Mary O’Brien is a Professor in the Evidence-based Practice Research Centre (EPRC). Her role encompasses being an active researcher combined with teaching research methods at undergraduate level as well as supervision of Masters level research dissertations and Post Graduate Research (PGR) students undertaking MRes and PhD. She has successfully supervised two P/T PhD students to completion (one as Director of Studies) and is currently supervising five full time Graduate Teaching Assistants undertaking PhD and two MRes students. She is a visiting lecturer at UCLan School of Medicine and Dentistry and an external examiner at the University of Lancaster. Mary has also externally examined PhDs in the UK and Australia. A qualified nurse, Mary trained at the Royal Liverpool Hospital. She undertook a BSc in Nursing Studies at UCLan followed by an MA in Health Research at Lancaster University. Following a nursing career which culminated in nine years as a Nurse Specialist for Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Mary joined Edge Hill University in 2003, initially as a Research Fellow, before becoming a Senior Lecturer in 2007, a Reader in 2012 and moving into her current Professorial role in 2015. She was awarded her PhD from Lancaster University in 2009 with a thesis entitled ‘Hopes, transitions and letting go: living with ALS/MND as documented in published and unpublished first-person illness narratives’. An experienced health researcher, Mary’s particular interests are end-of-life and palliative care research, including the needs of carers, focusing on non-malignant illness, particularly neurological conditions, including MND. Leading a team, and with NHS partners, she completed, on time and within budget, one of the first studies funded through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) stream in the Northwest exploring health, social and palliative care provision for people with MND. Mary is also a member of the team, based at Edge Hill University, awarded RfPB funding to ascertain the needs of informal carers looking after family members with cancer and advanced progressive illnesses in their last year of life. The study led to the development of the Carers’ Alert Thermometer (CAT) which was publicly launched in September 2014 and is currently being evaluated. Research income generated is approaching £700,000. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers, including publications in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Qualitative Health Research, Disability and Rehabilitation and Palliative Medicine. Mary is a member of the Editorial board of the British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing and is a peer-reviewer for journals including Journal of Advanced Nursing, Qualitative Health Research and the International Journal of Palliative Nursing amongst others. Mary has presented her work worldwide, including the USA, Japan and Australia as well as within the UK and Europe. Additionally, she is peer-reviewer for a number of NIHR research schemes, including the Health Technology Appraisal programme, Programme Grant and RfPB schemes and is a member of the UK MND Clinical Studies Group, a nationally convened group of subject experts responsible for overseeing and developing a portfolio of studies in motor neurone disease. Furthermore she is a panel member of the North West RfPB Regional Advisory Panel responsible for making corporate decisions on whether RfPB applications should be recommended for funding. Recently, Mary has been invited to join the Motor Neurone Disease Association Health Research Advisory Panel (HRAP) to advise the Director of Research and Trustees regarding research funding.