Detailed job description and main responsibilities
ORGANISATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
This post is for 40 hours per week to provide clinical research fellow support to The Christie Lymphoma Team. It is based at the main Christie Hospital site in the department of Medical Oncology and the NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF). This position is designed for individuals who wish to increase their experience in early-phase clinical trial research and/or lymphoma and are interested in pursuing a specialist career in medical oncology, haematology or clinical oncology and clinically-orientated research.
Role Purpose
The clinical research fellow post at the Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will support early-phase clinical research in lymphoma under the supervision of Dr Kim Linton and Dr Beth Phillips. The post holder will be involved in all aspects of care for patients enrolled on early-phase clinical trials and will work in close liaison with other members of the multidisciplinary team.
The role will support the Lymphoma Research Team:
The Lymphoma Research Team aims to develop and perform internationally competitive, practice-changing studies of relevance to patients with lymphoma and to enhance our existing national and international reputation. In 2022-2023, we had the largest portfolio of open lymphoma trials in the UK, both commercial and non-commercial, and were the second-highest UK recruiter to commercial studies. Recent successes include the first UK site to open and recruit a patient to the NX-5948-301 BTK degrader trial, top UK recruiter in the ME-401 trial, and leading the field in new bispecific antibody trials as the first site to screen a patient for Janssen LYM001 trial, first UK site to consent a patient to GCT3013-02 using epcoritamab in combination regimens and first site globally to dose a patient with subcutaneous odronextamab. The team also actively contributes to the UK Lymphoma Research Group (formally NCRI) as sub-group chairs/representatives and lead on a number of non-commercial trials. Examples include the ongoing international phase 3 RADAR trial, evaluating brentuximab vedotin as frontline treatment for early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma, and the randomised phase 2 REFRACT trial evaluating multiple novel therapies such as epcoritamab-lenalidomide against standard of care. Members of the team are regularly invited to present trial data at major international conferences (ICML, ASH, ISHL, EHA), have authored/co-authored trial publications in high-impact journals (NEJM, J Clin Onc, Lancet Oncology, Lancet Haematology, Blood) and have acted as expert reviewers for NICE and EORTC. The team has an expanding portfolio of immunotherapy trials, with a major interest in developing bispecific antibody and CAR-T therapy for lymphoma, collaborating closely with the advanced therapies team within the Trust.
In 2012, data from named-patient studies of brentuximab vedotin performed at the Christie were used in submissions to the European Medicines Agency resulting in provisional licensing of the drug that can now be used across the EU in patients with relapsed/refractory CD30+ve lymphomas. Updated results of the same patient cohort were used in 2015 to support continued access to brentuximab vedotin via the Cancer Drugs Fund and was also used as evidence to NICE who undertook a review of the drug in 2016. This work was undertaken by a previous research fellow under supervision by consultant colleagues illustrating the importance of this role to the Lymphoma team.
One of our recent lymphoma fellows wrote the protocol, information sheet and consent form for a highly innovative study (REACT) evaluating the potential role of wearable biosensors in patients at high risk of sepsis, revised a paper now submitted for publication and was successful in a highly competitive and prestigious NIHR Clinical Fellow application.
Currently, there are 32 lymphoma studies open and recruiting, with 32 in active follow up and a further 28 in feasibility or set-up stage. Of our 32 open and recruiting studies, around 40% are phase I/II studies demonstrating our commitment to early-phase research and collaboration with the ECMC network. Furthermore, referral of patients with haematological malignancies from outside of Manchester is an increasing feature of our practice with the number of patients referred for consideration of clinical trials growing year on year.
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+).
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* MRCP or equivalent - Qualification details and pass dates should be confirmed in the supporting information
* GMC registration
Training
Essential criteria
* ICH GCP Training
Management / Audit
Desirable criteria
* Evidence of participation in clinical audit
Domicile
Essential criteria
* Within 30 minutes travel time to the hospital
Research / Publications
Essential criteria
* The ability to contribute to an active research group
Desirable criteria
* Recent publications in peer-reviewed journals
* Evidence of ethical research relevant to lymphoma, oncology or acute medicine
Experience
Essential criteria
* Minimum of 2 years' clinical practice, with experience in Medical/Clinical Oncology and/or Haemato-oncology
* Experience as an investigator on clinical trials
Desirable criteria
* 3 years' experience in Medical/Clinical Oncology and/or Haemato-oncology
Teaching
Desirable criteria
* Experience in teaching medical students and other health professionals
Personal skills
Essential criteria
* Evidence of clinical leadership skills
* Ability to work flexibly as part of a team
* Excellent written and oral communication skills
* Ability to work under pressure
* Capacity for staff motivation
* Reliable work record
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, 342.0KB)
* The Christie Values and Behaviours (PDF, 919.5KB)
* Strategy Brochure (PDF, 1.0MB)
* Trust Membership - Christie Talent (PDF, 23.0KB)
* Travel to The Christie (PDF, 3.8MB)
#J-18808-Ljbffr