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Professor Edna Roche

Professor Of Paediatric Endocrinology & (Paediatrics)
TALLAGHT HOSPITAL
      
Profile Photo

Professor Edna Roche

Professor Of Paediatric Endocrinology & (Paediatrics)
TALLAGHT HOSPITAL

 rocheef@tcd.ie

 3531896 3763


Edna Roche is Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at the University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and a consultant paediatrician and paediatric endocrinologist at Childrens' Health Ireland (CHI) at Tallaght University Hospital. She qualified in Medicine at Trinity College where she also obtained her Doctorate. She holds a postgraduate qualification from the NUI, Membership and Fellowships from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Edinburgh and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health London. Dr Roche completed her clinical training in Ireland, the Middlesex Hospital and the Childrens Hospital Great Ormond Street London and in North America. She has a particular interest in Management, undertaking an MBA in Strategic management at Trinity for which she was awarded 1st Place. She has extensive academic experience and introduced many innovations and new programmes to the University. She is an enthusiastic clinical teacher encouraging her students in self-directed and life-long learning. In recognition of her teaching she was awarded the Provosts award for teaching excellence. She has supervised many postgraduate students in both clinical medicine and management and published over 70 peer reviewed papers. She is a keen researcher whose research objective is to: optimise clinical care; promote health; prevent unnecessary complications; and enhance quality of life, through collaboration nationally and internationally. Clinical research areas include Paediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology (rare syndromes, growth and development which underpin health in childhood and adult life) and Down Syndrome. Amongst her many research achievements she has developed the Irish Childhood Diabetes National Register, a major asset in diabetes care. She has extensive research collaborations nationally and internationally. She is a member of a number of important research networks such as the Hvidoere International study group in diabetes and EURODIAB. She is a contributor to many professional associations at home and abroad. She was a Ministerial appointee to the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board for the new Childrens Hospital. She was appointed by the Minister to serve on the Irish Medical Council and is Chair of the Education and Training Committee of Council. Dr Roche is former Director or Research at Down Syndrome Ireland and former member of the Steering Group of the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group (DSMIG) Ireland and UK. She is former Chair the Nutrition Council of the Irish Heart Foundation and of the Clinical Advisory Group for Obesity of the RCPI participating in the development of the Model of Care for Obesity. She is a member of the Clinical Advisory Group of the Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland through which she makes a significant contribution in shaping the future of Child Health in Ireland.
Project Title
 Irish Childhood Diabetes National Register
From
1/1/2008
To
ongoing
Summary
Diabetes Epidemiology: Childhood Type 1 diabetes (T1D), fatal if untreated is associated with major life limiting complications if poorly controlled. Good diabetes management requires accurate disease data. No such data were available in Ireland. Following a baseline study of national T1D epidemiology, the Irish Childhood National Diabetes Register (ICDNR), a core infrastructure in childhood diabetes, was established to provide accurate data regarding T1D in children and young people in Ireland. The ICDNR now in its 12th year, is governed by a highly skilled Steering Group, with a broad range of expertise (Medical, Nursing, IT, Statistics, Health Informatics). It has extensive collaborations: International (Eurodiab, NI Register, Hvidore, ISPAD) and National (Paediatricians, Diabetologists, RCPI, PCRS, HSE, Diabetes Ireland, TUD (formerly IT Tallaght). As a result of our work accurate national data are available for the first time to inform health planning, resource allocation, enable audit, research and optimise clinical care. Targeted interventions are now possible as patient subgroups are identifiable. Robust data and forecasts are provided to the HSE (by ICDNR). Reliable incidence data are available ( considered "a Basic Health Indicator" by WHO), of national and international importance and Irish T1D epidemiology monitored. Prevalence Modelling: Current research includes prevalence modelling and forecasting in T1D in association with Professor Myra O'Regan, Department of Statistics and Computer Science. Diabetic Ketoacidosis Prevention: Some children develop severe metabolic decompensation (Diabetic Ketoacidosis, DKA) at diabetes diagnosis which can be fatal or result in a trajectory of poor metabolic control with increased diabetes related complications in adult life. This is of major international concern. The Irish Childhood Diabetes National Register (ICDNR) is monitoring national DKA rates before and after a 2 year collaborative national DKA prevention campaign to gain insight into factors associated with the development of DKA and its prevention. Analysis of the baseline data demonstrates a very high rate of DKA at diagnosis in those with T1D. The intervention phase is in progress with print and radio campaigns and targeted campaigns directed at healthcare professionals. A digital campaign has been developed for phase two. This study is a collaboration involving Diabetes Ireland, TUD (formerly IT Tallaght) and the ICDNR.
Funding Agency
National Children's Hospital Foundation
Project Type
National Epidemiological Register of Type 1 diabetes
Person Months
108
Project Title
 International Monitoring of Diabetes Epidemiology
From
2011
To
Summary
Eurodiab is an international collaboration of 26 European Childhood Diabetes Registers representing 22 countries. Following assessment and site visit the ICDNR has been a participant since 2011. Eurodiab monitors the epidemiology of T1D across Europe exploring trends in incidence which may ultimately provide clues to the underlying aeitology.
Programme
EURODIAB
Project Type
Collaboration of international diabetes registers
Project Title
 PACE Study
From
2018
To
Summary
Intervention to improve youth question-asking and provider education during paediatric diabetes visits.
Funding Agency
National Childrens' Research Centre NCRC
Project Type
RCT of Behavioural intervention

