Carla Girling

BSc (hons), MSc

School of Medicine and Population Health

Trial Manager

Research Associate

Carla Girling
Profile picture of Carla Girling
c.girling@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 4027
Barber House

Full contact details

Carla Girling
School of Medicine and Population Health
Barber House
Sheffield
S10 2HQ
Profile

My academic interest is the implementation of evidence-based medicine into clinical practice. I am currently managing the DENIM Trial (Delivering Effective Non-Invasive ventilation in MND) (NIHR158715), a hybrid type 3 implementation trial, with a cluster randomised, stepped wedged design. DENIM’s implementation strategy is based on Normalisation Process Theory and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. The implementation aims to support home ventilation teams to deliver a new intensive non-invasive ventilation (NIV) service, which includes remote monitoring. DENIM aims to understand whether the implementation strategy can increase the number of hours people with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) use their NIV. DENIM opened to recruitment in May 2025, in 12 UK NHS sites that deliver home ventilation services for people with MND. Results are expected in January 2028. 

I also hold an NIHR pre-doctoral fellowship (NIHR500477) to further develop my skills in the implementation of evidence into practice. 

Previously, I managed the ORION trial (NIHR131861), a pragmatic multicentre randomisation-controlled trial to assess whether radiofrequency ablation is at least as good as existing methods for the surgical treatment of haemorrhoids. 


I also managed a multi-centre quality improvement and implementation study, funded by NHS England (PSS3 and IM2 CQUIN funding), to transform the delivery of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) care in the UK. This included a cohort Multiple Randomised Controlled Trial (or 'Trials within Cohorts') platform, with a focus on behaviour change interventions. As part of the implementation of CFHealthHub into CF care, I helped design and delivered quality improvement workshops to NHS staff across 18 NHS Trusts. As part of CFHealthHub we developed two national indicators for Cystic Fibrosis (IND293 and IND294).

Prior to joining CTRU, I was a Research Assistant for Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. During this time, I conducted National Institute of Health Research Portfolio projects across a range of adult mental health conditions.
 

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Psychology
MSc Psychological Research Methods

Research interests

Implementation of evidence based practices in healthcare, Implementation Science, clinical trial design 

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Hoo ZH, Totton N, Waterhouse S, Lewis J, Girling C, Bradburn M, Arden MA, Whelan P, Ainsworth J, Dawson S , Millward S et al (2021) . Chest, 160(6), 2061-2065.
  • Dawson S, Cowap L, Clark-Carter D & Girling C-J (2020) . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
  • Levita L, Salas Duhne PG, Girling C & Waller G (2016) . Behaviour Research and Therapy, 77, 157-161.

Conference proceedings

  • Girling C, Hind D, Arden MA & Wildman MJ (2019) Developing an implementation strategy for the use of objective adherence data in routine clinical practice: a case study in cystic fibrosis clinics. IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE, Vol. 14 (pp 4-5)

All publications

Journal articles

  • Girling C, Davids I, Totton N, Arden MA, Hind D & Wildman MJ (2025) . Learning Health Systems, 9(2).
  • Dawson S, Girling C-J, Cowap L & Clark-Carter D (2023) . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023(3).
  • Girling C, Lee MJ, Vimalchandran D, Jayne DJ, Stancliffe S, Wailoo A, Bradburn M, Hind D, Bursnall M, Robinson LK & Brown SR (2023) . Techniques in Coloproctology, 27(2), 117-124.
  • Bevan A, Hoo ZH, Totton N, Girling C, Davids IR, Whelan P, Antrobus S, Ainsworth J, Buchan I, Anderson A , Bourke S et al (2022) . Journal of Cystic Fibrosis.
  • Brown SR, Girling C, Thapa Magar H, Chaudry A, Bhatti B, Sayers AE & Hind D (2022) . Colorectal Disease, 24(6), 764-772.
  • Girling C, Packham A, Robinson L, Arden MA, Hind D & Wildman MJ (2022) . Implementation Science Communications, 3(1).
  • Bevan A, Hoo ZH, Totton N, Girling C, Davids IR, Whelan P, Antrobus S, Ainsworth J, Buchan I, Anderson A , Bourke S et al (2022) . Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 21(2), 323-331.
  • Totton N, Bradburn M, Hoo ZH, Lewis J, Hind D, Girling C, Shepherd E, Nightingale J, Daniels T, Dewar J , Dawson S et al (2021) . Health Science Reports, 4(4).
  • Hoo ZH, Totton N, Waterhouse S, Lewis J, Girling C, Bradburn M, Arden MA, Whelan P, Ainsworth J, Dawson S , Millward S et al (2021) . Chest, 160(6), 2061-2065.
  • Dawson S, Cowap L, Clark-Carter D & Girling C-J (2020) . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
  • Carolan C, Lowther M, Clarke C, Waterhouse S, Girling C, Strowbridge K, Harrison S, Edenborough F, Rachel C & Wildman M (2019) . Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 18, S52-S52.
  • Clarke C, Carolan C, Lowther M, Waterhouse S, Strowbridge K, Harrison S, Girling C, Edenborough F, Curley R & Wildman M (2019) . Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 18, S179-S179.
  • Carolan C, Clarke C, Lowther M, Girling C, Harrison S, Edenborough F, Curley R & Wildman M (2019) . Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 18, S179-S180.
  • Levita L, Salas Duhne PG, Girling C & Waller G (2016) . Behaviour Research and Therapy, 77, 157-161.

Conference proceedings

  • Bevan A, Dawson S, Hall J, Davids I, Girling C, Cross E & Wildman M (2022) . ‘Training Day’ – Learning from CF patients (pp A116.1-A116)
  • Girling C, Hind D, Arden MA & Wildman MJ (2019) Developing an implementation strategy for the use of objective adherence data in routine clinical practice: a case study in cystic fibrosis clinics. IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE, Vol. 14 (pp 4-5)
  • Girling C, Hind D, Arden MA & Wildman MJ (2019) Developing an implementation strategy for the use of objective adherence data in routine clinical practice: a case study in cystic fibrosis clinics. IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE, Vol. 14

Posters

  • Hoo ZH, Totton N, Waterhouse S, Hind D, Girling C, Bradburn M, Shepherd E, Nightingale JA, Daniels TV, Dewar J , Saini G et al (2019) ePS5.05 Understanding objective adherence to preventative inhaled therapies at a centre level for quality improvement - a CFHealthHub (CFHH) improvement collaborative study.
Research group

Clinical Trials Research Unit

Grants

NIHR500477
CQUIN NHS England PPS3 and IM2
PIER

Teaching interests

I am involved in various teaching activities within the faculty, including:

  • HAR6030 Introduction to Research Methods
  • MBChB 2, SSC Research Attachment, Undergraduate Medical Students
  • Personal tutor to masters level students
  • HAR 679 Masters dissertation module tutor and dissertation supervisor
Teaching activities

I am involved in various teaching activities within the faculty, including:

SMP492 Leading and Managing Health Services
SMP4105 Randomised Controlled Trials 

HAR6030 Introduction to Research Methods
MBChB 2, SSC Research Attachment, Undergraduate Medical Students
Personal tutor to masters level students
HAR 679 Masters dissertation module tutor and dissertation supervisor

Professional activities and memberships

Local Organising Committee 2026, UK Society for Behavioural Medicine