Paula Byrne DCR (T), MSc, PhD

Dr. Paula Byrne is a postdoctoral researcher with Evidence Synthesis Ireland & HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Her work focuses on evidence synthesis, scientific uncertainty, and how health ‘facts’ and ‘misinformation’ are defined and dealt with.

Previously, Paula worked with the Health Technology Assessment Directorate within HIQA. Here she developed a new method of justifying new practices in medical exposure to ionizing radiation, which is currently being finalized. Also, she produced rapid reviews on a wide range of scientific topics to inform the National Public Health Emergency Team during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her Ph.D. focused on the use of statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In particular, she considered the process of medicalization and how ‘low-value’ medical care might be delineated or defined in the context of absolute risk reduction or number-needed-to-treat.