Clinical Fellow - Advanced Immunotherapy & Cell Therapy Team

Job responsibilities

ORGANISATIONAL ARRANGEMENTSThis post is for 40 hours per week to provide medical support to the Advanced Immunotherapy and Cell Therapy Team (AICT) by primarily acting as co-investigator on early phase clinical trials.

The role has the following accountabilities: AICT team led by Prof. Fiona Thistlethwaite

The interactions for this role include (but not limited to) the following:Advanced Immunotherapy and Cell Therapy Team Clinician, Clinical Fellows, Clinical Trial Pharmacists, Research Nurses, Healthcare Assistants, Clinical Trial Coordinators, Data Managers, Medical Secretaries, Clinical Trials Clerk, Translational Trial Facilitators, Investigator led study team, students.

Role PurposeThe Christie NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest Cancer Centres in Europe covering a large population in North West England and seeing more than 14,000 new patients each year. The hospital is a designated teaching hospital of the University of Manchester and is the focal point of the Regional Cancer Network. It is also a CRUK designated major cancer research centre and combined with the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute and the University of Manchester comprises the Manchester Cancer Research Centre.

The Advanced Immunotherapy and Cell Therapy Team is specifically designed to facilitate delivery of complex and innovative therapies emerging in oncology. Facilities include inpatient beds, outpatient suites, trials pharmacy, laboratory and an administrative floor with short-term archiving, seminar room and monitoring rooms for external trials monitors. Clinical research and service work is closely integrated with laboratory research. There are close links with the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute which provide GCLP compliant laboratories. This together with the world class Biobank have strengthened and complemented this clinical development.

This is an exceptional opportunity in the Advanced Immunotherapy and Cell Therapy Team. We seek an ambitious, innovative individual to provide medical support to the consultants by primarily acting as co-investigator on a growing portfolio of early phase cell therapy and complex immunotherapy clinical trials. You will join a highly motivated and empowered workforce to increase research capacity and deliver innovative early phase research in compliance with Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) and Trust policy.

You will be based within AICT, providing medical support to the consultants by primarily acting as co-investigator on the portfolio of complex trials. With consultant oversight, you will be responsible for seeing new referrals, follow-ups and for managing the patient throughout all aspects of their trial experience. There will be opportunities to work with our broader Experimental Cancer Medicine Team (ECMT) which has a well-established and regular molecular tumour board meeting supporting both local and national studies. You will take an active role in these meetings gaining valuable experience in using these data to identify and define suitable trial options for patients. You will have the opportunity to be involved in audit, writing papers and reviews and there is the potential to present research work at local, national, or international meetings.

This is a 10 session non-training post (on the salary scale MN37, point dependent on experience) funded through The Christie NHS Foundation Trust for up to 2 years. The role is suitable for individuals ideally having completed at least CMT training but those at the end of FY2 may also be considered. A more senior role may be available for those towards the end of, or having completed, their specialist oncology training who wish to gain further experience in experimental medicine and Phase I trials, including first-in-human trials, clinical pharmacology trials and translational research.

The position requires an ability to understand and deliver experimental clinical research, liaising across a range of clinical, academic and administrative staff throughout the Trust and with external organisations (pharmaceutical and biotech industry partners, academic institutions and other hospitals).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESThe medical establishment provides 1-2 Consultant Medical Oncologists.DUTIES OF THE POST ROLE: The successful candidate will be recruited as a Senior Clinical Fellow in the Advanced Immunotherapy and Cell Therapy Team (AICT). 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 co-/sub-investigator. These include cellular therapy and bispecific antibody early phase trials.You will be involved in managing all aspects of trial patients, across a diverse range of solid tumours, through new patient consultation, consent and screening patients and reviewing patients at follow-up appointments. Primarily, patients are seen in the outpatient setting but with some inpatient cover. The appointee is required to attend 5 trial outpatient clinics per week (see indicative timetable).You 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, you will interface with external stakeholders such as CROs and pharmaceutical sponsors.You 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: You will be expected to undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of their patients. You will be encouraged to harness opportunities to be involved in the development and planning of new studies.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: You 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. You will also be required to undergo an annual appraisal.

TEACHING COMMITMENT:a) UndergraduateYou will be required to contribute to the undergraduate teaching of medical students on oncology topics.b) PostgraduateThrough collaboration with University of Manchester the team supports a busy postgraduate teaching programme and staff are often requested to lecture on relevant topics. You will be expected to contribute actively to the education of junior doctors, specialty trainees and fellows on the team. You will also be expected to help in the training of nursing and multi-disciplinary staff in both in-patient and outpatient departments.

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE: You 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 experimental cancer medicine team.

AUDIT: You will play a full role in clinical audit as a member of The Christie Medical Staff Committee. You will develop, supervise and deliver team audit projects.

Continuing Professional DevelopmentThe 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 PlanningThis is a 10 session non-training specialty registrar funded through The Christie NHS Foundation Trust for an initial period of 1 year.

Provisional Sessional Timetable for Senior Clinical Fellow in Experimental Medicine

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Proposed Sessional Activities

Outpatient Clinics 4.0

Inpatient reviews 1.0

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: there is no formal on-call commitment but if any on-call opportunities come up The Medical Staffing department will contact you.

Indicative Clinical Timetable

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Cell Therapy Clinic

Team Meeting

Audit/CPD

Disease specific Clinic

Research Admin

Cell Therapy Clinic

Trial Teleconferences

Audit/CPD

Phase I new patient Clinic

Inpatient reviews

Research Admin

Teaching

Qualifications/Educational

Essential

• Completion of Foundation medical training/ internship or acute care common Stem programme (or equivalent)

Desirable

• Completion of CMT training or CCT in Medical Oncology or equivalent
• Good Clinical Practice
• Advanced Life Support
• Higher degree in cancer research
• MRCP or equivalent

Research / Publications

Desirable

• Evidence of productive ethical research relevant to oncology
• Recent publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Conference presentations

Training

Essential

• Experience in general oncology and internal medicine
• Research/Trials experience

Desirable

• Experience in managing critically ill patients

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of clinical leadership skills
• Experience of developing, supervising and delivering audit projects

Desirable

• Experience of Phase I clinical trials

Teaching

Desirable

• Experience in teaching undergraduates/ postgraduates
• Teaching Qualification

Personal Skills

Essential

• 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

Desirable

• Demonstration of excellent communication skills

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 UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).