Ciara McCormack

Dr Ciara McCormack is an Assistant Professor in Sport Science and Health at Maynooth University and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. Her research focuses on the role of exercise in the primary and secondary prevention of chronic disease, particularly cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. She is passionate about designing, delivering, and evaluating patient-centred, theory-informed interventions that use physical activity to improve long-term health outcomes.

Ciara is currently embedded in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, where she is leading a national programme to transform Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) research and rehabilitation services in Ireland. Her work explores how lifestyle and physical activity programmes can be integrated into routine clinical pathways to improve patients’ quality of life, functional capacity, and access to care.

She completed her PhD in Clinical Exercise Physiology at Dublin City University, where she developed, delivered and evaluated a home-based physical activity intervention for PH patients, in collaboration with respiratory consultants at the Mater Hospital. Her programme, underpinned by behavioural science and co-designed with patients, has informed similar approaches internationally.

Her research spans across clinical and community settings, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore the impact of exercise on disease progression, symptom management, and healthcare utilisation. She is particularly interested in creating scalable models of exercise delivery for adults aged 40+ and those living with chronic diseases.

Ciara is currently involved in a number of national and international research projects focused on exercise and rehabilitation for people living with pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and vascular disease. Her work spans hospital, home, and community settings, with an emphasis on addressing health inequalities and improving access to physical activity support across different stages of chronic disease.

She represents Ireland on the Exercise is Medicine (EIM) Emerging Leadership Programme, a global initiative to embed physical activity pathways into clinical care. She also works closely with the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the development of Ireland’s Physical Activity Guidelines and is contributing to national efforts to implement rehabilitation and activity pathways for those living with chronic disease.

In addition to her academic and clinical roles, Ciara is committed to public engagement and outreach. She has contributed to national health campaigns such as RTÉ’s Operation Transformation, appears regularly on RTÉ Radio 1 as an expert voice on physical activity and health, and regularly delivers community-based exercise classes for adults and people living with chronic illness. She also provides consultancy support to healthcare and community groups, and corporate organisations helping to design and implement evidence-based physical activity programmes.

Ciara’s work has been recognised through multiple national and international awards, including from the American Thoracic Society, the European Respiratory Society, and DCU Invent. She is dedicated to advancing the role of exercise in chronic disease prevention and management, and to bridging research, clinical practice, and community impact.