Medical Laboratory Assistant R&D

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust; Torquay; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare trust in Torquay seeks a Clinical Biochemistry professional to manage laboratory analyses and support clinical trials. Responsibilities include processing biological samples, interacting with research sponsors, and contributing to a 24/7 diagnostic service. Ideal candidates should have laboratory experience and specialized knowledge of technical protocols.

Qualifications

• Experience with complex technical protocols and lab manuals.
• Ability to handle technical and investigational queries.
• Capability to manage storage and dispatch of samples.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and process samples for clinical trials.
• Represent the lab at study site visits.
• Organize sample dispatch using couriers.
• Provide technical assistance to clinicians.

Skills

Specialist knowledge in laboratory procedures

Laboratory experience

Technical communication skills

Organizational abilities

Job description

Overview

Clinical Biochemistry performs analyses on a range of biological samples i.e. blood, urine, faeces, fluids and cerebrospinal fluid to aid the diagnosis and treatment of disease using Departmental SOP's and protocols. The Department of Clinical Biochemistry processes approximately 450000 requests, generating over 5000000 tests, annually. The total budget is £1.9 million. The Department has services covering main automation (Roche Managed Service), special chemistry/protein electrophoresis and Point of Care (POCT). The department also supports Torbay and South Devon Research and Development in the provision of various clinical trials and projects.

Responsibilities

• Using specialist knowledge, prepare and process samples adhering to strict and complex technical study-specific protocols and lab manuals for Research and Development coordinated clinical trials.
• With specialised laboratory experience and knowledge represent the laboratory at study site initiation visits, review, set up new studies, and report directly to the Biochemistry Head of Department on laboratory capability and capacity for new studies.
• Make and receive telephone calls and email correspondence with R&D and external sponsors, responding to technical and investigational research related queries, including dealing with protocol deviations, providing evidence for missing samples, and giving specialist advice.
• To organise storage, packaging, and daily dispatch of samples nationally and internationally with various couriers.
• Complete delegation and training logs in line with continuous specialised study-specific training and protocol amendments.
• Maintain communication with other internal research departments and external sponsors through Clinical Research Associates.
• To provide technical and complex clerical assistance within the Department, working alongside Biomedical Scientists and other MLAs in order to provide a high level service to assist clinicians in the accurate diagnosis and ongoing treatment of a patient's condition.
• Prepare routine and urgent blood, urine, faeces and fluid samples for analysis.
• Expected to support MLA out of hours rota and evening work.
• Clinical Biochemistry is essential to the secondary and acute care pathways of the Trust. Team provides a 24/7 diagnostic service using a variety of automation and specialised techniques.

Additional Information

This is a challenging and varied role with opportunity for making a positive difference to patient outcomes via innovation and the application of science and technology.