Dr Roche is an Associate Professor in Physiology and Co-Director of the Centre for Pain Research at the University of Galway. She is the EFIC councillor for Ireland and immediate-past President of the Irish Pain Society.  Her research interests focus on enhancing understanding of the neurobiology and pathophysiology underlying pain, mood disorders, autism and their interactions. She has a particular interest sex differences and the role of the neuro-immune, endocannabinoid and opioid systems. Her research has resulted in over 80 research manuscripts, reviews and book chapters and has been presented at over 200 conferences. Her research is supported by EU, national and industry funding. Dr Roche has led and contributed to several international networking groups and educational programmes (PAINDIFF, PainNet, EU-SABV, ECNP ECR Workshops). She has been a member of scientific programme committees for several international conferences and editorial board member of Frontiers in Pain Research and Neuropharmacology.