Eimears research focuses on issues of vulnerability on the frontline in the healthcare and criminal justice systems. She has published in the areas of health, criminal, constitutional and administrative law both nationally and internationally. She worked with and secured funding from important stakeholders including the HSE, Cosc, The National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, the Department of Justice, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, the Irish Research Council and the Council of Europe. Much of her research is interdisciplinary and empirical in nature, interrogating the gap between theory and practice, with colleagues from a variety of disciplines including nursing, midwifery, medicine, allied health, psychology, policing, youth justice and prisons.

Eimear Spain is a Professor of Health Law in a joint appointment between the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences and the School of Law. Eimear graduated with a BA in Law and Accounting and was awarded the University Medal for first place in interdisciplinary programmes upon graduation. Following completion of her PhD, Eimear took up a research position in Macquarie University in Sydney. She was subsequently appointed as a Senior Lecturer in the University of Northumbria in England before returning to take up a lecturing position in the School of Law in 2010. Prof. Spain was appointed to the Psychologist Registration Board (CORU) by the Minister for Health in 2017.