Ireland’s national PhD training initiative in population health, policy, and health services research continues to play a central role in developing the country’s future research leaders. The Structured Population health, Policy and Health-services Research Education programme, known as SPHeRE, is funded by the Health Research Board in Ireland and brings together scholars working across multiple health-related disciplines.
SPHeRE is designed around the idea that improvements in population health and health service delivery depend on collaboration across disciplines. The programme combines research, translation, and practical application, with the aim of improving health outcomes for groups and populations through high-quality research and sustained engagement with stakeholders.
A key feature of the programme is its structured approach to training. All scholars receive a shared foundation in population health research, regardless of their previous academic or professional background. This model is intended to ensure consistency in training while also supporting collaboration between researchers with different areas of expertise.
The programme connects participants from a wide range of disciplines, including biostatistics, economics, nursing, psychology, medicine, occupational therapy, sociology, speech and language therapy, management, geography, and physiotherapy. Many of the scholars also bring experience from clinical practice, healthcare management, or policy roles within the Irish health system.
SPHeRE’s approach is centred on developing a network of research leaders with shared training and complementary skill sets. Scholars are paired with experienced supervisors to conduct research on topics of strategic importance to Ireland’s population health priorities. The programme places emphasis on producing research that meets high academic standards and contributes to peer-reviewed international publications.
Beyond academic output, SPHeRE also focuses on embedding a research culture across population health, health policy, and health systems. The programme highlights principles of scientific inquiry, inclusion, and cross-sector collaboration as core elements of its vision for the future of health research in Ireland.
By bringing together diverse disciplines and professional backgrounds under a unified training framework, SPHeRE continues to contribute to the development of a coordinated and research-informed approach to population health and health services planning in Ireland.
