Clinical Fellow - Neuro-Oncology

The clinical fellowship in Neuro-Oncology is a 12-month post, which may be extended to 24 months. The role is to support clinical research and to provide specialist experience and training for the successful applicant. The fellow will gain experience in advanced radiotherapy and in the clinical management of oncological patients. Overseas applications are welcome; however, applicants must already have GMC registration and right to work in the UK agreed. Please note that the advert may close early if sufficient interest is received.

Main duties of the job

Candidates must hold full General Medical Council (GMC) registration and have passed the International Academic English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam (if appropriate) at the time of post commencement. The fellow will gain clinical experience in neuro cancer clinics and will have the opportunity to develop clinical research projects, with a particular focus on the use of preoperative treatment strategies for brain cancer, including Tumour Treating Fields. The post involves patient clinics with a focus on patients with primary brain tumours. There are opportunities to develop and lead clinical research projects with the aim of presenting and publishing outcomes. The Fellow will have an active role in setup, recruitment and day-to-day oversight of patients in the clinical study delivering TTFields in brain cancer patients. The fellow will participate in care of patients with primary brain tumours referred to the Christie for their oncological treatment. Additionally, the post-holder will attend MDT and outpatient clinics as required by the supervising agent.

About us

The appointee will be based at the Christie within the Department of Clinical Oncology under the supervision of the consultant clinician. The fellow will work within the neuro cancer team consisting of clinical oncology consultants, surgeons, pathologists, research nurses, therapists, registrars, radiologists, radiographers, and a trial manager. The post-holder will work closely with other members of the respective multidisciplinary teams and will support the consultants, clinical fellows, specialist registrars, and clinical research nurses in managing the respective disease group clinical trial portfolio. This will facilitate more rapid clinical decision-making, an increase in the number of trials opened, together with increased recruitment of patients into new and existing research protocols.

Job description

Job responsibilities

ORGANISATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS This post is for 40 hours per week to support specialised neurooncology disease-related treatment and research across The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. It will provide the appointee with an excellent opportunity to gain specialist training in advanced radiotherapy and in the clinical management of oncological patients. Role Purpose Accountable to: Dr. Gerben Borst, Honorary Consultant Clinical Oncologist, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Senior Lecturer, Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Science, faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester. Key interactions: The neuro cancer team consisting of patients, clinical oncology consultants, surgeons, pathologists, research nurses, therapists, registrars, radiologists, radiographers, and trial managers. This position is suitable for an enthusiastic and research-motivated applicant with a medical degree, who is pursuing a career in Clinical Oncology and has an interest in gaining research and clinical trial experience to further pre-operative treatment experiences for brain cancer patients. Candidates must hold full General Medical Council (GMC) registration and have passed the International Academic English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam (if appropriate) at the time of post commencement. This is a 12 month post with the possibility for extension to 24 months to support clinical research and to provide specialist experience and training for the successful applicant. The fellow will gain clinical experience in neuro cancer clinics and will have the opportunity to develop clinical research projects, with a particular focus on the use of preoperative treatment strategies for brain cancer patients, including Tumour Treating Fields. The fellow will work within the neuro cancer team consisting of clinical oncology consultants, surgeons, pathologists, research nurses, therapists, registrars, radiologists, radiographers, and a trial manager. The post involves patient clinics with a focus on patients with primary brain tumours. There are opportunities to develop and lead clinical research projects with the aim of presenting and publishing outcomes. The main clinical supervisor for the post will be Dr Gerben Borst (Consultant in Clinical Oncology). The post would be for an initial 24-month period with the possibility of extension dependent upon performance. Dependent on the candidate and the duration of the post, an extension to obtain an MD can be discussed. The role will be responsible for: Active role in setup, recruitment and day-to-day oversight of patients in the clinical study delivering TTFields in brain cancer patients. Participation in the care of patients with primary brain tumours referred to The Christie for their oncological treatment. Attendance at MDT and outpatient clinics as required by the supervising consultant. Successful applicants will need to divide their time between research and a moderate clinical commitment; this may involve clinical research and audit activities, including protocol writing. The post will be based within the Department of Clinical Oncology under the supervision of the consultant clinician. The post-holder will work closely with other members of the respective multidisciplinary teams and will support the consultants, clinical fellows, specialist registrars, and clinical research nurses in managing the respective disease group clinical trial portfolio. This will facilitate more rapid clinical decision-making, an increase in the number of trials opened, together with increased recruitment of patients into new and existing research protocols. The Fellow will attend appropriate clinics per week and multidisciplinary meetings. In addition, they will participate in clinical research meetings and any other relevant trial planning or trial set-up meetings. The Fellow will also spend time reviewing clinical data, writing abstracts/manuscripts, planning new studies, and attending educational meetings.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Medical Degree
• GMC registration
• International Academic English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Desirable

• Membership of The Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) or equivalent
• Have been awarded MRCP (or equivalent) status. Understanding of technical radiotherapy and functional imaging

Research / Publications
Essential

• Track record of collaborating in multi-disciplinary environments

Desirable

• Track record of significant contribution towards peer-reviewed journal articles
• Track record of successful grant proposals

Experience
Essential

• Experience in Clinical Oncology
• Experience of working in an academic environment

Desirable

• Have demonstrated commitment to Neuro Cancers, including brain cancer

Management / Audit
Desirable

• Be able to use databases
• Experience of statistical packages for data analysis

Teaching
Essential

• Interest in postgraduate and undergraduate teaching

Desirable

• Interest in postgraduate and undergraduate teaching

Personal Skills
Essential

• Patient friendly with a professional demeanour
• Have the ability to communicate effectively, confidently and independently with physicians, scientists, administrators at all levels
• Experience of working independently and within a team environment to achieve timely and valued objectives
• Have a proactive and flexible approach to work, and be willing to undergo training and to learn new skills, as required
• Have excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and organise own workload and that of others, and be able to work to strict deadlines, using own initiative
• Resilient, hardworking and ambitious
• Pay meticulous attention to detail
• Be computer literate

Domicile
Essential

• Within 30-60 minutes travel time to the hospital