Dr Eithne Heffernan

BA, MSc, PhD

Pronouns: She/her
  • Lecturer in Psychology

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Eithne Heffernan

Please call the press office on 01509 223491 to arrange an interview with Dr Eithne Heffernan. Bookings can also be made online at globelynx.com.

Eithne joined Loughborough University as a Lecturer in Psychology in 2025, having previously held posts at the University of Nottingham, University of Galway, and Peninsula Medical School. She obtained a BA in Psychology and an MSc in Organisational Psychology in Ireland before joining the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit to complete a PhD in Otology.

Eithne was awarded an NIHR School for Primary Care Research Postdoctoral Fellowship to examine primary care services for adults living with hearing loss, and led a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership in co-existing dementia and hearing conditions. Eithne has taught a variety of subjects to undergraduate and postgraduate students, including health psychology, psychometric testing, healthcare communication skills, aural rehabilitation, and evidence-based practice. She has supervised undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students, and she sits on the INTERDEM Academy Management Board, who provide training and development opportunities to early career dementia researchers across Europe.

Eithne conducts research on health and wellbeing in adults, with a particular focus on hearing loss, dementia, and social isolation. Eithne has expertise in outcome measurement and psychometric testing, qualitative methods, Patient and Public Involvement/Engagement (PPIE), and the inclusion of under-served communities in health research.

Selected Funding and Projects

Eithne was awarded funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research and the NIHR Clinical Research Network East Midlands to investigate access to primary care services and research for adults living with hearing loss. She received grants from the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre and the NIHR Clinical Research Network East Midlands to examine barriers and facilitators to the inclusion of under-served groups in research about dementia and hearing loss. Eithne has also received a career development award from the NIHR Three Schools Dementia Research Programme.

Eithne is a member of the following:

  • INTERDEM Academy Management Board (Europe)
  • INTERDEM Website Committee (Europe)
  • Dementia: Understand Together Campaign Working Group (Ireland)

Eithne has peer reviewed for a number of academic journals, including Age and Ageing, Ear and Hearing, BMJ Open, and the International Journal of Audiology.

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