Details Date
Appointed by the Mininster for Health to the Irish Medical Council following joint nomination from the Irish medical Schools council june 2021
Appointed to the National Office for Clinical Audit (NOCA) National Paediatric Diabetes Audit Feasibility Steering Committee December 2020
Committee Member, The Irish Endocrine Society July 2022
Member National Diabetes Policy and Services Review Group, Department of Health and Children July 2024
Chair of the Statutory Education and Training Committee of the Irish Medical Council july 2023
Details Date From Date To
Member of the MBA Association june 2021 2024
Founding Member and Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, London (FRCPCH) 1998 2024
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (FRCPI) 2006 2024
Fellow of the Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (FFPAED RCPI) 1999 2024
Elected to Membership of the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) 2003 2024
Edna Roche, Columb Kavanagh, Amanda M McKenna, Kerry J Ryder, Helen Fitzgerald, Hilary MCV Hoey, Myra O"Regan, Estimating national prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children in Ireland using a novel simple approach: an observational study, BMJ Public Health, 4, (1), 2026, pe003056 - e003056, pe003056-e003056 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Muhammad Ashhad Faizan, Iffat Khalid, Asten Yeo, Magdalina Mazheda Fadel, Alannah McMahon, Philip Gavigan, Saffron O"Neill, Eman Isweisi, Gregana Semova, Edna Roche, Aoife Branagan, Judith Meehan, Eleanor J. Molloy, Necrotising enterocolitis biomarkers: a systematic review, Frontiers in Pediatrics, 13, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Conaill TÓ, Whitty A, Hollingsworth SK, McGee A, Rafiq N, Coleman A, Daly A, Earley A, Loo A, Nizam A, Trayer J, Stewart P, Branagan A, Lally E, Molloy EJ, Dog-ownership and paediatric neurodevelopmental disorders; 'pawsitive' impact: a systematic review., Pediatric research, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Emma Finnegan, Alexandre Assi, Ella Carroll, Amy Jennings, Domhnall Roe, Olanrewaju Olaseinde, Anne McCarthy, Y. Wong, Niall OConnor, Cheryl Dalton, Abdullah Khajah, A. Ridha Adnan, Brian Counihan, James Trayer, Philip S. Stewart, Robert McCarthy, Angela Byrne, Edna Roche, Denise McDonald, Judith Meehan, Eleanor J. Molloy, MRI scoring systems in neonatal encephalopathy and neurodevelopmental outcomes: a systematic review, Journal of Perinatology, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
S.M. Feighan, Áine McNicholas, Alexandra P. Key, Anastasia Dimitropoulos, Edna Roche, Ciara J. Molloy, Louise Gallagher, Codesigning a Neurocognitive Assessment Protocol for Hyperphagia: Perspectives From Stakeholders in Prader"Willi Syndrome, Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 70, (1), 2025, p58 - 67, p58-67 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Ashley Leong, Suet Ching Chen, Malika Alimussina, Jillian Bryce, Minglu Chen, Antony Fu, Evelien Gevers, Charlotte Höybye, Marguerite Hughes, Violeta Iotova, Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin, Gerthe F. Kerkhof, Feihong Luo, Jennifer Miller, Ohn Nyunt, Edna Roche, M Guftar Shaikh, Theresa V. Strong, M. Tauber, Latife Salomão Tyszler, S. Faisal Ahmed, SAT-206 Development of a Minimum Dataset (MDS) for the Monitoring of Growth Hormone Therapy in Children with Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS) - A GloBE-Reg Initiative, Journal of the Endocrine Society, 9, (Supplement_1), 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
S.M. Feighan, Katie McArdle, Linda Lisanti, Edna Roche, Cathal Ormonde, Elizabeth A. Heron, Clare Kelly, Ciara J. Molloy, Louise Gallagher, Measuring shifts in attentional bias following satiety: A within-subject eye-tracking study in healthy-weight adults, Physiology & Behavior, 299, 2025, p114993 - 114993, p114993-114993 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Edna Roche, Turning the tide on gestational diabetes mellitus to protect social-emotional development, Pediatric Research, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
T. J. Claffey, Amelia Cullinan, James M. Downey, Isabel Haupfear, A. Kilbride, Elizabeth May, E. Murchan, K. Prendiville, Martin Sullivan, James Trayer, Philip S. Stewart, Aoife Branagan, Edna Roche, Judith Meehan, Eleanor J. Molloy, Long term endocrine issues in adults born prematurely: a systematic review, Frontiers in Pediatrics, 13, 2025, p1646976 - 1646976, p1646976-1646976 , Review Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Hoey, Hilary and Roche, Edna, Obesity a Triple Pandemic, the Trillion Dollar Disease: Prevention is Imperative, Global Pediatrics, 7, 2024, p100141-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

