Jessica Crossan

Senior Clinical Studies Officer

Biography

I have recently joined the network as a Senior Clinical Studies Officer. Prior to this role, my research nurse career begun in the Clinical Research Facility where I learnt the fundamental principles of clinical research. I have always had a passion for the speciality of Neurosciences as I obtained a degree in Neuroscience from the University of Dundee in 2012 before I started my nursing career. I moved from the CRF to the Emergency Medicine Research Group in Edinburgh to specialise on neurosurgery and stroke research. I spent my time recruiting patients with acute neurological illness to a variety of clinical studies in the emergency department and integrated stroke unit. My most recent role was in the Edinburgh Critical Care Research Group where I led on neuro-ICU studies and learnt how to successfully conduct research at a highly distressing time of life for patients and their families in the intensive care unit. Research and neurosciences have been a longstanding interest of mine as clinical trials will ultimately improve patient outcomes in the future.

Alongside this role, I am completing a MSc in Clinical Trials at the University of Edinburgh. I am in my final year of the programme, and I am applying the knowledge I have gained so far from further study by developing a hypothetical clinical trial protocol for a study in Dementia with Lewy Bodies. I am due to finish this in June 2024.

I am looking forward to developing my knowledge further within the network and being involved in the variety of trials on offer for patients living with neuroprogressive conditions in Lothian and Scotland.