Research Fellow

at  Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Company Description
The Portsmouth Liver Centre is one of the largest hepatology services in Southern England and includes 5 consultant hepatologists, 5 hepatology nurse specialists, 5 alcohol nurses, 2 research nurses and a specialist pharmacist. We provide the full range of non-surgical specialist liver care including TIPSS, a satellite transplant service (with the Royal Free London), antiviral therapy for Hepatitis B&C, complex second line PBC therapies, an award-winning alcohol care team and a pioneering NAFLD clinic. We have dedicated areas for ambulatory care (including nurse-led paracentesis) and a separate clinical area for research trials.
We have a strong track record of delivering studies in chronic liver disease including viral hepatitis, NAFLD, ARLD, PBC, autoimmune hepatitis, PSC, decompensated cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. We are the lead site for the UK Polycystic Liver Disease Registry.
In addition to helping deliver NIHR portfolio studies, the post holder will be supported to develop an investigator led project subject to their interests and register for a higher degree if required. As a member of the wider medical Research Fellow team, the post holder will contribute to providing some general ward cover and supporting Urgent Public Health studies as required.
Depending on the interests of the appointee, there would also be opportunities to gain some specialist skills in hepatology such as performing Fibroscan or endoscopic management of varices.
Job Description

Supporting the coordination, management and delivery of clinical trials and studies according to protocols.
Supporting the Principal Investigator and/or the Departmental Research Lead in submitting applications for NHS, Regulatory, Ethics and Governance permissions to conduct Clinical Trials within the Trust.
Identifying, screening and assessing the suitability of local patients to take part in research, according to specified inclusion/exclusion criteria. Ensuring trial specific investigations and sampling are undertaken as per the Protocol to establish eligibility and to ensure safe entry into trials.
Providing specialist information to patients about taking part in Clinical Trials, including the risks and benefits of participation in specific protocols. Initiating and facilitating the process of gaining their informed consent.
Acting as primary contact for participants and to be a source of information for these patients and their relatives and for the local Clinical teams, with respect to trial activities.
Liaising with other clinical departments, support departments and external organizations to ensure the successful delivery of trials.
Maintaining accurate documentation in an auditable format, and accurately record data as required by each Trial.
Identifying barriers to recruitment and performance, communicating these to the wider team, and help facilitate their resolution.
Working to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) for research activity and provide ongoing review and development of these SOPS.
Ensuring all activities undertaken meet the standards set out in the Principles of Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP, 1996) and National Research Governance Framework for Health & Social Care (DH, 2005). Enforce all applicable standards (e.g. ‘Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004’) for research.
Undertaking research projects in hepatology. The post holder will be encouraged to register for an MD thesis or similar and present their findings at national meetings as well as publishing in peer reviewed journals.
Assisting with running current multi-centre clinical research trials – recruitment, consenting, performing procedures as per protocol. On completion of the trial data analysis, publishing of results and writing papers.
Write grant applications for future studies, as identified.
Actively participate in the research team meetings, including current research fellows, research nurses and department consultants.
Attend Research Fellow meetings as per the schedule, to describe delivery on Research Network Portfolio trials, quality improvements made, show knowledge transfer and progress on academic studies
Providing medical support for Urgent Public Health Research and other high priority NIHR research under the direction of the Wessex CRN fellowship programme.
Qualifications