EMERGE RESEARCH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Cerebrovascular Research Team
- Lead Research Nurse
Anna has always been curious about how our behaviours and experiences can influence aspects of health and care, and has explored these through undergraduate degrees first in Psychology BSc at the University of Sussex (graduating 2012) and Adult & Mental Health Nursing BSc at Oxford Brookes University (graduating 2018). Since joining the NHS in 2012 she has worked in various roles across these two specialities of nursing, focusing on providing care in a personalised and holistic way.
Anna says "The Emergency Department is a brilliant environment to be a nurse - caring for patients at often their most vulnerable and working as part of a strong team with other professionals, families, and external services. Now working as part of the dedicated EMERGE team, I'm enjoying contributing to research studies and to high standards of patient care, both in the department and through wider applications of emergency medicine research."
Ashleigh moved from Northern Ireland to England to study Paediatric Nursing and qualified in March 2020. She knew she had a keen interest in Acute Paediatrics and moved to London to join the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit; this is where she came across research for the first time in a clinical setting.
Having spent a year on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit Ashleigh knew working within Emergency Medicine was an area she was keen to experience. Ashleigh then joined a central London Paediatric Emergency Department, however at the time didn't have clinical research in Paediatrics.
As she continued to have a curiosity about research, she joined the Genetics Team at the Evelina London Children's Hospital working with children with Achondroplasia. As much as she loved working there with the wonderful families and Genetics team, she missed working within the Emergency Department - this led her to apply for the Paediatric Research post within the EMERGE team and make a move from London to Edinburgh.
Ashleigh is excited to be a part of the EMERGE team and introducing Paediatric Clinical Research while working alongside the team within the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.
Job Titles:
- Trainee, Emergency Medicine, TERN Fellow 2022 - 23
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Nurse - Renal / Acute Medicine
Claire has been nursing for 18 years, the first half of her career was spent in orthopaedic trauma and vascular surgery in the old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. She says it was a challenging and an enormous learning curve to say the least!
In 2006 Claire travelled the world working as a nurse in Australia to fund her adventure, and then returned home to Scotland! From there she gained employment within the emergency department in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for around 9 years. During this time, Claire got married, had two children, and worked in community nursing for a short while.
Claire is new to research but is loving the challenges it brings, the vast amount there is yet to learn and being part of something that will have a positive influence on the delivery of patient care.
Job Titles:
- RRG Research Project Co - Ordinator
Job Titles:
- RRG Research Project Co - Ordinator
Job Titles:
- NIHR Associate PI ABC - Sepsis Co - I MIS - ACC
Job Titles:
- Trainee, Emergency Medicine, TERN Fellow 2019 - 20
Job Titles:
- Consultant in Emergency Medicine, EMERGE Research Impact Lead
Curious? If you'd like to know more about our work then please get in touch.
Job Titles:
- Emergency Medicine Consultant, TERN Fellow 2018 - 19
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Scottish Ambulance Service Research
- Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Royal Infirmary
- Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh & Honorary Consultant in Emergency Medicine
Gareth Clegg is a Senior Clinical Lecturer and Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. Lead for the Resuscitation Research Group at the University of Edinburgh and co-founder of the Emergency Medicine Research Group.
Gareth trained in Emergency Medicine in South East Scotland and completed his PhD in acute lung injury and epithelial repair at the Centre for Inflammation Research in the Queen's Medical Research Institute in Edinburgh. His group collaborate widely in order to tackle the system constraints determining the success of prehospital resuscitation.
Job Titles:
- NIHR Associate PI ABC - Sepsis CI MIS - ACC
Jack is an ACCS (Anaesthesia) Trainee in the South East Scotland deanery. After some exposure to research during medical school and foundation programme, he undertook a year as a clinical research fellow in Imperial College London in the respiratory department. The first hand exposure to a range of projects here convinced him that research was for him.
His first training post as part of ACCS was in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh's Emergency Department in 2020, and he was naturally drawn to the work of the EMERGE team. Starting off shadowing the research team for a week, this progressed to recruiting to CRN portfolio studies, and now to designing and developing research projects in their own right under the guidance of the experienced EMERGE nurses, administrators and doctors.
He is the Chief Investigator for the MIS-ABC Sepsis study, a mechanistic sub-study linked to the ABC Sepsis trial, which hopes to investigate the inflammatory changes which might explain how fluid resuscitation affects the septic patient. He is a co-applicant on the successful RCEM grant for this work, and works closely with Dr Andrew Ferguson (Co-Investigator and Lead Applicant) to deliver it across a number of different sites in England and Scotland. He is also an associate-PI for the ABC Sepsis trial for the St Johns Hospital site. Whilst clinical research is his main focus at present, he is also leading two data-driven projects, one examining the role of procalcitonin in COVID-19, and the other assessing the potential for routine data to be incorporated into future sepsis trials. In November 2021 he was awarded the joint RCoA/NIHR prize for anaesthetists in training for his work on CRN portfolio studies, including MIS-ABC Sepsis.
