMEL (CArdiovascular Risk Assessment in MEnopausaL women) has 25 global partners including those in Europe and South America Researchers at the School will lead a core aspect of CARAMEL; examining women"s experience of menopause and their cardio-protective behaviours, which will include an anonymous questionnaire to 7000 women throughout Europe and South America. The team will also conduct over 140 qualitative interviews with women from these countries and facilitate co-creation workshops where women and clinical experts will co-create the design of the CARAMEL Digital Application. The project stands out for this reason, by actively involving women in the creation of the CARAMEL digital tools, ensuring their experiences and preferences are at the core of its solutions. At the core of CARAMEL"s approach is the integration of multiple data sources " clinical records, medical imaging, wearable devices, and lifestyle information " to develop AI-based models capable of assessing risk levels and tailoring prevention plans. By leveraging emerging technologies, CARAMEL will enable women to take proactive steps toward their heart health through self-assessment tools and a digital ecosystem designed for empowerment and self-management. In addition, the project will incorporate advanced diagnostic tools and new biomarkers, including non-invasive skin nanosensors and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based lipoprotein and inflammation markers, to enable earlier and more accurate risk assessment. The platform will undergo validation in clinical studies at multiple sites across Europe and Latin America, and it aims to provide new, evidence-based guidelines for healthcare providers and policymakers. The project will also develop clinical guidelines to help healthcare providers integrate these new personalized risk assessment models into clinical practice, thus supporting more effective CVD prevention strategies tailored to women. CARAMEL will run for 5 years and has received funding of almost 12 million euros from the European Union"s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 101156210. More information: Stay connected with CARAMEL"s progress through our official website and social media channels. Join us as we work to transform cardiovascular prevention for women and contribute to healthier, empowered communities worldwide.
Funding Agency
Horizon EU Commission
Programme
European Union Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme
Project Type
HORIZON-HLTH-2024-STAYHLTH-01-05-two-stage -Personalised prevention of non-communicable diseases
Person Months
60
Project Title
 The INTERSECT Project: A multi-model, sex/gender-specific approach for the future management of cardiovascular risk in Europe
From
To
Summary
This is a European research initiative addressing a critical gap in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention: how diet modifies the cardiovascular effects of long-term air pollution exposure, and how these interactions differ by biological sex, gender related behaviours, and regional cardiovascular risk across Europe. CVD remains the leading cause of mortality in Europe, while fine particulate matter (PM2.5) represents the single greatest environmental risk to health. At the same time, dietary patterns, baseline cardiovascular risk, and exposure profiles vary substantially between European regions, as captured by SCORE2 stratification. Despite growing recognition of sex- and gender-specific CVD trajectories" particularly age- and hormone-related changes in women"these dimensions are rarely integrated into environmental risk assessment or prevention strategies. The central hypothesis of the proposal is that dietary patterns modify the association between long-term air pollution exposure and cardiovascular risk, and that this modification is sex-, gender-, and region-specific. To test this, the project adopts an integrated, multi-model approach combining population-level evidence, mechanistic insights, and translational prevention strategies. First, the proposal will leverage and harmonise data from large, underused European cohorts with validated dietary assessments and individual-level air pollution exposure to quantify diet"pollution"CVD interactions. Analyses will be stratified by sex and SCORE2 regions, with consideration of gender diversity where data allow. Second, the project will investigate underlying biological mechanisms using experimental models exposed to air pollutants and distinct dietary patterns, assessing endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiac remodelling, while explicitly accounting for sex, age, and hormonal status. Third, findings will be translated into the design of a personalised, diet-based cardiovascular prevention framework, modelling diet as a feasible individual-level strategy to mitigate pollution-related risk. Co-creation and patient and public involvement will be embedded to address gender-related behavioural patterns and optimise engagement and implementation. By integrating sex/gender, environment, diet, and regional risk, the proposal will deliver evidence to support more precise, equitable, and sustainable cardiovascular prevention policies in Europe, aligned with Horizon Europe Cluster 1 priorities on disease prevention, environmental health, and personalised medicine
Funding Agency
Horizon
Programme
HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11
Project Type
- Two clinical studies (modelling of retrospective data + intervention cohort) - One animal study
Project Title
 CHLOE: understanding CoronaryHeart disease development along the Lifecycle of -young and middle-aged women- wOmEn
From
To
Summary
Aim To investigate cardiovascular risk, awareness, behaviours, and access to prevention among younger women (18"24 years) and marginalised populations, and to inform equitable, early prevention strategies. Objectives 1. Assess cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle behaviours in younger women. 2. Examine awareness and understanding of cardiovascular risk. 3. Explore the role of social determinants of health. 4. Identify barriers and facilitators to prevention and care. 5. Generate recommendations for inclusive and equitable prevention strategies.
