Meet the neoGASTRIC trial team
Published on Thursday, 15 June 2023
The neoGASTRIC Trial aims to determine whether avoiding the routine measurement of gastric residual volumes in preterm babies reduces the time taken for a baby to reach full enteral feeds without increasing harm.
Core NPEU CTU Trials team
The core trials team provides senior leadership, supporting staff across all aspects of the trials portfolio. They also work closely with other specialists within the NPEU, ensuring that all trials under the remit of the NPEU CTU are of the highest quality and clinical relevance.
Visit the CTU Team page for more information.
NeoGASTRIC Trial management team
Elizabeth Nuthall
UK Trial Manager
I am a senior trial manager at NPEU working on the neoGASTRIC trial. I am primarily responsible for organizing and supervising study. I have worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 15 years, in a variety of roles including project and staff management. For the last 12 years, I have worked as Trial and Operational Manager at the University of Oxford, as well as in the Oxford Vaccine Group and Department of Psychiatry.
What was your favourite subject in school
A bit unusual but I loved Maths
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
People think I am an extrovert but I am actually an introverted extrovert.
What's your most-used productivity hack?
I have one calendar for everything and schedule everything on there.
Amy Rodriquez
AU Trial Manager
I am the Australian Clinical Trial coordinator for neoGASTRIC. I am primarily responsible for organizing and supervising the study in the Australian centres. I have worked as a Registered Nurse in neonatal intensive care for the last 10 years, after having worked as an Associate Unit Manager for the last 4.5 years I decided it was time for a change and have moved across to research and the trial coordinator position.
What do you like to do during your free time?
I don't have a lot of free time at the moment. Work keeps me busy as does my two children, Ella is 6 and Olivia is 4 and because I didn't already have enough on my plate, I decided it would be a good idea to go back to university and start my Doctorate of Nursing. Life can be a little bit hectic at times but when I do get some free time I love to get lost in a good book.
What led you to this career?
My brother Ben has Down syndrome, because of him I have always been involved in a caring role in my life and as I got older, I thought nursing would be a good way to continue this. I did 12 months in adult nursing and hated it and when a job became available in neonatal intensive care, I jumped on it and have never looked back since. Looking after the smallest and sickest babies is a true privilege and now moving into research and being a part of the team to champion change for these babies is truly humbling.
What's the best advice you were ever given?
Treat others the way you would like to be treated. This was a statement I was brought up with and it has served me well throughout my life. Kindness is free and can make or break someone's day.
Michaela Graham-Travis
Clinical Trials Administrator
I am primarily working on the neoGASTRIC trial and I will be managing the administrative aspects of the study. In my previous role, part of my responsibilities included managing a large multicentre EU funded trial. I have an administrative and managerial background of working mostly in higher education (Uof Oxford, Uof Glasgow, LSHTM). I have also had roles within the NHS (NHSI now merged with NHSE) and the NIHR.
What's the most exciting part of your job?
The fast pace nature of the work and that I feel like I learn something new every day.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I have been forced to be a morning person due to having young children, but my default is definitely night owl.
Are you a coffee or tea person?
I cannot go a day without green tea or coffee, but you won't catch me drinking builders tea (sorry).
Zoe Daskalopoulou
Trial Data Co-ordinator/Administrative Assistant
I am primarily working on the neoGASTRIC trial and will be providing data management and administrative support. During my time at Oxford University, I previously coordinated the SINEPOST study, while also working on multiple other studies including UKOSS, CSOR and POSA. I have also worked IVF over multiple summers as an intern and as a research assistant for a while, at a private fertility clinic.
What was your first paying job?
In the UK, my first paid job would have to be when I worked the till (mostly) at a Fish & Chips shop in Aberystwyth, Wales.
Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies?
I would say I am artistically inclined in general, but dancing is the most predominant hobby of mine. Hidden hobby however, I would say embroidery or knitting.
Can you speak more than one language?
I am bilingual (Greek and English) and I speak some German too.