Job Titles:
- Consultant Paediatrican in Emergency Medicine
Jen, a Glaswegian at heart, crossed the east-west divide in 1992 to study Medicine at Edinburgh University. Having graduated from here she pursued a career in Orthopaedics before seeing the light and converting to Emergency Medicine. She joined the South-East Scotland Emergency Medicine team in 2004 and developed her interest in Paediatric Emergency Medicine.
Jen commenced her post as a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in March 2010. She also does sessions at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Jen is keen to continue to develop paediatric research at the RHSC and to "Bridge the Gap" in Adolescent Emergency Medicine.
Curious? If you'd like to know more about our work then please get in touch.
Job Titles:
- Cardiology Research Fellow
Curious? If you'd like to know more about our work then please get in touch.
Job Titles:
- Trainee, Emergency Medicine, TERN Fellow 2020 - 21
Job Titles:
- Trainee, Emergency Medicine, TERN Fellow 2021 - 22
Job Titles:
- Trainee, Emergency Medicine, TERN Fellow 2021 - 22
Rory graduated from Sheffield University in 2013 with a degree in medicine; on his way to doing so he completed an intercalated BMedSci in laboratory research with a project aimed at understanding the clinical significance of azathioprine metabolites in autommune hepatitis.
After moving to Edinburgh to begin his career as a doctor, he came to realise that his clinical interests were in emergency medicine. After completing foundation training in South East Scotland, working in a number of post-foundation clinical jobs and volunteering for a medical NGO in Zambia, he took up a post in the emergency medicine specialty training program in 2018.
It was during the beginning of his first year of training that he had his first taste of working with the EMERGE team through the EMERGE taster week offered to South East Scotland emergency medicine trainees, and this opened his eyes to the world of clinical, and emergency medicine research.
In August 2021, he wasappointed as the EMERGE TERN fellow for 2021-2022. Rory feels the learning curve has been steep but he is loving being an active member of the EMERGE team. He is also currently the principal investigator for the SHED study and the SEED-UK study.
Away from the hospital, Rory likes to spend time riding his bicycle, playing football, watching live music and entertaining his two (very lively) kids!
Job Titles:
- Consultant in Emergency Medicine
Curious? If you'd like to know more about our work then please get in touch.
Job Titles:
- Scottish Senior Clinical Fellow and Consultant Neurologist
Curious? If you'd like to know more about our work then please get in touch.
Ellise studied at Nottingham Trent University, where she graduated with a FdSc in Veterinary Nursing, qualifying as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2018. Following this, Ellise joined a busy referral centre in Essex as a multidisciplinary veterinary nurse and then went on to join the Internal Medicine department.
Since leaving veterinary nursing in 2020 to explore non-clinical routes, Ellise has worked in an administrative service role in NHS Lothian at the Gynaecology department, gaining a foundation of knowledge of the healthcare service. Most recently, she worked at an animal college providing pastoral support to students on the Level 3 Diploma Veterinary Nursing programme.
Ellise says she is very excited to be joining EMERGE and to work with such a knowledgeable and inspiring team. She looks forward to supporting the team and the research projects taking place.
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Nurse - Renal / Acute Medicine
Emily started her Nursing career working in the Renal unit here at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. She remarks "It has never been a dull day working as a Renal nurse, I have met so many remarkable individuals living with kidney disease and I am always humbled by how much resilience, wisdom and charisma people show during particularly difficult periods of their lives. It has always felt such an honour to help care for this patient group".
Emily also comments on how much she has always admired and learnt from her colleagues in the renal unit, all of whom have the patient at the heart of their work. She began to develop an interest in research after hearing about studies her medical colleagues were carrying out. Emily was really excited about the thought of improving care and outcomes for this patient group and so was delighted when the role of the Renal Research Nurse was created.
Emily adds that "Joining a team of researchers dedicated to improving healthcare has been an amazing experience, It has been inspiring to see how the EMERGE team has pioneered healthcare within the emergency department. I am very grateful for all the support and expertise that the EMERGE team have offered me in developing the Renal branch of the team"
With a keen interest in human behaviour Fiona left home aged 17 to study Psychology in Glasgow.
She lapped up the student life and 4 years on graduated with a 2.1 honours degree, but it wasn't long before she gave in to the niggle that was there from the start- She wanted to be a nurse.
Fast forward three years and Fiona embarked on her first nursing post in a general medical ward in 2010. Two years flew by as she consolidated her training and learned valuable lessons, laying the foundations for a career in emergency nursing- an area where a background of psychology goes a long way!
With four years of learning from the best in Edinburgh emergency medicine and realising the true meaning of teamwork, Fiona was ready to make a change (for both herself and her patients) and tap back into the curiosity and positivity that carried her through her academic years at university.
Through some informal chats with the EMERGE team and a shadow day, Fiona had officially caught the research bug and made it her goal to join the team. Luck was on her side and she was welcomed into the group a few months later.
Fiona is so excited to be part of an enthusiastic and motivated team, united in their ultimate goal of improving the lives of patients. What could be more rewarding than that?
Out of work her energy is dedicated to her family. Fiona says her two little girls keep her on her toes and are her inspiration for improving the future health of our public.