Funding Agency
Horizon
Programme
Horizon HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11
Project Type
A convergent mixed-methods design integrating quantitative and qualitative data.
Project Title
 SILENT-PATH: Menopausal Cardiovascular Weathering: How Cumulative Social Stress Becomes Biologically Embedded During Midlife
From
To
Summary
Although women live longer, they bear a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular and mental health problems in midlife. The menopausal transition"a pivotal biological and social turning point"marks both the loss of estrogen"s protective effects and the convergence of hormonal, psychological, and social stressors that accelerate vascular ageing. Yet research rarely explains how structural inequality, chronic stress, and ecological adversity interact to shape women"s cardiovascular health, particularly among marginalised populations. SILENT-PATH addresses this gap by developing an eco-biopsychosocial model of menopausal cardiovascular weathering"a process through which cumulative social adversity becomes biologically embedded in stress regulation systems, accelerating cardiovascular ageing during menopause. The project establishes the sociocardiology of menopause as a new interdisciplinary framework integrating medical sociology, social psychology, psychocardiology, and stress biology to link emotional and neuroendocrine mechanisms with structural and ecological inequality. Menopause is reframed as a critical biosocial window in which long-term disadvantage becomes biologically visible. Using a longitudinal, mixed-methods design across EU and war/post-war Ukrainian contexts, SILENT-PATH integrates surveys, interviews, stress biomarkers, psychometric measures, and digital ethnography. This design enables testing of stress-related pathways and their temporal ordering across diverse welfare regimes. These data underpin the Silent Pathway Index, a composite eco-biopsychosocial measure capturing early, socially embedded signs of cardiovascular ageing. By formalising the sociocardiology of menopause as a framework, SILENT-PATH advances understanding of how inequality becomes biology and positions women"s cardiovascular ageing as a modifiable biosocial process, providing a foundation for gender- and equity-responsive cardiovascular prevention across Europe
Funding Agency
ERC
Programme
ERC Consolidator Grant
Project Type
a longitudinal, mixed-methods design across EU and war/post-war Ukrainian contexts
Project Title
 Preventing CARdiovascular Risks in Women & MENopause Linked Hypertension
From
2021
To
2025
Summary
This study aims to develop a device-based digital health therapeutics helping women to navigate through menopause and providing personalised preventative actions to improve women's health.
Funding Agency
Horizon 2020
Programme
SC1-DTH-02-2020:
Project Type
Multi-site RCT
Person Months
118

Page 1 of 6
Details Date
Reviewer: Journal of Advanced Nursing 2005-on-going
Reviewer: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 2004-Ongoing
Member of the CCNAP Scientific Committee 2014
Reviewer: Cochrane Heart 2014
Reveewer: The Emergency Department Assessment of Women with Acute Coronary Syndrome 2009
Member of the Irish Association of Critical Care Nurses 2019
Member of the Irish Nurses Cardiovascular Association 2019
External Reviewer for the National Office of Clinical Audit 2020
Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
French Basic Basic Basic
Irish Medium Medium Basic
Details Date From Date To
I have been a member of the Scientific Committee of the Cardiovascular Nurses and Allied Health Professionals ( European Society of Cardiology)since 2014 Mission The mission of the Science Committee is to build evidence based practice to optimise cardiovascular patient care by enhancing research possibilities, research skills and research collaborations among Cardiovascular Nurses and Allied Professionals. Vision The responsibilities of the Science Committee are to: build evidence-based practice, research capacity and skills among European nurses and allied professionals within CCNAP and beyond; plan mentoring sessions for pre-doctoral and post-doctoral CCNAP researchers; and link CCNAP researchers for collaboration across Europe and the world. Objectives Organize PhD seminars. Improve representation of nurses and allied professionals in guidelines and implementation papers. Publish a research agenda reflecting the priorities for research in the area of cardiovascular patient care, from a nursing and allied professional perspective. Promote and increase visibility of research in the area of cardiovascular patient care within the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Stimulate dedicated research funding in the area of cardiovascular patient care. Other activities Support the CCNAP Programme Committee with respect to abstract review or other issues related to the scientific level of presentations during the annual Spring Meeting on Cardiovascular Nursing. Provide scientific support to the CCNAP Programme Committee with respect to providing ideas for conferences Propose plans for educational seminars/workshops within the yearly Spring Meeting on Cardiovascular Nursing specified for practitioners and researchers specific interests 2014 2018
