Clinical Research Fellow - Lymphoma | The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester

We seek an ambitious, innovative individual with a specific interest in lymphoma, clinical research and/or early phase clinical trials to act as sub-investigator for a growing portfolio of complex clinical trials. The role offers an exciting opportunity to work with an established, multidisciplinary research team to deliver innovative research. With consultant oversight, you will be responsible for seeing new referrals, follow-ups and managing patients throughout all aspects of their trial experience.

You will take an active role in local and regional meetings to identify and define suitable trial options for patients. You will also be involved with managing NHS patients through our lymphoma clinics, with approximately 50% of your time being dedicated to research, professional development and teaching. This is a 10-session, non-training post. It is suitable for individuals post-FY2 through to those completing specialist training in Oncology or Haematology, and who wish to gain further experience in lymphoma alongside experimental medicine and early-phase trials, including first-in-human trials, advanced immunotherapies and translational research.

You will work within a team of consultants, research nurses and clinical trials coordinators, with secretarial support and specialty trainees. Salary will be on the NHS scale in line with appropriate clinical experience. Interested candidates are encouraged to discuss this ahead of any application.

The portfolio includes a diverse range of lymphoma clinical trials. Following training, you will be expected to participate in these studies as a sub-investigator and associate principal investigator. These include phase I-III trials of small molecule inhibitors, next-generation chemotherapy, novel immunotherapies, CAR-T-cell therapy and translational studies. You will be involved in managing all aspects of lymphoma trial patients (both in outpatient & inpatient settings), 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 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. Up to 50% of your time will be dedicated to lymphoma research, with scope to develop a range of projects according to personal interests. You will be expected to be involved in writing papers & reviews, and there is potential to present your research work nationally and internationally. Participation in established clinical research training schemes will be encouraged. You will also be required to undergo an annual appraisal.

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients per 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% of 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-phase 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. The lymphoma team have the largest portfolio of both commercial and non-commercial lymphoma trials in the UK. You will support an established, dynamic, multidisciplinary research team to deliver innovative treatments to patients from a wide geographic area. You will be supported to develop and advance your own research skills and interests. Facilities include a dedicated NIHR Clinical Research Facility with inpatient beds, outpatient suites, trials pharmacy, laboratory & an administrative floor. The close links with the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute provide GCLP compliant laboratories.

Duties and responsibilities

The Christie Lymphoma Team provides expert treatment for patients with a wide range of lymphoma subtypes. Level 2-4 specialist care is provided for the Southern sector of the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer network (GMCCN) (population 900,000). Close clinical collaboration exists between The Christie and the other Haematology Departments of the South sector of the GMCC Network: Macclesfield District General Hospital and Stepping Hill Hospital. Through the weekly sector MDT, virtually hosted at Christie, all newly diagnosed and relapsing lymphoma patients are discussed and all patients requiring level 2-4 therapy are referred to The Christie. There are also longstanding referral pathways from Lancashire, North Staffordshire, Chester and North Wales. In addition, the team works closely with the haematology transplant unit to provide tertiary care for stem cell transplantation to the wider North West of England and Wales (population 6 million).

Main Duties:

• Research: This post has a major research component. It is anticipated that the post holder will have an active role as sub-investigator in a diverse portfolio of early-phase clinical trials. The appointee will be encouraged to contribute to current research projects within the unit and/or set up new research projects under the supervision of consultant colleagues. The fellow will also be given the opportunity to participate in the NIHR Associate PI scheme. It is anticipated that there will be significant outputs in terms of trial activity and research publications, presentations and attendance at national and international meetings, as well as contributions to clinical audit and quality improvement projects.
• Clinical Management: To work closely with and support the Consultants and other members of the Lymphoma multidisciplinary team at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, to manage patients taking part in clinical research protocols. The post holder will facilitate the continued development of clinically relevant, evidence-based protocols.
• Clinics: Attendance at clinics held on Monday and Friday mornings and Wednesday mornings for management of trial patients (Oak Road Treatment Centre, Haematology Out-Patient/Day Unit and Main Outpatient clinics). This will include discussions with patients about clinical trial options, explaining specific protocol requirements, obtaining consent, supervision of screening, assessment of eligibility, prescribing study treatment and liaising appropriately with pharmacy, organising protocol-mandated and other investigations, assessment of response and toxicity. Involvement with non-trial patients will also be expected as required, under the direction of Prof Linton and Dr Phillips.
• MDT: Attendance for trial patients (weekly Southern sector MDT at The Christie)
• Trial Protocols: They will be expected to undertake routine administrative duties associated with the care of their patients in accordance with the trial protocol, GCP and under the supervision of the Chief/Principal Investigator. This will include timely annotation on the electronic patient record system (via the Christie Clinical Web Portal), dictation of letters using the E-Pro electronic dictation system and making phone calls to GPs and referring specialists.
• Professional Development: They will maintain a level of Continuing Professional Development consistent with the recommendations of the Royal Colleges. There may be an opportunity to participate in Oncology MRes programmes provided by the University of Manchester and/or apply for national/international clinical research training schemes (such as the ECMC JING Training the Next Generation or EHA clinical research schemes). Appropriate arrangements for study leave will be made in conjunction with colleagues. Funding arrangements for educational development, administered by the Clinical Director, are available for the support of study leave and is managed within the Trust Guidelines.
• Teaching Commitment: Undergraduate The appointee will be required to contribute to the undergraduate teaching of medical students on lymphoma-related topics. The undergraduate teaching commitment will amount to at most to the equivalent of one session per month. Postgraduate The Unit has a busy postgraduate teaching program and staff members are often requested to teach on lymphoma and oncology-related topics. This may amount to at most one session per 3 months. Junior Staff in Training 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 unit.
• Audit: As a member of the Christie Hospital Medical Staff Committee, the appointee will play a full role in clinical audit and quality improvement program.
• 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

Medical Oncology Lymphoma Clinic Schedule

• Monday: Main outpatient clinic
• Tuesday: Research/admin
• Wednesday: Early-phase trial clinic
• Thursday: Consultant ward round (optional)
• Friday: Education/audit meeting (0800; monthly)

Trial patients/admin

Main outpatient clinic

Proposed Job Plan

CLINICAL

Notional half-days

• Outpatients/research clinics: 3.0
• Administration: 1.0
• Emergencies and on call: 0.5/1
• Research/Audit/Education: 4.5/5.0

On call Commitments

This role does not require participation in the on-call rota. The post-holder will have the option to undertake on-call as part of the Medical Oncology rota, but it is not mandatory. This will have to be agreed with the clinical director, rota organiser and The Christie School of Oncology.