Nicola Gaskins

Nicola currently works with the Implementation and Capacity building Team (IMPaCT) within the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (NIHR ARC NWC). She supports collaborative research projects across the ARC NWC with member organisations and contributes to the programme of implementation research. Nicola’s role includes undertaking systematic literature reviews, supporting ethics applications, collecting and analysing data (e.g. survey questionnaires, interviews), writing detailed reports and/or papers for peer-review publication, and preparing research proposals/grant applications for external funding.

From 2018-2019, following a successful grant application to the Physiotherapy Research Foundation, Nicola was principal investigator for a project on aerobic exercise after stroke. This focused on bridging the gap between evidence and practice to implement aerobic exercise after stroke. She developed a collaboration with the University of York, and they have co-produced publications. This is also the subject of her PhD. Prior to this, Nicola worked as Research Assistant in Clinical/Medical Devices in the Allied Health Professions unit as part of a GBP 2.4 million European Regional Development Fund project to deliver business support to Small and Medium Enterprises within Lancashire. As part of a team, she delivered advice and appropriate testing to support the design and development of new and existing clinical and medical products with local businesses. Nicola first joined the University in 2015 as Research Assistant in Public Health for Allied Health Professions, supporting a collaborative team within the University in the development, delivery and evaluation of training for the North West Allied Health Professional Public Health workforce development programme. Nicola has experience in qualitative research including systematic literature reviewing, referencing manager software (EndNote), qualitative data analysis software (NVIVO), data extraction and synthesis, obtaining ethical approval and academic writing. She has a number of publications. As a clinician, Nicola has worked in a variety of acute clinical settings including medicine, cardiology, neurosurgery and acute care of the elderly within the North West of England. She also has experience as a private practitioner treating clients with neurological impairments and mobility problems in the community.