Clinical Research Associate in the Department of Psychosis Studies - Strand, London, WC2R 2LS

This is an exciting opportunity to gain and develop research skills. The post-holder will join Dr Tom Pollak’s research group and play a key role in innovative studies taking a new immunologically focussed approach to understanding and treating neuropsychiatric disorders.

The group is investigating how the immune system may hold clues to how psychosis and other psychiatric disorders are caused and how people respond to treatments. We will investigate blood and cerebrospinal fluid from patients and use machine-learning to identify the treatment-relevant immune processes, with an emphasis on immune cells, autoantibodies and inflammatory markers. If we can show causal links, our work could guide future targeted immune-based interventions.

The studies involve subject recruitment and collection of clinical data and bio samples (blood and cerebrospinal fluid) from patients. The main focus is on an exciting new prospective, longitudinal study aiming to assess the immunological effects of antipsychotic treatment. It is being led by a team from KCL and the Francis Crick Institute and is unique for its interdisciplinary nature, combining expertise from clinical psychiatry, immunology and neuroscience, with significant ongoing input from people with lived experience of psychosis. The post-holder will have a central role in the team and will contribute to its dynamic, friendly and supportive culture, and to its strong spirit of multidisciplinary scientific enquiry.

The Department of Psychosis Studies is one of the world’s leading centres for research into psychotic disorders. We aim to advance the understanding and treatment of psychotic disorders across all stages to improve the lives of patients and their families. Our staff include clinical and non-clinical scientists with a wide range of expertise and are recognised globally as innovators of high-quality translational research.

The purpose of this role is to deliver exciting and innovative research studies in the Department of Psychosis Studies. Working closely with the Lead Investigators, the post holder will ensure the successful conduct and completion of the research programme.

They will contribute to the collection and analysis of data and play a key role in the assessment and monitoring of participants. They will also work closely with other research staff in the project and foster effective collaborative working relationships with the local and regional services for psychosis, as well as neurology, rheumatology and neuropsychiatry services. The successful candidate will also be encouraged to deliver teaching on immunopsychiatry topics and will have the opportunity to join a unique and growing clinical immunopsychiatry service.

The post-holder will have opportunities to get involved in data analysis and develop their research interests within the projects. Training in research methods will be provided, and the post-holder will develop skills in using gold-standard diagnostic and clinical ratings, which will be useful for future research and clinical practice.

The post would be ideal for a clinician with an interest in the rapidly expanding field of immunopsychiatry. There is potential to develop a project for a PhD application for a suitable candidate. The start date is flexible and may be negotiated with the right candidate.

This is a full-time post (40 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 12 months with possibility to extend.

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

• Essential criteria
• Full GMC registration with valid license to practice.
• Experience undertaking and publishing research relevant to psychiatry, psychology or neuroscience in peer-reviewed journals.
• Ability to communicate clearly and empathically with patients with serious mental illness, carers, and colleagues.
• Experience in addressing research or audit questions both independently and collaboratively with a team.
• Excellent written communication, data management and organisational skills.
• Evidence of strong academic potential and trajectory (e.g. presentations, prizes, distinctions, publications depending on career level).
• Desirable criteria
• Knowledge of managing research data and statistical analysis software (such as SPSS or STATA).
• Postgraduate degree in a relevant course.
• Training and/or experience with relevant clinical and research methodology such as lumbar puncture procedures, immunological analysis and recruiting participants for observational studies/clinical trials.
• Willingness to travel on project business when required.