Job Titles:
- Consultant in Acute Medicine & Toxicology
- Professor
Job Titles:
- RRG Research Project Co - Ordinator
Julia joined the Emergency Department (ED) in 2008, having started off her nursing career at the Breast unit at the Western General Hospital. Working in the ED was a dream come true; each day brought opportunities to learn something new. It was an exciting and hectic place to work, staffed by highly energetic and spirited individuals. Through the laughs and, at times, the tears, she gained a wealth of knowledge and life-saving skills, and it was with mixed feelings that she embarked upon the next stage of her career, moving to the EMERGE team in 2012.
Emergency research nursing promised a change of scene and a new focus on the academic side of medical care. However, having accepted the job, she decided she had better brush up on her research skills! She duly enrolled on a course in Clinical Research at University, and graduated with a BSc in 2013. In order to retain a balance between the science and the practice, she also completed the Clinical Decision Making module a year later a year later, which she passed with merit.
After settling in to the EMERGE team, working across a number of studies and completing a heart failure audit, Julia became lead co-ordinator for LAVAS and CVLA. After completion of these studies she was asked to present the findings at the Royal College of Nursing International Conference of Research in Nottingham in April 2015. Currently, Julia is co-ordinating a phase one Randomised Open Label Exploratory, Safety and Tolerability Clinical Trial looking at a new drug (Calmangafodipir) in combination with Acetylcysteine to see if using these two drugs together is safe and if it is better at preventing damage to the liver than using Acetylcysteine only. For more information, see the POP study on our projects page.
Out of work, she's on a maniacal mission to become the Bionic Woman, so far, no cigar.
Job Titles:
- ECTU Trial Manager - ABC Sepsis
Lisa joined EMERGE in June 2015 and feels so lucky to be a part of such a motivated and dynamic team. She has a great interest in resuscitation, development and training of staff and ultimately improving patient care.
Lisa graduated from King's College, London and specialised in theatre recovery and critical care. During this time she was drawn towards education and training and moved to teach clinical and resuscitation skills to undergraduate medical students in the University of Edinburgh. She expanded her education and training role as a Teaching Fellow involved with the educational development of Consultants and Trainee's throughout South East Scotland. Following her Masters, she is pleased to be an invited lecturer and dissertation supervisor to the MSc Clinical Education programme.
Lisa is now excited to be working on the CHSS Streaming video to augment decision support for the Scottish Ambulance Service treating OHCA and COPD in Edinburgh, as well as supporting the ever growing volume of research emerging from the RRG!
Out with working hours, she has a great interest in child protection and care of children and families in crisis and in need.
Malgorzata, known to the team as Gosia, was born in Poland and studied at Jagiellonian University in Krakow where she graduated with BSc in Ratownictwo Medyczne (Paramedic Studies/Emergency Paramedic Medicine) earning the title of Paramedic. She has always been interested in the management of cases related to mental health - from out-of-hospital to inpatient settings - which made her join CAMHS Tier 4. However, after working there for 16 months her heart longed to be back in the Emergency Medicine field.
In the mean-time, while still working at the inpatient unit, the indie game sector piqued Gosia's interest. She joined two independent studios working as a public relations officer and marketing manager as well as the personal assistant to the main developer of one of them, where she gained valuable administrative experience.
Always keen on finding ways to improve herself and to make a difference, she happily joined the EMERGE team as a Research Administrator not only to support her new colleagues with everyday tasks but also to learn more about research itself and ways to improve the current care.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Clinical Toxicology
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Cardiology
- Professor
Nicola has had a circuitous journey into the role of Research Nurse with EMERGE. An initial interest in research and global inequalities was sparked whilst studying Geography at the University of Glasgow. This led to her undertaking a Masters of Research degree in Human Geography in 2011. Upon graduating Nicola has worked in various capacities in the field of International Development. It was working on a health project in rural Uganda that provided the catalyst for Nicola seeking a more ‘hands on' role and better understanding of tropical diseases. Nicola has subsequently retrained as nurse at the University of Southampton and completed a Diploma in Tropical Nursing in 2018.
After nearly 3 years of working in acute medicine at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Nicola joined the Emergency Department in Edinburgh. Finding herself increasingly thinking about how patient care might be improved past the day to day, Nicola decided to undertake a research project for her Masters in Nursing. Working in the Royal Infirmary ED, it wasn't long before Nicola became aware of EMERGE and was immediately captivated. Nicola is very excited to join this dynamic team and have the opportunity to contribute to pragmatic, pioneering research that improves patient care.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Trials Assistant
Rachel joined EMERGE in 2012 on a one day a week contract but after catching the research bug managed to convince the team to take her on full time at the beginning of 2015.
Her clinical background is in emergency nursing following a brief stint in orthopaedics. She has worked across a variety of studies building up her research experience and has also spent time working with the Resuscitation Research Group.
Rachel enjoys the chaotic yet exciting world of emergency medicine and the challenges and opportunities that a research role brings and loves working with the EMERGE team.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Clinical Neurology, University of Edinburgh Honorary Consultant Neurologist, NHS Lothian
Job Titles:
- Member of the Cerebrovascular Research Team
- Senior Research Nurse