Senior Research Nurse

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare institution in Cambridge is seeking a Senior Research Nurse to manage and deliver multiple clinical trials. The role involves responsibilities such as patient care, data collection, and collaboration with research teams. Candidates must have a professional nursing qualification and a strong commitment to patient safety and regulatory compliance. This position emphasizes both clinical duties and the management of research activities, contributing to high-quality patient care in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Friendly working environment

Training opportunities

Qualifications

• Must be registered with Nursing and Midwifery Council or relevant regulatory body.
• Strong background in delivering research and patient care.
• Capability to mentor junior staff and coordinate research activities.

Responsibilities

• Manage clinical trials to ensure high-quality data and adherence to protocols.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and prioritize patient safety.
• Deliver expert advice and support to patients involved in studies.

Skills

Experience in clinical trials

Patient care management

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Data collection skills

Communication skills

Education

Professional adult nursing qualification

Post-graduate training in a specialist area

Job description

Senior Research Nurse

The closing date is 14 December 2025.

An exciting opportunity to work as a Senior Research Nurse has arisen in the Cambridge Centre for Lung Infections (CCLI) Research Team at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

We offer a friendly working environment and career development with training opportunities to help you fulfil your potential.

We are looking to appoint a Senior Research Nurse who has commercial interventional CTIMP set up and delivery experience, enthusiastic, motivated, proactive and who will enjoy the challenge of delivering early phase high quality research.

You will be based at the new Heart Lung Research Institute (HLRI) and Royal Papworth Hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Main duties of the job

As a key member of the Research Team, you will be responsible for the set‑up, coordination and delivery of multiple clinical commercial trials, including recruitment, consenting, data collection, assessments and follow‑up appointments as specified by the protocol. Experience administering IMP across all routes (SC, IM, IV, inhaled, oral) is essential.

You will ensure specified milestones are achieved on time, high‑quality data is collected and trials are conducted according to ethically approved protocols and ICH‑GCP standards.

The post holder will manage a portfolio of commercial clinical trials including randomised controlled trials and observational studies.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with investigators and research staff; liaise with clinical departments and RPH study feasibility teams; monitor research study progress.

Prioritise workload in line with local and regional targets and trial visit timelines; escalating as necessary.

Provide clinical services by undertaking diagnostic and research tests on patients for research purposes.

Deliver, implement and evaluate clinical knowledge and expert advice to patients regarding the research study and any research treatments alongside their substantive care plan.

Plan, deliver and evaluate complex patient care plans per trial protocol; communicate with patients, families and the multidisciplinary team.

Prioritise care based on patient safety, trial information needs in a busy clinical environment; support complex patients; ensure evidence‑based care.

Undertake occasional moving and handling tasks; manage occasional exposure to bodily fluids from research sample collections and shipping.

Communicate complex, confidential, and/or sensitive condition‑related information to colleagues, patients, external organisations (trial sponsors) and support informed choice decisions.

Provide accurate and appropriate support for patients with clinical nurse specialists and senior research colleagues.

Work effectively within research and development and clinical teams; maintain professional relationships and good communication by participating in multidisciplinary research team meetings.

Act as a patient advocate, safeguarding and promoting patient and carer interests; explain research procedures and medical condition in conjunction with specialist clinical team.

Understand and prompt escalation within the Trust to ensure patient and staff safety and raise safeguarding concerns; report adverse events per ICH‑GCP guidelines.

Act independently within regulatory code of conduct, Trust policies and procedures; know when to appropriately escalation.

Line‑manage staff; allocate patient research activities; coordinate staff within the research team.

Orient new staff; mentor junior staff, research interns, student nurse placements; support on‑going staff development.

Act in a professional manner and a role model to other staff; provide day‑to‑day clinical supervision of junior staff.

Take responsibility for own continuing professional development and keep knowledge current and evidence‑based.

Keep abreast of current research and government issues relating to research and disseminate information as appropriate.

Process research study invoices.

Propose and implement policies, procedures and service changes to improve outcomes and quality of service; participate in implementation of practice changes per statutory and NHS guidelines; ensure timely dissemination of agreed changes.

Share learning from incidents and feedback.

Maintain accurate database entry/record‑keeping consistent with legislation, policies, and procedures; anticipate problems and implement solutions.

Deliver regular verbal and written reports to study investigators/sponsors.

Monitor, assess and report clinical and non‑clinical risks and incidents.

Qualifications

• Professional adult nursing or equivalent level science qualification and clinical knowledge acquired through training to degree level or equivalent relevant experience.
• Post‑graduate training in a specialist area or specialist knowledge across the range of work procedures and practices, underpinned by theoretical knowledge or relevant practical experience.
• Registered with Nursing and Midwifery Council or other regulatory body as applicable and/or NIHR CRP accreditation.

Additional Criteria

• Evidence of commitment to uphold the Trust's values: Compassion, Excellence, Collaboration.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975; disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required to check for any previous criminal convictions.