Clinical Scientist

at  The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

We are looking to appoint an HCPC registered Clinical Scientist with research experience to join the dynamic Radiotherapy Physics group at The Christie. The role is funded by a CRUK grant to develop, evaluate and implement the use of functional MRI into the planning and adaptive workflow on the MR-Linac. The applicant will work closely with the University of Manchester radiotherapy research groups to achieve this aim.
This is a new post that has been created to assist with work funded through the CRUK Manchester Centre to further develop a research portfolio on the MR-Linac. The successful candidate will have a research background to support the body of work being developed on the MR-Linac, which will include the use of functional MRI. They will also likely be involved in the development and maintenance of the MR-Linac and ideally have Monaco experience. The candidate will also participate in the international MR linac consortium, present research at conferences and publish papers. They will also provide scientific leadership in other physics projects.
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, situated in South Manchester, is the largest cancer treatment centre of its kind in Europe, and an international leader in cancer research and development. Currently, the Christie radiotherapy network is equipped with a total of 15 linear accelerators across the four sites. The Christie hosts the National Proton Beam Therapy service in conjunction with UCLH. It also has integral links with the University of Manchester Radiotherapy Related Research (RRR) group

General
Ensure all work complies with current UK legislation for work with ionising radiation (IRR 1999, IRMER 2000) and the Trust’s ISO 90001:2008-compliant Quality System for provision of radiotherapy.
The post holder will be expected to prioritise and manage their own work on a day-to-day basis.
The post holder must participate in an agreed scheme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
The place of work is normally The Christie, Withington, but the post holder may be required to carry out work at other local hospitals with a radiotherapy service.
The post is full-time. Hours are worked flexibly, in agreement with the line manager, to provide round the clock services where necessary to cover the normal range of clinical duties
Dosimetry
Maintain, develop and participate in the clinical quality control programme for the MR-Linac to ensure all such equipment is fit for clinical use.
Investigate and resolve highly complex problems highlighted through ongoing quality control measurements and reported equipment faults.
To liaise with the Radiotherapy Technical Services Manager to ensure efficient and accurate transfer of information and appropriate allocation of tasks and responsibilities between engineering and physics staff.
Treatment Planning
Participate in maintaining the provision of an external beam treatment planning service to the Radiotherapy Department to ensure the accuracy of treatment plans and compliance with clinical requirements.
Provide advice on radiotherapy physics-related issues to clinical oncologists, radiographers and dosimetrists, contributing to the effective work of the multidisciplinary team, in relation to both current practice and technique development.
Operate on a rota with other physicists to resolve problems arising with clinical treatment plans, including problems where the post holder may inspect and advise on patient set-up on linear accelerators. Operate on a rota with other physicists to perform clinical planning room duties.
Produce highly complex radiotherapy treatment plans, based on the evaluation of anatomical and clinical information using a highly complex three dimensional treatment planning system.
Critically analyse and independently check routine and highly complex treatment plans for transfer to linear accelerators.
Provide and independently check monitor unit calculations for external beam radiotherapy.
Perform patient specific QA for the verification of treatment plans.
Assist with the development of the treatment planning protocols for the MR linac.
To be involved with the development of the adaptive workflows for the MR linac.
To actively participate in feedback Monaco development issues to Elekta.
Develop clinical software to improve patient workflows
MR-Linac Adaptive Radiotherapy
Help establish workflows for adaptive planning and integration of functional MRI into online planning.
Aid development and conduct a programme of work based on the adaptive capabilities of the MR linac.
Help lead across the multi- disciplinary team in the development of the radiotherapy research programme.
Implement tools that will provide infrastructure to evaluate the impact of novel adaptive strategies for SABR, PBT and MR-Linac
Teaching and Training
Supervise clinical scientists, dosimetrists, engineers and radiographers within the radiotherapy physics group as required.
Lecture and train Clinical Scientists, Dosimetrists, Engineers, Radiographers, Specialist Registrars and others and assist in the organisation of the department’s teaching programmes
Research and Development
Perform highly complex, clinically relevant, radiotherapy research and development.
Publish research in internationally recognised peer reviewed research journals and to communicate research through national and international conferences.
Supervise physicists and research students on research projects.
Assist the establishment and maintenance of R&D collaborations with other radiotherapy physics groups, universities, and commercial organisations.
Ensure that patient and experimental data is collected and stored in line with the Data Protection Act and Caldicott guidelines.
To provide scientific support to Clinical Oncologists participating in local, national and international trials