The Trinity Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation (TCPHI) The research centre for Trinity's School of Nursing and Midwifery - is expanding its research collaboration with IBM Research Ireland. The expansion will see TCPHI researchers work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts from IBM Research Ireland to advance a programme of research focused on finding effective and innovative solutions for integrated care and self-management in healthcare. 2012 2020
An Board Altranais 1992 Ongoing
Irish Cardiac Nurses Association 1998 ongoing
European Society of Cardiovascular Nursing 2000 On-going
Irish Heart Foundation: Women's Council 2004 On-going
K. Bowe, M. Mooney, F. OBrien, D. Daly, V. Brady, E. Burke, L. Lolich, A. Paul, A. OHalloran, B. Johnston, and S. ODonnell, Development and validation of the `Menopause and Heart Health Questionnaire" (MHHQ): The CARAMEL study, https://www.tcd.ie/nursing-midwifery/events-and-conferences/theconference/ Book of abstracts, Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference 2026 (THEconf2026) 'Healthcare in a Changing Landscape', Trinity College Dublin, 03 - 05 March 2026, edited by M. Mooney , 2026, pp170 - 170, pp1 , Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Rosemarie Derwin, Frances OBrien, Deirdre Daly, Vivienne Brady, Eilish Burke, Mary Mooney, Luciana Lolich, Kate Bowe, Aviejay Paul, Aisling OHalloran, Bridget Johnston, and Sharon ODonnell, Exploring Heart Health Among (Peri)Menopausal Women in Ireland: Preliminary Insights from the European Horizon CARAMEL Study, https://www.tcd.ie/nursing-midwifery/events-and-conferences/theconference/ Book of abstracts, Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference 2026 (THEconf2026) 'Healthcare in a Changing Landscape', Trinity College Dublin, 03 - 05 March 2026, 2026, pp1 , Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Mooney, Mary, O'Donnell, Sharon, O'Brien, Frances, Brady, Vivienne, Daly, Deirdre, Burke, Eilish, Derwin, Rosemarie, Lolich, Luciana, Knowledge gaps in cardiovascular health among (peri)menopausal women: insights from the CARAMEL-WOMEN study, European heart journal https://esc365.escardio.org/presentation/327664, European Society of Cardiology Congress, 2026, Munich, August 28-31st 2026, edited by ESC https://esc365.escardio.org/presentation/327664 , European society OF cardiology, 2026, ppE001 - E996, Notes: [Abstracts for ESC Congress 2026 are published online via the European Society of Cardiology Scientific Programme and in the online abstract supplement of the European Heart Journal (October 2026 issue).], Conference Paper, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text
Frances O"Brien, Deirdre Daly, Vivienne Brady, Eilish Burke, Mary Mooney, Luciana Lolich Kate Bowe, Aviejay Paul, Aisling M. O"Halloran, Bridget Johnston, Louise Hopper, Anna Garcia-Elias Heras Iara Faria Synnott, Sharon O"Donnell1, Title: Development and preliminary evaluation of the `Menopause and Heart Health Questionnaire" (MHHQ): a multidomain self-report instrument designed for the CARAMEL study, BMC Women's Health, 2026, Journal Article, SUBMITTED
J. Song, F. O"Brien, J. Eustace-Cook, S. O"Donnell. ., The effect of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) on cognitive decline in older adults and the role of lifestyle mitigators: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis, Plos One, 2026, Journal Article, SUBMITTED
Frances O' Brien, Deirdre Daly, Vivienne Brady, Mary Mooney, Luciana Lolich, Kate Bowe, Aviejay Paul, Aisling O'Halloran, Bridget Johnston, Louise hopper, Anna Garcia-Elias Heras, Sharon O'Donnell, Iara Faria Synnott, "Development and preliminary evaluation of the `Menopause and Heart Health Questionnaire' (MHHQ): a multidomain self-report instrument designed for the CARAMEL study, BMC Women's Health, 2026, p20 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
J Song, F O'Brien, J Eustace-Cook, S O'Donnell, The role of lifestyle in mitigating cognitive decline in older adults with cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM): A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis, PloS one, 20, (12), 2025, pe0338896-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Delaney, S., Eustace-Cook, J., Ryberg, M., O'Donnell, S. & Byrne. G., Critical illness survivors' experiences of attending an intensive care unit follow-up service: a systematic review protocol, JBI Evidence Synthesis, 21, (12), 2023, p2438 - 2455, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Abdullah S. Alhurani 1, Ayman M. Hamdan-Mansour 1, *, Muayyad M. Ahmad 1, Gabrielle McKee 2, Sharon O'Donnell 2, Frances O'Brien 2, Mary Mooney 2, Zyad T. Saleh 1 and Debra K. Moser 3, The Association of Persistent Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety with Recurrent Acute Coronary Syndrome Events: A Prospective Observational Study, Healthcare, 10, (383), 2022, p9 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Hannon, B, Prizeman, G., O'Donnell, S., Ambulatory outpatient venous surgery service: an examination of patient satisfaction and experiences, Phlebology, 37, (8), 2022, p588 - 595, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

Page 1 of 8
