Dr Julie Latchem-Hastings is a Research Fellow, funded by Health and Care Research Wales and hosted at the Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University. Her current study 'FEAST' explores the role of food and feeding in long-term neurological care settings.   Alongside her current fellowship, Julie is currently working on study 'LEAP-MS' - Lifestyle, Exercise and Activity Package for people with Multiple Sclerosis - a three year mixed method intervention study funded by the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Julie's research and public engagement work focuses largely on under researched communities/populations - including people with a prolonged disorder of consciousness, younger adults (18-65) with neurological conditions living in long-term care and adults with hip dysplasia. 

Work with people with neurological conditions has featured heavily across her career.  Julie comes from a practice background as a physiotherapist.  She held multiple clinical and managerial roles in the NHS and Independent sector, managing multidisciplinary teams in neurological rehabilitation, long term care and general and old age medicine before leaving clinical practice to pursue a research career. 

Julie is the Deputy Director of the Coma and Disorders of Consciousness research centre, Cardiff University and alongside her research, runs an annual blended online course about prolonged disorders of consciousness to support student and qualified allied health professionals learn about this patient group and improve their communication with families.