Personal profile
Research Interests
Sara Hayes is an Associate Professor of Physiotherapy in UL. Her research interest lies in the provision of sustainable multi-factorial interventions to people with stroke. Sara is a HRB-funded Cochrane Fellow and is the Principal Investigator on HRB DIFA (2022-2025) and a HRB ILP (2025-2028) awards. Sara has expertise in running pragmatic trials and using novel experimental methods to tackle urgent clinical questions for people with stroke. Sara collaborates with colleagues in physiotherapy, biostatistics, psychology, health economics, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, medicine and nursing. She is an executive member of the Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute in UL, the Irish Heart Foundation Stroke Council and the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists.
Teaching Interests
BSc and MSc Physiotherapy programmes and interdisciplinary modules at the School of Allied Health, UL; 2015-present
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TEACHING ACTIVITIES
- 2024-2025 Senior Lecturer- Neurological Physiotherapy (PR4041, PR6013), Exercise and Participation in the Community (PR4026)
- 2023-2024 Senior Lecturer- Neurological Physiotherapy (PR4041, PR6013), Exercise and Participation in the Community (PR4026)
- 2020-2022 Senior Lecturer- Neurological Physiotherapy (PR4041, PR6013), Exercise and Participation in the Community (PR4026)
- 2018-2019 Lecturer Above the bar- Modules: Neurological Physiotherapy (PR4041, PR6013), Independent Learning Module (OT5001, OT5002), School of Allied Health, University of Limerick, Ireland
- 2017-2018 Lecturer Above the bar- Modules: Anatomy (PR4001, PR4002), Independent Learning Modules (OT5001, OT5002), School of Allied Health, University of Limerick, Ireland
- 2016-2017 Lecturer Below the bar- Modules: Neurological Physiotherapy (PR4041, PR6013), Chronic Inflammatory States (PR6019), Exercise and Participation in the Community (PR6002), Independent Learning Modules (OT5001, OT5002), School of Allied Health, University of Limerick, Ireland
- 2015-2016 Lecturer Below the bar- Modules: Anatomy (PR4001, PR4002), SL6061 (Anatomy & Physiology for Speech and language Therapists)
Education/Academic qualification
PG Certificate in Teaching, Learning and Assessment, University of Limerick
Award Date: 21 Jul 2025
PhD (Physiotherapy), Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, University of Dublin, Trinity College
Award Date: 6 Dec 2013
Bachelor, Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin
Award Date: 30 Jun 2008
Post-graduate Diploma in Statistics, University of Dublin, Trinity College
External positions
HRB Cochrane Fellow, University of Limerick
12 May 2016 → …
Lecturer, University of Limerick
4 Nov 2015 → …
HRB post-doctoral research fellow, University of Limerick
12 May 2014 → …
HRB ICE post-doctoral research fellow, National University of Ireland - Galway
8 Sep 2013 → …
Occasional lecturer, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin
3 Sep 2012 → …
Physiotherapist, St. Vincents University Hospital
8 Jan 2012 → …
Occasional lecturer, Trinity College Dublin
6 Sep 2010 → …
Physiotherapist, St. James Hospital
1 Jun 2010 → …
Physiotherapist, St. James Hospital
1 Sep 2009 → …
Physiotherapist, Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland
1 Apr 2009 → …
Physiotherapist, St. Vincents University Hospital
1 Jan 2009 → …
Physiotherapist, St. Vincents University Hospital
16 Jul 2008 → …
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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The Adaptive Physical Activity Study in Stroke (TAPAS): A Feasibility Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial
Whiston, A., Carr, E., Cardy, N., Rocliffe, P., O'Reilly, S. M., Carter, D., O'Donoghue, M., Cronin, A., Bradley, J. G., Butler, M., Glynn, L., Walsh, J. C., Walsh, C., Kidwell, K., O'Connor, M., Macey, C., Paul, L., Fitzsimons, C., Bernhardt, J. & Salsberg, J. & 1 others, , 5 Jan 2026, In: Advanced Science. 13, 1, e13316.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Development and evaluation of a stroke research Public Patient Involvement Panel.
O'Reilly, S., Whiston, A., Corbett, E., O'Mahony, A., Manning, M. X., Boland, P., Robinson, K., Galvin, R., Allardyce, J. M., Butler, M., Bradley, J., Salsberg, J., O'Connor, M., Pond, P., Murphy, E., Glynn, L. G., Cunningham, N., Hennessy, E. & Hayes, S., 2025, In: HRB Open Research. 7, 22, 22.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Development and evaluation of a stroke research Public Patient Involvement Panel [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
O'Reilly, S., Whiston, A., Cronin, A., Corbett, E., O'Mahony, A., Manning, M. X., Boland, P., Robinson, K., Galvin, R., Allardyce, J. M., Butler, M., Bradley, J., Salsberg, J., O'Connor, M., Pond, P., Murphy, E., Glynn, L. G., Cunningham, N., Hennessy, E. & Hayes, S. & 27 others, , 7 Apr 2025, In: HRB Open Research.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Factors associated with stroke recurrence and mortality in ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Hayes, S., Aug 2025, In: PLoS ONE. 20, 8 August, e0329932.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Network models of late life depression symptoms and cognitive impairments across time
Whiston, A., Semkovska, M., Boland, P., Cassidy, I., Cremona, A., Dillon, S., Hayes, S., Kearns, A., Larkin, E., Tuohy, D. & Robinson, K., 27 Jan 2025, In: Aging and Mental Health. 29, 6, p. 1100-1110 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
- 3 Membership of council
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Irish Heart Foundation Council on Stroke (External organisation)
Hayes, S. (Member)
Jun 2023Activity: Membership › Membership of council
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Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (External organisation)
Hayes, S. (Member)
1900Activity: Membership › Membership of council
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Mid Western branch ISCP (External organisation)
Hayes, S. (Member)
1900Activity: Membership › Membership of council
Prizes
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1st prize for Clinical Research at the Irish Pain Society annual conference
Hayes, S. (Recipient), 2013
Prize: Honorary award
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1st prize for oral presentation at the Irish Heart Foundation Council on Stroke- 15th Annual Stroke Study Day
Hayes, S. (Recipient), 2012
Prize: Honorary award
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Undergraduate Erasmus Exchange programme in Karolinska University, Stockholm, Sweden
Hayes, S. (Recipient), 2007
Prize: Honorary award