Biostatistician - Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit - 105594 - Grade 7

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 49,000; Full time

Job description

Job Description

Position Details

Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to August 2029

Closing date: 28th April 2025

UK and International travel may be required for this role

Background

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the largest UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) registered clinical trials units in the country. The Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU) is a Department within the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Birmingham. The CRCTU employs a multidisciplinary team of around 200 staff including statisticians, trial management staff, research nurses, monitors, programmers, administrators and IT staff. It specialises in running early and late phase clinical trials in adults and children. Alongside trials portfolios in a broad range of adult solid cancers and haemato-oncology, CRCTU is the national lead for prestigious programmes of children's cancer and leukaemia trials. The unit also includes two trials teams dedicated to non-cancer trials: the Diagnostics, Drugs, Devices and Biomarkers team (D3B), running mainly early-phase trials, and the Inflammation, Advanced and Cellular Therapy (I-ACT) team, specialising in trials in rheumatology and advanced therapies.

Recently, CRCTU has been awarded funding from LifeArc, as part of a consortium with Newcastle University and Queen's University Belfast, to establish a new trials team specialising in trials in rare diseases (known as Rare Diseases Trials Acceleration Programme (RD-TAP)). The post holder will work primarily with this new team to establish a portfolio of trials in rare diseases. CRCTU also hosts a "node" of the Rare Disease Research UK platform, called CAPTIVATE, which is dedicated to methodological research for rare disease trials. The post holder will work closely with this group, and with colleagues in Newcastle University, to develop and implement innovative trial designs.

Role Summary

The post holder will provide statistical expertise and advice on the design, conduct and analysis of Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit's (CRCTU) clinical trials and allied research. Biostatisticians play a central role in the Unit, actively liaising with clinical investigators, contributing to the design and conduct of clinical trials, being responsible for interim and final analysis of clinical trial data and having a key role in the presentation and publication of results. As academic members of the University, Biostatisticians contribute to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Main Duties

1. Provide statistical advice for the design of clinical trials and related studies, and contribute to protocols and grant applications, under the mentorship of a Senior Biostatistician.
2. Determine appropriate analysis of clinical trial data and write statistical analysis plans for trials, under the mentorship of a Senior Biostatistician.
3. Undertake appropriate analysis of clinical trial data and prepare reports for Data Monitoring and Steering Committees and contribute to presentations and publications of clinical trial results.
4. Collaborate on relevant trial-related projects with researchers in other departments within the University of Birmingham in terms of the provision of statistical advice and/or analysis of data.
5. Liaise with Programmers and Trial Coordinators in the setting up of a randomisation process and development of data collections forms and databases for trials.
6. Provide statistical analysis to assist Trial Coordinators in the running of trials and monitor data quality of on-going trials.
7. Contribute to the writing of the Standard Operating Procedures for the CRCTU.
8. Lecture on basic statistics and clinical trial methodology and provide in-house staff training.
9. Carry out statistical methodological research relevant to cancer clinical trials and associated translational research in collaboration with senior members of the Biostatistics Team and contribute to presentations and publications of such research.
10. Support the delivery of clinical research in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), the Declaration of Helsinki, applicable legislation (including, but not limited to, the Medicines for Human Use Clinical Trials Regulations, Data Protection Act 1998, Human Tissue Act), the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care, Caldicott principles, and applicable NHS Trust and University policies and procedures, (including, but not limited to the University's Data Protection Policy, Information Security Policy and Code of Practice for Research) in order to protect the research subject and the quality of each study.
11. Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Pursuit of post-graduate qualifications or personal research interests is encouraged, providing the work is agreed in advance, is of sufficient merit and time is available such that trial work would not suffer.

The post holder will contribute to methodological and clinical research through the design and analysis of CRCTU's clinical trials. The post holder will work alongside a large number of biostatisticians specialising in specific disease, trial phase and methodological areas in adult and paediatric oncology. This post provides an excellent opportunity for a bright, ambitious biostatistician to apply their experience and expertise within a leading academic trials unit undertaking methodologically challenging research.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

1. MSc or PhD in Statistics OR a relevant higher degree with experience of working as an applied medical statistician.
2. Knowledge of survival analysis and statistical modelling.
3. Knowledge of statistical packages.
4. Knowledge of clinical trials.
5. An ability to impart statistical concepts to non-statisticians.
6. An ability to work well both on own initiative and within a team.
7. Evidence of good inter-personal, verbal and written communication skills.
8. A flexible attitude and an ability to organise work to meet deadlines while handling more than one task at a time.
9. Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Planning and Organising

A flexible attitude and an ability to organise work to meet deadlines while handling more than one task at a time is needed.

Problem Solving and decision making

An ability to make decisions on appropriate methodology to apply to research questions is required.

Internal and External relationships

As part of the biostatistics team, the post holder will help to advise potential clinical trialists and other researchers on the feasibility, design and analysis of proposed studies and will sit on project management groups.

There will be in-house teaching commitments and occasional contributions to postgraduate and continuing professional development courses run by the School and other departments.

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Professor Simon Gates, email: [e-mail]

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy.

You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.