Clinical Research Fellow in Cancer & Early Diagnosis

at  The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

This is a 6- or 12-month clinical research fellowship which will enable the candidate to gain experience in early diagnosis of cancer and register for a formal research degree. It is likely that this will focus on early diagnosis of lung cancer, but the successful candidate will be able to influence the fellowship according to their own academic interest, in line with the strategic direction of the Royal Marsden and ICR NIHR Biomedical research centre. The existing research protocol is strong for radiomics and artificial intelligence of early stage lung cancer and incidental lung nodules and Dr Richard Lee has access to imaging and biomarker research resources within the RM Partners lung health check pilot and also the National (NHS England) Targeted Lung Health Check Program for which he is joint clinical lead. Key studies have included LIBRA, OCTAPUS-AI, NIMBLE, AI-SONAR, DOLCE, and DART/SCOOT.
The fellow will develop research collaborations with the ICR and/or Imperial College London. The project will focus on clinical and translational research predominantly focused on early diagnosis of cancer and most likely early diagnosis of Lung cancer. This might include research into prediction of the behaviour of early-stage lung cancers on the basis of computed approaches to lung imaging analysis, data analysis and informatics research, and laboratory analysis of early lung biomarkers or human factors linked to early diagnosis patient behaviours. The exact remit of the project will be developed by the successful student in collaboration with their Primary Supervisor (from
The post holder will be based in the Royal Marsden early diagnosis and detection centre and lung unit working across both sites of the hospital although they may preferentially base themselves at one site and will be supported in remote and flexible working wherever practical. As part of the clinical research team, they will have considerable peer group support from the existing body of clinical research fellows and senior clinical academics.
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust has an international reputation for high quality patient care, education and research and its partnership with The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) has created the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe. This role is based within the Lung and Early Diagnosis Unit, at The Royal Marsden (located at two sites – Sutton, Surrey and Chelsea, London), which is world renowned for excellence in clinical care and clinical research. We Are seeking a clinical research Fellow for Hard to Diagnose Cancers (Rapid Diagnostic Centre / Non-specific Cancer Symptoms). The fellow will develop expertise in Symptom profiling of hard to diagnose cancers including informatics approaches to cancer data curation and analysis of factors that describe and predict outcomes in this group. (co supervised by Dr Andrew Millar at UCL, and Professor Ceire Costelloe at ICR)
In July 2015 an Independent Cancer Taskforce published “Achieving world-class cancer outcomes: a strategy for England 2015-2020”. Within this early detection of cancers including some of the most common cancers such as lung and colorectal cancer was highlighted as a priority for potentially increasing cancer survival. Early detection and prevention of secondary relapse was also highlighted as another priority. Thereafter, the NHS Long Term Plan published in 2018 has set a national ambition to achieve an early stage diagnosis in 75% of patients with cancer through national work programs that include Targeted Lung Health Checks, and Rapid Diagnostic Centres Staff within the Royal Marsden work closely with academic collaborators at other research centres and national experts at NHS ENGLAND and the NIHR to drive such endeavours

Please refer the Job description for details