Senior / Clinical Research Fellow
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities
ORGANISATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
This post is for 40 hours per week to provide medical support to the Experimental Cancer Medicine Team by primarily acting as sub-investigator on early phase clinical trials.
The role has the following accountabilities:
• Experimental Cancer Medicine Team Clinicians (Krebs, Cook, Thistlethwaite, Carter, Graham)
• Experimental Cancer Medicine Team Head of Research Operations (Rees)
The interactions for this role include (but not limited to) the following:
Experimental Cancer Medicine Team Clinicians, Clinical Fellows, Specialty Doctor, Clinical Trial Pharmacists, Research Nurses, Healthcare Assistants, Clinical Trial Coordinators, Data Managers, Medical Secretaries, Clinical Trials Clerk, Translational Trial Facilitators, Investigator Led study team, students.
Role Purpose
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest Cancer Centre's in Europe covering a large population in North West England and seeing more than 14,000 new patients each year. The hospital is a designated teaching hospital of the University of Manchester and is the focal point of the Regional Cancer Network. It is also a CRUK designated major cancer research centre and combined with the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute and the University of Manchester comprises the Manchester Cancer Research Centre.
The Experimental Cancer Medicine Team is specifically designed to facilitate early phase research delivering early phase clinic trials. Facilities include inpatient beds, outpatient suites, trials pharmacy, laboratory and an administrative floor with short-term archiving, seminar room and monitoring rooms for external trials monitors. Clinical research and service work is closely integrated with laboratory research. There are close links with the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute which provide GCLP compliant laboratories. This together with the world class Biobank have strengthened and complemented this clinical development.
The remit of the Experimental Cancer Medicine Team is to undertake cutting edge research in developing new therapeutics and conducting translational research in cancer patients. Phase I trials are an important first step in the drug development process and are not only designed to test the safety & tolerability of novel agents but interrogate new drug formulations, combinations, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
The post holder will work as part of the Experimental Cancer Medicine Team, providing medical support to the consultants by primarily acting as sub-investigator on a large portfolio of clinical trials. The post holder, with consultant oversight, will be responsible for seeing new referrals, follow-ups and for managing the patient throughout all aspects of their trial experience. ECMT has a well-established and regular molecular tumour board meeting supporting both local and national studies. The post holder will take an active in these meetings gaining valuable experience in using these data to identify and define suitable trial options for patients. The post holder will have the opportunity to be involved in audit, writing papers and reviews and there is the potential to present research work at local, national, or international meetings. The post holder will join a highly motivated and empowered workforce to increase research capacity and deliver innovative early phase research in compliance with Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) and Trust policy.
This is a 10 session non-training post (salary scale dependent on experience) funded through The Christie NHS Foundation Trust for an initial period of 1 year. As a Clinical Fellow you will have at least completed FY2 training. The Senior Clinical fellow role is suitable for individuals towards the end of, or having completed, their specialist oncology training who wish to gain further experience in experimental medicine and Phase I trials, including first-in-human trials, clinical pharmacology trials and translational research. The post holder will work with the experimental medicine consultants Dr Natalie Cook, Prof. Fiona Thistlethwaite, Dr Louise Carter, Dr Matt Krebs, and Dr Donna Graham, research nurses, Clinical Trials Coordinators, Translational Research Technician, secretarial support, as well as working alongside rotating clinical fellows and specialty trainees. The team is supported by medical and clinical oncology colleagues in all major tumour types.
The position requires an ability to understand and deliver clinical research, liaising across a range of clinical, academic and administrative staff throughout the Trust and with external organisations (pharmaceutical and biotech industry partners, academic institutions and other hospitals).
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The medical establishment based at The Christie provides 5 Consultant Medical Oncologists, and 3+ Senior/Clinical Fellows within the ECM team.
Continuing Professional Development
The Trust supports the requirements for continuing professional development (CPD) as laid down by the GMC and surgical colleges and is committed to providing time and financial support for these activities.
Role Planning
• ROLE: The successful candidate will be recruited as a Clinical Fellow/Senior Clinical Fellow in the Experimental Cancer Medicine Team.
• RESEARCH: A diverse range of clinical research trials are in progress and, following training, the post holder will be expected to participate in these studies as a sub-investigator. These include phase I trials of small molecule inhibitors, next-generation chemotherapy trials, combination / multi-modality Phase I trials, molecular characterisation / translational studies.
The post holder will be involved in managing all aspects of trial patients, through new patient consultation, consent and screening patients and reviewing patients at follow-up appointments. Primarily, patients are seen in the outpatient setting but with some inpatient cover. The appointee is required to attend 4-5 trial outpatient clinics per week (see indicative timetable).
The post holder will be expected to attend Safety Review Committee meetings (usually remotely) to discuss trial patients. This will involve close liaison with the trial Principal Investigators, referring consultant body across the Trust and other members of the team. In addition, the post-holder will interface with external stakeholders such as CROs and pharmaceutical sponsors.
The post-holder will be expected to attend monthly molecular tumour board meetings to discuss trial patients and to agree opportunities for patients to enroll in early phase trials.
• PROTOCOLS: The post holder will be expected to undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of their patients. The appointee will be encouraged to harness opportunities to be involved in the development and planning of new studies.
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The Clinical Fellow will maintain a level of continuing professional development consistent with the recommendations of the Royal College of Physicians. Appropriate arrangements for study leave will be made in conjunction with colleagues. There is the potential to present research work and the post holder will be expected to be involved in audit, writing papers and reviews. The post holder will also be required to undergo an annual appraisal.
• TEACHING COMMITMENT:
a) Undergraduate
The appointee will be required to contribute to the undergraduate teaching of medical students on oncology topics.
b) Postgraduate
There is a busy postgraduate teaching programme and staff are often requested to lecture on relevant topics. The post holder will be expected to contribute actively to the education of junior doctors, specialty trainees and fellows on the team.
The post holder will also be expected to help in the training of nursing and multi-disciplinary staff in both in-patient and outpatient departments.
• CLINICAL GOVERNANCE: The post holder will be expected to participate in all relevant aspects of clinical governance, including maintaining up to date protocols, guidelines and clinical audit, under the supervision of the other consultants in the team.
• AUDIT: The appointee will play a full role in clinical audit as a member of The Christie Medical Staff Committee. The appointee will develop, supervise and deliver team audit projects.
This is a 10 session non-training post funded through The Christie NHS Foundation Trust for an initial period of 1 year.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Completion of foundation training or acute care common Stem programme (or equivalent)
- GMC registration
Desirable criteria
- CCT in Medical or Clinical Oncology or equivalent. Good Clinical Practice
- Good Clinical Practice
- Advanced Life Support
- Higher degree in cancer research
- MRCP or equivalent
Research / Publications
Essential criteria
- Evidence of productive ethical research relevant to oncology
Desirable criteria
- Recent publications in peer-reviewed journals
- Conference presentations
Training
Essential criteria
- Experience in general oncology and internal medicine
- Research/Trials experience
Desirable criteria
- Experience in managing critically ill patients
Experience
Essential criteria
- Evidence of clinical leadership skills
- Experience of developing, supervising and delivering audit projects
Desirable criteria
- Phase I trials
Teaching
Essential criteria
- Experience in teaching undergraduates
Desirable criteria
- Experience in teaching postgraduates
- Teaching Qualification
The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.
We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.
We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy
All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.
By applying for this post you are agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.
The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.
Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.
You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
- JD - PS (PDF, 324.8KB)
- The Christie Values and Behaviours (PDF, 919.5KB)
- Strategy Brochure (PDF, 1.0MB)
- Travel to The Christie (PDF, 3.8MB)