Nicola Dames

CEO / Patient Researcher, Vanilla Blush Medical Ltd / Exeter University

Nicola Dames is a patient researcher, published first author, peer reviewer for Colorectal Disease, and patient liaison representative for ACPGBI and ASGBI. She is also a nurse, patient, and business owner with over a decade of experience supporting individuals living with a stoma and abdominal wall conditions.

Following her own surgical journey, she established a specialist service providing garment support and patient-centred consultations to individuals across the UK, working closely with NHS stoma care teams. Her work focuses on combining clinical knowledge with lived experience to improve patient confidence, comfort, and access to support. Nicola has a particular interest in patient-led research and service innovation, aiming to develop practical, accessible models of care that reflect the real-world needs of patients.

She holds honorary researcher access with the University of Exeter and works with clinicians, nurses, and academics to ensure patient priorities remain at the forefront of research design and delivery. Drawing on lived experience of inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal surgery, her research focuses on patient experience, perioperative care, and identifying overlooked opportunities to improve surgical outcomes through patient-led research.

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