Deirdre joined the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group (CIDG) in November 2011 as an Associate Editor. She progressed to Assistant Managing Editor, and then Managing Editor in October 2017.
At the CIDG editorial base, she supports the timely and efficient publication of high-priority and high-impact Cochrane systematic reviews. These reviews focus on the effects of healthcare interventions for infectious diseases, particularly malaria, tuberculosis, diarrhoea, neglected tropical diseases, and HIV. She manages the editorial process from title assessment to final publication, and contributes to the CIDG’s strategic development.
Prior to joining the CIDG, Deirdre studied Natural Sciences (specialising in Biochemistry) at Trinity College Dublin. At LSTM she completed the MSc in ‘Biology and Control of Parasites and Disease Vectors’, and subsequently a PhD titled ‘A Functional Genomic Approach to Understanding Tsetse-Trypanosome Interactions’.
As a postdoctoral research assistant with the LSTM Vector Group, she was involved in several laboratory-based projects investigating the immune system of the tsetse fly vector and undertook some field-based research in Kenya.
She has completed an editorial and proofreading course at the London School of Publishing, and undertaken volunteer work with Imperial College Press.
Other relevant expertise, professional memberships
• COPE member
• Accredited Cochrane copy editor
• Cochrane Copy Edit Support team member