Dr Keyes' research focus is in implementation science. She works in both the development of tools, frameworks and theories and in the practical application of implementation research to real world problems. She has a particular interest in taking a person-centred approach, ensuring translation of science into practice and promoting evidence based policy making. 

Dr Keyes is the Director of the multidisciplinary Centre for Implementation Research at the Univerity of Limerick. There she leads a team dedicated to supporting implementation methodologies to improve the traction of evidence-based policy, programme and professional practices in routine public service delivery. 

Prior to joining the Centre, Dr Keyes worked in the Health Information and Quality Authority, leading on the implementation of legislative changes to regulation and regulatory practice change. She led a team of researchers and PhD students in developing the evidence base and impact evaluation for regulatory practice, national health and social care standards and health information standards. While in HIQA she was Principal Investigator on a national project to maximise the use of statutory notifications from social care to inform quality improvement in residential care facilities, which won the 2023 irish Healthcare Centre Award for Best Use of Information Technology. Dr Keyes also authored the first Lexicon for Social Care, a key building block in the introduction of electronic health and social care records in Ireland.

Dr Keyes has previously held academic roles in Manchester and Cambridge in the UK. Some of her key projects during this time included: Evaluation of the UK Childhood Obesity Policy, Informing the Introduction of the Sugar Sweetened Beverage tax in the UK, Enabling the Baka Community in Cameroon and, Community based Interventions to Address Food Security.