Gillian Gatiss

Who are you and what do you do? I am a clinical dietitian working with patients with liver disease, with a focus on nutritional assessment and treatment pre-liver transplantation. 

How did you get involved in research and what research are you doing? In 2013 I completed the HEE/NIHR Funded Masters in Clinical Research at the University of Hertfordshire.  In 2015 a BRC/ACT NMAHP Research Training Fellowship allowed me the time to work on a HEE/NIHR ICA Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship application. I’m delighted to say that this was successful and I have now commenced my research, which aims to help people with liver cirrhosis become better nourished by individualising the nutritional treatment they receive.

How do you combine your clinical work with your research work? I continue to work as a dietitian in the liver transplant waiting list clinic. I’m not currently working on the wards whilst undertaking my Research Fellowship.

What advice would you give to someone who was thinking of carrying out their own research study? Two things, don’t underestimate the amount of time it takes to develop research funding applications and get patient and public involvement in your research at the design stage.