Eileen's research interests focus on explaining how humanistic, legalistic, psychological and sociological factors impact the health and wellbeing of adults, especially those growing older with intellectual disability. Specific topic areas have focused on person centred planning, autonomy, choice, control, informed consent, decision-making and inclusive research. Eileen has undertaken research studies to describe and analyse structures and processes of person centred planning utilised in residential service for people with intellectual disabilities and research inclusive of adults with intellectual disabilities, to explain daily realities for participants as they respond to issues of choice and control. Eileen has been involved in the National Leadership Programme for Nursing and Health Care Managers in Intellectual Disability Services educational research project and has led on a national research project reviewing placement opportunities accessible to students undertaking a BSc Nursing (Intellectual Disability) degree programme in Ireland. Eileen is a member of the Intellectual Disability Research Group and Chair of the Healthy Ageing and Aged Care Research Group 

Lecturing on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, Eileen's primary interests are relevant to the contribution of Registered Nurses in the health and wellbeing of adults, especially those growing older with intellectual disability. At postgraduate level Eileen teaches on the specialists modules of the MSc Nursing (Dementia Care) programme. Additionally, Eileen supervises' students to Master and PhD levels.