Biography

Dr. Lynch is a paediatric neurologist and a graduate of UCC. She has a special interest in neonatal neurology. She has trained in Temple Street University Hospital, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, and undertook a two year Fellowship in paediatric neurology in BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. Her interest in neonatal neurology developed during her Fellowship in Vancouver. She is particularly interested in the detection and treatment of neonatal seizures. Dr. Lynch also holds a Masters in Medical Law and Ethics from Glasgow University. In her thesis she examined issues surrounding the withdrawal of intensive care from critically ill neonates.

On her return to Ireland, Dr. Lynch worked in the neurology department of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin. During this time, she established contact with the Neonatal Brain Research Group in CUMH, and developed a research proposal. She was awarded the 2010/2011 Denis O'Sullivan Fellowship by UCC. Dr. Lynch’s study investigates the relationship between seizure burden in neonatal encephalopathy, and changes on MRI and MR Spectroscopy. The study investigates whether seizures are symptomatic of an underlying injury, or whether they, in themselves, cause ongoing injury to the developing brain. CUMH is uniquely placed to facilitate such a study, given the on-site availability of continuous neonatal EEG monitoring, MRI and MRS. In the longer term, the findings of this study may help guide clinicians in the management of neonatal encephalopathy.

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