Clinical Research Fellow in Neurology

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in London is seeking a Clinical Research Fellow to support neurology research while continuing clinical training. This role involves a balance of clinical duties and research responsibilities, with opportunities for teaching and participation in clinical trials in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Essential qualifications include MB BChir and MRCP(UK) or waiver.
• Experience in Neurology or Stroke Medicine is crucial.
• Demonstrable research interest and evidence of academic distinction required.

Responsibilities

• Split role 50:50 between research and clinical duties.
• Recruit and maintain governance of clinical research studies.
• Attend relevant clinics for clinical and research development.

Skills

Experience in Neurology or Stroke Medicine

Good communication skills

Ability to work as a member of a team

Education

MB BChir (or equivalent)

MRCP(UK) (or a waiver)

BA or BSc (or equivalent)

MD or PhD

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for a resident doctor considering a career in neurology to gain experience in clinical research, while continuing training in neurology. The post holder will divide their time equally between research and clinical duties. The post is suitable for doctors coming to the end of their IMT training or in higher specialist training who want to take time out of full-time clinical work and develop research skills. The post will be equally shared between clinical neurology research and clinical experience and teaching.

Within research, the post holder will support the current research team of nurses, co-ordinators and principal investigators to build on our strong foundations. They will support the expansion of our portfolio of early phase trials through our recently awarded NIHR Clinical Research Facility. The role will include recruiting to and following up participants in research studies and supporting the research nurses with portfolio management. The postholder will work closely with the principal investigators of the studies they are assigned to. This will enable dedicated teaching time as well as clinic-based work to continue with training requirements.

Within clinical neurology, the post holder will be part of the neurology junior doctors' team at a registrar level, attending wards, clinics and on call services in stroke and neurology.

Main duties of the job

The role will be split 50:50 between research and clinical duties. A detailed timetable will be agreed with the post holder.

The Clinical Research Fellow will be supporting clinical research studies in motor neuron disease, neuromuscular diseases, epilepsy and dementia. They will be responsible for recruitment and maintaining governance of trials as well as helping set up new studies.

• To undertake appropriate clinical evaluation of the patients and other tasks for effective running of the research e.g., informed consent, administering rating scales, lumbar punctures
• To attend research meetings and seminars within the group and at scientific conferences
• To assist the Band 7 research nurse in governance and set up of clinical trials
• To undertake any necessary training and/or development
• To plan and contribute to the writing of future research proposals for funding and fellowship applications
• Attend relevant clinics e.g. MND, neuromuscular or dementia, for clinical and research development advances

The Clinical Neurology role will depend on the rotation in the post. There will be opportunity for clinic-based work, acute stroke unit care as well as acute and regional neurology work through the 2 years.

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

The role will be split 50:50 between research and clinical duties. A detailed timetable will be agreed with the post holder.

The Clinical Research Fellow will be supporting clinical research studies in motor neuron disease, neuromuscular diseases, epilepsy and dementia. They will be responsible for recruitment and maintaining governance of trials as well as helping set up new studies.

• To undertake appropriate clinical evaluation of the patients and other tasks for effective running of the research e.g., informed consent, administering rating scales, lumbar punctures
• To attend research meetings and seminars within the group and at scientific conferences
• To assist the Band 7 research nurse in governance and set up of clinical trials
• To undertake any necessary training and/or development
• To plan and contribute to the writing of future research proposals for funding and fellowship applications
• Attend relevant clinics e.g. MND, neuromuscular or dementia, for clinical and research development advances

The Clinical Neurology role will depend on the rotation in the post. There will be opportunity for clinic-based work, acute stroke unit care as well as acute and regional neurology work through the 2 years.

On call duties

All registrars who are on the on call rota are resident on call. The main rota is a 1 in 18 shift system with 1 in 18 nights. Prospective cover applies within neurology and stroke medicine. Additional on call shifts may be available covering other registrars absence and extra shifts as needed in the evenings and weekends. Sometimes on-call rota slots are shared.

The clinical duties are to:

cover the neurology/stroke wards

see neurology/stroke referrals, including thrombolysis/thrombectomy calls

contribute to the neurology/stroke on-call rotas (see below)

attend outpatient neurology/stroke clinics (see below)

teach medical students and other staff on the unit.

attend the weekly multidisciplinary meetings.

contribute to departmental research/audit/governance projects

Outpatient clinics

Neurology and stroke outpatient clinics are held in the Atkinson Morley Wing OPD which has 12 examination rooms. Each registrar will have the opportunity to do clinics. There are specialised clinics in all neurological subspecialties. Registrars have the opportunity to observe and assist in these, as well as to observe the recording and interpretation of electroencephalography and other techniques of evoked potentials, including auditory, visual, somatosensory and brainstem.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• MB BChir (or equivalent)
• MRCP(UK) (or a waiver) This may be waived on very well written applications
• GMC registration

Desirable

• BA or BSc (or equivalent)
• MD or PhD

Clinical Skills
Essential

• Experience in Neurology or Stroke Medicine

Management Skills
Essential

• Willingness to contribute to management

Audit Skills
Essential

• Previous audit
• Willingness to participate in the clinical audit programme

Desirable

• To be computer literate

Clinical Governance
Essential

• To have an understanding of the basic principles of clinical governance

Desirable

• Committed to monitoring and improving clinical quality
• To build a clinical practice which is evidence based

Teaching Skills
Essential

• Must be an enthusiastic teacher
• Interested in teaching both undergraduates & postgraduates

Academic Achievement
Essential

• Demonstrable research interest
• Evidence of academic distinction

Desirable

• Papers presented at national and international meetings
• Peer reviewed publications
• Previous research experience

Personal Skills
Essential

• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Evidence of good communication skills
• Evidence of organisation and motivation
• Probity

Physical Requirements
Essential

• Pre-evaluation health screening

200-SNCT-712823-7113069JT2