Clinical Research Associate (Fellow)

Newcastle University; North East; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global university is seeking a medical professional for a clinical research role focused on rheumatoid arthritis. Responsibilities include managing patient care during drug tapering and participating in observational studies. Candidates must have a medical degree and GMC registration. The role offers excellent benefits and the opportunity for flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Generous holiday package

Great pension schemes

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Good knowledge and experience of rheumatology clinical practice.
• Current Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification.
• Ability to extract and interpret complex medical information.

Responsibilities

• Oversee management of patients during drug tapering.
• Participate in clinical service for RA patients.
• Deliver observational clinical research studies.

Skills

Clinical rheumatology practice

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Patient confidentiality

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in medicine

Tools

Musculoskeletal ultrasound

Job description

Salary: £41,634.00 - £70,425.00 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 29 July 2024

The role

Up to half of patients living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can achieve remission with modern treat-to-target regimens of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Half of these individuals can subsequently taper and even stop DMARDs after remission is achieved, but with a risk of arthritis flare which is unpredictable. On the other hand, many patients fail to achieve remission despite cycling between a growing number of conventional and targeted DMARDs. Our inability to select the right drug for the right patient, or to know when it might be possible to successfully taper DMARDs, continues to limit our ability to achieve optimal outcomes for RA patients. Indeed, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of arthritis flare and drug-free remission, or how best to monitor patients during DMARD tapering or switching.

The overall aim of this three-year post is to support clinical research that addresses these unmet needs at Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals. By collecting clinical data and biological samples including synovial tissue biopsies from RA patients at key points in the natural history of the disease, we seek insights into the biology of remission, flare and DMARD effectiveness.

Under the supervision of Dr Kenneth Baker and Dr Arthur Pratt, you will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the RheumatOid Arthritis DMard tAPering (ROADMAP) service, a weekly clinic that oversees the management of patients during drug tapering. You will furthermore participate in our New Biologic clinical service, designed to expedite timely initiation of targeted DMARDs for RA patients whose disease is poorly controlled. In both settings, you will help deliver embedded observational clinical research studies, with responsibilities including participant recruitment, research consent, blood sampling and data recording. You will have the opportunity to undertake synovial biopsies using a minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided technique that is well established at Newcastle. Biological samples will be processed in our University research laboratories, and you may gain experience in immunological laboratory techniques such as flow cytometry. It is expected that the post holder would perform this work as part of a PhD.

A Degree in medicine and GMC registration with licence to practice medicine in the UK are essential for this post.

To apply, please attach your CV and a cover letter that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria for the position, as outlined in the Person Specification of the Job Description.

Please direct informal enquiries to Dr Kenneth Baker [e-mail]

We would welcome requests for flexible working and depending on the needs of the role, blended working opportunities to work remotely as well as on campus may be considered. The hiring manager will discuss the requirements of the role, should you be invited to interview.

Key Accountabilities
• Contribution to the research programme of the Translational and Clinical Research Institute under the clear guidance of a member of academic staff or Principal Investigators
• Provide clinical support for participant recruitment and follow-up within the ROADMAP and New Biologic services at Newcastle Hospitals
• Be prepared to contribute to events celebrating the public engagement of science/social sciences/humanities
• Be prepared to gain skills in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and the MSUS-guided synovial tissue biopsy technique as part of research studies as appropriate.
• Co-ordinate and plan own work with that of others, and deal with problems which may affect the achievement of research objectives
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to the Principal Investigators and colleagues overseeing the research project, and at national and international meetings
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project's dissemination
• Work to deadlines and manage competing priorities
• Ensure that personal knowledge and training in relevant fields of study is kept up to date
• Work with other researchers in a team and actively participate in collaborative research, liaising with research colleagues and support staff on day-to-day issues
• Provide guidance as required to any support staff and/or research students

The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential
• Good knowledge and experience of rheumatology clinical practice, including working within clinical rheumatology settings at a level at least equivalent to that of an NHS rheumatology specialist trainee.
• Good understanding of the principles of patient confidentiality in research
• Ability to work flexibly according to study needs
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues
• Good level of analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex information clearly, both orally and through the written word
• Ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems
• Ability to extract and interpret complex medical information from medical records
• Interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with patients and families
• Excellent planning and organisation skills and ability to prioritise competing demands
• Excellent record keeping.

Desirable
• Experience in musculoskeletal ultrasound

Attributes and Behaviour
• Able to work as part of a team but also independently
• Able to collect, organise and analyse complex datasets
• Conscientious
• Enthusiastic and inquisitive
• Ability to work flexibly, and under pressure
• Good interpersonal skills; able to effectively work with others, including colleagues, other staff, patients and their families

Qualifications (essential)
• Degree in medicine
• GMC registration with licence to practice medicine in the UK
• Current Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 28349

Contact Us