Job summary
An exciting opportunity to join the Gastroenterology and Hepatology department at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This hepatology-based post would suit a dynamic individual looking to take an OOPE, widen their experience and training in hepatology, and dedicate a period of time to research with an aim to obtain a higher research degree (MD or PhD), apply for dedicated grant funding, and share research findings amongst the hepatology community.
The research fellow will take up a 0.5 WTE clinical contract and be on the regional GI bleed rota. The clinical duties will include commitment to a gastroenterology and liver clinic and an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy list. There will also be exposure to phase I-III clinical trials in St George's NIHR Clinical Research Facility as a sub-investigator. Appropriate training will be provided. The successful applicant will need to be independently proficient in therapeutic gastroscopy if they wish to participate in an out-of-hours upper GI bleeding rota. Support to achieve this could be discussed if not fully proficient.
Main duties of the job
The applicant is expected to develop a personal research project, under the supervision of Dr Arjuna Singanayagam and Professor Daniel Forton, with the expectation they will enrol for an MD or PhD. On commencing the post, the successful candidate will register their degree with the medical school. During the post, there will be flexibility to attend the mandatory MD/PhD lecture programme. The department has an excellent MD/PhD supervision and completion record.
The out-of-hours GI bleed rota exists across St George's, Croydon, and Epsom/St Helier's Trusts, which offers excellent experience paid by a separate on-call pathway.
Trainees are encouraged to apply for local and national research funding early in their research experience in order to structure and enhance financing of their project. In view of the part-time clinical activity, this offers an excellent ongoing training opportunity within the out-of-programme experience. The timetable will include fixed commitments (an example outlined below for year 1) with remaining slots free for personal research activity.
About us
St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).
After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This research project will be centred on investigating immunopathology and susceptibility to infection in patients with acute decompensated cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). It may include evaluating immune checkpoints on innate and adaptive immune cells, their role on immune cell function in the circulation, and mechanisms of microbial translocation in contributing to septic and portal hypertensive complications in this cohort of patients. Depending on timelines and recruitment, the candidate may also be involved in a scientific sub-study of the PROMISE trial, a national multicentre study evaluating faecal microbiome transplantation vs. placebo in cirrhosis. In particular, the candidate would undertake laboratory work to determine the changes to monocyte phenotype and function with this intervention. Their laboratory work may involve collaboration and work at other London centres including Kings College London and Imperial College London as part of a wider collaborative research group.
The candidate will be involved in patient screening, recruitment, and biological sampling. They will be taught basic lab-based immunological techniques to generate novel data with no prior lab experience necessary. They will be supported in the lab by clinician scientist Dr Arjuna Singanayagam with support from the other members of the lab group. The aim would be to generate preliminary data sufficient to apply for external grant funding. If the candidate has specific research interests within the area of complications of cirrhosis or immune dysfunction in liver disease, the project can be negotiated. The successful candidate will be expected to register for an MD or PhD higher research degree with St. George's University of London (SGUL) with supervision from Dr Singanayagam and Professor Forton.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
* MBBS or equivalent
* MRCP
* Full GMC Registration
Experience
Essential
* Experience of audit and research methodology
Desirable
* ST3+ gastro/hepatology training post or equivalent
* Independent upper GI endoscopist
* Experience on GI bleed rota
Skills
Essential
* Computer skills including the ability to manage databases and image processing systems, which generate reliable research and clinical outcome data sets
* Understand principles of audit
* Understand principles and able to understand research results
Knowledge
Essential
* Good medical knowledge and clinical skills
* Clear, legible documentation
Desirable
* Some evidence of involvement in research or presentations at meetings/publications
Other
Essential
* Commitment to learning
* Potential to cope with stressful situations and undertake responsibility
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* Team worker and able to work independently using initiative
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see. #J-18808-Ljbffr