Senior/ Clinical Research Fellow ( Christie- Peter Mac)
Job overview
This is a unique opportunity to undertake a 2-year clinical fellowship based between two world leading Phase I units, year 1 spent at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, UK, and year 2 moving to The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia.We are seeking an ambitious, innovative individual with an interest in early phase clinical trials and research.
With consultant oversight, you will be responsible for seeing new referrals, follow-ups & managing the patient throughout all aspects of their trial experience. There is also opportunity to undertake a postgraduate MD degree (fully funded and co-supervised by colleagues at The Christie and Peter MacCullum) via The University of Manchester.
The position is suitable for individuals post-FY2 (or equivalent) through to having completed their specialist training in Oncology, and who wish to gain further experience in experimental medicine and Phase I trials, including first-in-human trials, clinical pharmacology trials & translational research.Our teams deliver trials in all major solid tumour types.
Salary will be on The Christie and Peter MacCullum scales in line with appropriate clinical experience. Candidates are encouraged to discuss the renumeration package ahead of application. We anticipate the fellowship commencing in Manchester between Summer 2025 and February 2026, with some flexibility.
Main duties of the job
The portfolio includes a diverse range of clinical research trials. Following training, you will be expected to participate in these studies as a sub-investigator. These may include phase I trials of small molecule inhibitors, next-generation chemotherapy trials, combination / multi-modality phase I trials, advanced therapy trials, molecular characterisation / translational studies, radiotherapy trials
You will be involved in managing all aspects of trial patients (both in outpatient & in-patients setting), across a diverse range of solid tumours, through new patient consultation, consent & screening patients & reviewing patients at follow-up appointments.
You will be expected to attend safety review committee meetings to discuss trial patients. This will involve close liaison with the Principal Investigators. In addition, you will interface with external stakeholders such as CROs & pharmaceutical sponsors.
You will be expected to attend monthly molecular tumour board meetings to discuss trial patients and to agree opportunities for patients to enrol in early phase trials.
You will be expected to undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of our patients. You will be given opportunities and will be encouraged to be involved in the development & planning of new studies.
There is potential to present your research work and you will be expected to be involved in writing papers and reviews. You will also be required to undergo an annual appraisal.
Working for our organisation
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services.We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.
We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The medical establishment based at The Christie provides 5 Consultant Medical Oncologists, and 3+ Senior/Clinical Fellows within the ECM team. The medical establishment based at Peter MacCullum is integrated into the Department of Medical Oncology; with 7-8 of these Consultant Medical Oncologists acting as Principal Investigators in the Early Drug Development Program, along with 4 Early Drug Development Fellows integrated with the 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. The candidate will then undertake the second part of the fellowship at The Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. The Melbourne element of the fellowship will include a full job description relevant and relative to the Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre based role, and is structured in a similar manner to the role at The Christie.
- 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 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:
- Undergraduate
- 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, to be followed by an additional year of the fellowship at The Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre in Melbourne with their Phase I/Early Drug Development team.
Provisional Sessional Timetable for Senior Clinical Fellow in Experimental Medicine
___________________________________________________________
Proposed Sessional Activities
Outpatient Clinics 5.0
Research Administration 2.0
Teaching 1.0
Trial Teleconferences 0.5
Team Meeting 0.5
Audit/CPD 1.0
10
A Sessional Activity is 4 hours
On call Commitments
This role does not require participation in the Trusts on-call rota.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential for the post
Desirable for the post
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT- ATTAINMENTS
Educational
Completion of foundation training or acute care
common Stem programme (or
equivalent)
CCT in Medical or Clinical Oncology or equivalent.
Good Clinical Practice.
Advanced Life Support.
Higher degree in cancer research
AF
CE
Qualifications
MRCP or equivalent
Professional Qualifications
GMC registration
CE
Research / Publications
Evidence of productive ethical research relevant to oncology
Recent publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Conference presentations
AF
I
R- TRAINING
Experience in general
oncology and internal
medicine
Research/Trials experience
Experience in managing critically ill patients
AF
I
R- EXPERIENCE
Job Specific
Evidence of clinical leadership skills
Phase I trialsexperience
AF
I
R
Management / Audit
Experience of developing, supervising and delivering audit projects
AF
I
R- TEACHING
Experience in teaching undergraduates
Experience in teaching postgraduates.Teaching Qualification
AF
I
R- PERSONAL SKILLS
Evidence of clinical skills.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, flexibility, commitment and team work with colleagues and staff in the department; ability to work under pressure; capacity for staff motivation
Demonstration of excellent communication skills
AF
I
R
CE- CIRCUMSTANCES
Domicile
Occupational Health ClearanceEnhanced CRB Clearance
CE
Abbreviations for Methods of Assessment:
AF – Application Form
I – Interview
R – References
CE – Certification Evidence
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Completion of foundation training or acute care common Stem programme (or equivalent)
- GMC registration
- Evidence of productive ethical research relevant to oncology
- CCT in Medical or Clinical Oncology or equivalent. Good Clinical Practice. Advanced Life Support. Higher degree in cancer research
- Recent publications in peer-reviewed journals. Conference presentations
CIRCUMSTANCES Domicile
Essential criteria- Occupational Health clearance
- Enhanced CRB Clearance
Experience
Essential criteria- Experience in general oncology and internal medicine
- Research/Trials experience
- Evidence of clinical leadership skills
- Experience of developing, supervising and delivering audit projects
- Experience in teaching undergraduates
- Experience in managing critically ill patients
- Phase I trials
- Experience in teaching postgraduates. Teaching Qualification
PERSONAL SKILLS
Essential criteria- Evidence of clinical skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, flexibility, commitment and team work with colleagues and staff in the department; ability to work under pressure; capacity for staff motivation
- Demonstration of excellent communication skills
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.