McKee G,, Mooney M, , O'Donnell S., O'Brien F., Biddle M., Moser D., A cluster and inferential analysis of myocardial infarction symptom presentation by age.,,, European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 17, (7), 2018, pp637- - 644, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Mary Mooney, Frances O' Brien, Gabrielle McKee, Sharon O' Donnell, The ACS Response Time Educational Intervention, World of Irish Nursing, 24, (10), 2017, p55 - 57, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Mary Mooney, Frances O' Brien, Gabrielle McKee, Sharon O' Donnell, The ACS Response Time Intervention Trial, Hospital Doctor of Ireland, 22, 2016, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Gabrielle Mckee, Sharon O'Donnell Mary Mooney, Frances O'Brien, Debra K. Moser., Symptom presentation in Myocardial Infarction (MI) patients: a regression model exploring if it is different in the aged, Irish Journal of Medical Science ,, 62nd Annual and Scientific Meeting of the Irish Gerontological Society, Galway, 9-11october 2014, 183, (7), 2014, ppppS316 , Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Mary Mooney, Frances O' Brien, Gabrielle McKee, Sharon O' Donnell, Mission Critical: An Irish RCT to target reduction in patient pre-hospital delay time in ACS should pave way for change, Professional Diabetes and Cardiology Review, 1, (3), 2014, p12 - 15, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Mooney M., O'Brien F., McKee G., O' Donnell S. & Moser D, Unchanging times: Acute coronary syndrome pre-hospital delay times in an Irish population., 4th Annual Multi - Disciplinary Research, Clinical Audit & Quality Improvement Seminar 2011, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, May 19th 2011, 2011, Poster, PUBLISHED
O'Brien F., Mooney M., O' Donnell S., McKee G., and Moser D, Perceptions of vulnerability to ACS recurrence in an Irish population, Irish Nurses Cardiovascular Association, Sligo, 7th October 2010, 2010, Poster, PUBLISHED
Mooney M., O'Brien F., McKee G., Fealy G., O' Donnell S. and Moser D. , From whom do people with ACS symptoms seek advice before going to the emergency department? , Irish Nurses Cardiovascular Association, Sligo,, 7th October 2010, 2010, Poster, PUBLISHED

  


Award Date
Recpient of 3-year Post Doctoral Research Fellowship (HRB) 2009-2011
Recipient of a 3-year Clinical Nursing Research Fellowship: Health Research Board 2001-2004
Recipient of the Young Research Award (St. James's Hospital) 2003
Recipient of the All-Ireland Research Fellowship: An Bord Altranais 2000
Finalist in Clinical Nurse of the Year Award 1998
**Acute Coronary Syndrome** Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) remains a major cause of mortality in Ireland. As a researcher and educator in cardiovascular care, I have focused much of my funded research, supported by the Health Research Board (HRB) and Horizon Europe, on improving the care pathway for people experiencing ACS. My work aligns with the National ACS Clinical Programme and addresses priorities in emergency and acute cardiovascular care. **Women & Heart Disease** I have a particular interest in understanding the experiences of women with ACS, including help-seeking behaviours, treatment pathways and the impact of gendered healthcare. I am Principal Investigator for the Trinity College Dublin component of the Horizon Europe-funded CARAMEL project, which aims to improve cardiovascular disease prevention in menopausal women through AI-supported personalised risk assessment. My team leads the CARAMEL-WOMEN study, incorporating surveys, qualitative interviews across Europe and South America, co-creation workshops and the inclusion of under-represented groups, including women with intellectual disabilities. I have submitted two additional proposals to Horizon Europe calls in 2026 and i am also collaborating on an ERC call -all of which examine cardiovascular risk in menopausal women **Innovation** Innovation is central to my research. I developed the Acute Coronary Syndrome Application (AcSAP), a clinical prediction tool designed to expedite ECG acquisition in Emergency Departments, with potential application in pre-hospital settings. My interest in digital health and smart technologies has informed proposals for randomised controlled and interventional studies through Horizon 2020 and EIT programmes. I actively collaborate with international clinicians and academics and use European research networks to develop new collaborations, support emerging researchers and mentor colleagues towards research leadership. **Trinity Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation** I value the integration of clinical and academic research and have served as academic lead for several clinically driven projects within the Trinity Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation (TCPHI). These collaborations support clinical research capacity while identifying opportunities to improve practice. Projects have included examining treatment delays following myocardial infarction, evaluating patient satisfaction following vein surgery, exploring challenges and facilitators for Advanced Nurse Practitioner roles in stroke services, and evaluating patient experiences of an ANP-led chest pain clinic.