Researcher Spotlight: Carys Davies

22 April 2026

What did your research look at, and what were your findings?

The trauma research team shared nutritional data with me that had been collected as part of an observational study looking at organ failure in major trauma patients across the four trauma centres in London.

We looked at the nutrition targets calculated by the dietitians, and whether delivery equalled these targets. Energy delivery was about 74% of what was prescribed, and protein was even less, at 59%.

This was mostly due to fasting and feed tolerance. All trauma patients are fed through a tube as they're sedated and on ventilators. Before procedures such as scans and surgery, their feed is turned off to reduce the risk of aspiration. Alongside this, critically ill patients, especially those with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), often don't tolerate the amount of nutrition they get.

We found that men with a TBI had a higher risk of poor nutrition delivery in comparison to everyone else in the cohort. We also found that those who started enteral nutrition (nutrition via a tube directly into the gastrointestinal tract) within 48 hours of admission were better protected against poor nutrition. The data also suggested that poor nutrition delivery may be related to more days on the ventilator and longer hospital stays.

What did you enjoy most about doing the pre-doctoral fellowship?

The feeling of learning again was amazing. When I started the fellowship, I'd been working clinically for around eight years, and I felt like I hadn’t developed a new skill in a long time.

I enjoyed having flexibility in my schedule, and I could structure my work based on my productivity levels throughout the day. I also met loads of people, and the opportunities available to me grew more quickly than I could have imagined.

Do you have any words of encouragement for someone interested in doing a research fellowship?

For anyone considering the fellowship, go for it; it’s a brilliant opportunity!

In clinical roles, quality improvement projects are often undertaken alongside demanding patient care. This fellowship provides the space and support to complete a project from design to dissemination. It also offers formal training in key methodologies, meaningful patient involvement, and skills such as communication and networking.

Interested in pursuing a research fellowship with us, or want to learn more? Visit our dedicated research page.