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Edna F Roche ("Senior"), "Optimising Care in Down Syndrome", Royal College of Physicians (RCPI) Masterclass Broadening Horizons in Down Syndrome, Royal College of Physicians Of Ireland (RCPI), Kildare St, 1st February , 2017, Royal College of Physicians (RCPI) , Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Edna F Roche ("Senior"), "Medical Management of Down Syndrome Health Surveillance Guidelines" , Annual Meeting of the Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, , Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Kildare Street, May 12th 2017, 2017, Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, , Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Edna Roche, Symposium on Adolescent Health, 29th Novrember 2017, In:Lost in Transition, 2017, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Tallaght Hospital, Meetings /Conferences Organised, PRESENTED
Edna F Roche ("Senior"), "The Irish Childhood Diabetes National Register (ICDNR) -the Current Picture of Type 1 Diabetes in children and Adolescents in Ireland" , Inaugural Meeting of the Irish Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Group, Athlone, 27th-28th May , 2016, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Edna F Roche ("Senior"), "Who's Feeding the Kids Online? Digital Food Marketing and Children in Ireland - the Doctor's Perspective" , "Who's Feeding the Kids Online? Digital Food Marketing and Children in Ireland - Irish Heart Foundation Seminar, he Lighthouse Cinema, Dublin, 15th June, 2016, Irish Heart Foundation, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Edna Roche, "PROMISE -Implications for clinical pathways in primary and secondary care" Respondant, Findings from the PROMISE programme and next steps for treatments of obesity in children and young peoplePaediatric Research in Obesity Multi-modal Intervention and Service Evaluation Programme (PROMISE) , University College London, Institute of Child Health London, 10th June, 2015, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Edna F Roche , "Assessment of Obese children and obesity co-morbidities using the OSCA guidelines", Progressing Obesity Management: Training Course in Management of Obesity , Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), London, 24th October, 2014, Edna Roche and Russell Viner, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Edna F Roche (, "Extreme obesity in childhood" , Faculty of Paediatrics Autumn Conference, Royal College of Physicians Of Ireland (RCPI), Kildare St, Friday October 10th , 2014, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Roche, Meet the Expert- Challenges in the Management of Extreme Obesity (2), ESPE 53rd Annual Meeting , Convention Centre Dublin, 20 September 2014, 2014, European society for Paediatric Endocrinology, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Edna Roche ("Senior"), Meet the Expert- Challenges in the Management of Extreme Obesity, ESPE 53rd Annual Meeting , Convention Centre Dublin, 18 September 2014, 2014, European society for Paediatric Endocrinology, Invited Talk, PRESENTED

  


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Award Date
The John Good Prize, The University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin 1990
The Sir Charles Harvey Award for outstanding performance in postgraduate management education, the Irish Management Institute 1990
The Provost's Award for Teaching Excellence, The University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin 2003
Healthcare Team of the Year Award 2016 (Large Hospital category) awarded to the Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes Service, NCH Tallaght, Irish Healthcare Awards 2017
Best Poster Prize at the 45th Annual Meeting of the British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Newcastle, UK. November 22nd-24th 2017. 2017
The Inaugural Jennings Medal awarded by the Irish Endocrine Society Awarded for the Best Paediatric Paper submitted to the Irish Endocrine Society National Meeting, October 11th 2019, Galway. 2019
FTCD Fellow of the University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin 25/4/2022