Clinical Senior Lecturer in Immuno-Oncology

17992BR

School of Medicine

Clinical Teaching & Research

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Clinical Senior Lecturer in Immuno-Oncology
Division of Infection and Immunity / Systems Immunity University Research Institute
School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a new and exciting immuno-oncology research initiative with Cardiff University and Velindre University NHS Trust in the emerging Cardiff Cancer Research Hub. Applications are invited from both Medical and Clinical Oncologists with relevant interest and expertise. Our aim is to work across organisations to deliver translational research creating close working relationships between clinicians and scientists. The role can be mainly laboratory based, working with one or more of our pre-clinical teams or more clinically orientated by bringing new therapies to patients. We are in the process of developing novel vaccines, cell therapies, repurposed drugs and small molecules as immunotherapies.

Overall it will form part of our goals for:

• Contributing to our understanding of immunotherapy mechanisms with a focus on understanding correlates of immunity / identifying biomarkers of treatment success.
• Contributing to development of novel immunotherapies, including vaccines and cell therapies.
• Accelerating our bench to bedside ambitions in Immuno-oncology.
• Advancing collaborations with Cardiff University scientists, Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) and Wales Cancer Research Centre (WCRC) to deliver bench to bedside projects with a Cardiff generated molecule/therapy.
• Designing and delivering investigator-led Early Phase Clinical Trials with Cardiff Chief Investigators through interaction with Industry, Academic colleagues, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and Cancer Research Wales (CRW).

For informal enquiries, please contact Professors Awen Gallimore or Andrew Sewell (non-clinical), Professors Mererid Evans or Andrew Godkin (clinical).

Emails:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]  

This post is full time (37½ hours per week), available immediately and initially fixed term until 31 March 2029.  The position will be formally reviewed under our contract management procedures, and may or may not be renewed.

Salary: £91,722 - £119,079 per annum (Clinical Grade D6).

Date posted: 25 March 2024

Closing date: 28 April 2024

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University

Job Purpose

To conduct research within Cardiff University laboratories and as part of our immuno-oncology clinical trials research team to contribute to accelerating immunotherapy research through development of novel therapies and / or building understanding of immunotherapy mechanisms and bringing novel agents through to the clinic for patient benefit. The post is also designed to generate research proposals to win prestigious grant funding. The post is co-funded by Velindre University NHS Trust, the Wales Cancer Research Centre and Cardiff University Systems Immunity Institute, and is a key post within the Cardiff Cancer Research Hub, a clinical and translational research hub set-up in partnership between Velindre, Cardiff University and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to deliver novel treatments through to the clinic. The service delivery component of the post will be entirely focussed on cancer clinical trial development and delivery, so that the successful candidate will be able to focus their time entirely on research activity.

Provisional Job Plan

Job plans will set out a Consultant’s duties, responsibilities, time commitments and accountability arrangements, including all direct clinical care, supporting professional activities and other NHS responsibilities (including managerial).

Annual job plan reviews will also be supported by a joint academic: NHS appraisal process which reviews the clinical academic’s work and performance and identifies development needs, as subsequently reflected in a personal development plan.

A job plan (50% University, 50% NHS) will be agreed at appointment, provisional below:

  MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
AM Direct Clinical Care (DCC)
Immuno-oncology/ATMP trial clinic – Cardiff Cancer Research Hub* University: academic Direct Clinical Care (DCC) Immuno-oncology/ATMP trial clinic – Cardiff Cancer Research Hub* University: academic Direct Clinical Care (DCC) Immuno-oncology trial clinic or Radiotherapy planning (depending on oncology speciality of appointee).*
PM Supporting Professional Activities (SPA): clinical management/
clinical research University: academic
Supporting Professional Activities (SPA): clinical management/
clinical research University: academic
University: academic

 *this may include review of unscheduled inpatient admissions (each session represents 10% of a 37.5 hour working week)

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research

• To pursue research in novel immunotherapies and / or building understanding of immunotherapy mechanisms
• Clinical oncologists will additionally be expected to pursue research in immunotherapy/radiotherapy interactions
• To disseminate research findings using appropriate and effective publications, national/international meetings and conferences, and research seminars
• To prepare external funding applications as well as research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate
• To participate in oncology patient management in immuno-oncology, Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) and other relevant clinical trials at the Cardiff Cancer Research Hub (CCRH) based at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW)
• To become familiar with immuno-oncology/ATMP trial protocols and working practice within the Early Phase and wider research teams at Velindre Cancer Centre (VCC) and the Cardiff Cancer Research Hub (CCRH)
• To promote unifying cross-site working practice between VCC trials unit and the CCRH on UHW site
• To promote cohesive solid tumour early phase trial activity within South Wales
• To act as supervisor/co-supervisor for postgraduate research (PGR) students including masters and doctoral students
• To contribute to PGR progress monitoring as chair or member of review panels

Main Duties and Responsibilities continued in Job Description section below

Job Description

Teaching (from Year 3 onwards)

• To contribute to undergraduate medical teaching in the School of Medicine as set out by the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences (BLS) and the forthcoming School of Medicine Teaching Charter (the precise level will be commensurate with the FTE appointment and concurrent Academic/Leadership duties)
• To undertake work associated with examinations, such as setting and marking assessments and providing student feedback
• To provide specialist lectures for the undergraduate medical curriculum
• To lecture and act as project supervisor for BSc Intercalated students
• To act as project supervisor for Student Selected Component (SSC) projects
• To act as a Personal Tutor and provide academic advice and pastoral support to students

Clinical

• To hold and maintain a Licence to Practise with the General Medical Council
• To hold an honorary consultant contract with the relevant NHS Trust(s) – Velindre University NHS Trust and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
• To provide Direct Clinical Care and Supporting Professional Activities, in line with the provisions of the amended Consultant Contract for Wales
• To provide a consultant-led immuno-oncology/ATMP clinical trial service, including outpatient clinics and in-patient care, as agreed with the Clinical Director of Velindre Cancer Centre, via the Job Planning process - this will involve activity based primarily at the Cardiff Cancer Research Hub (CCRH) on the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) site, and some cross-working across Velindre and UHW sites (after a 3 year period the dedicated commitment for trial delivery forming the entire clinical component will be reviewed and may be subject to change)
• Clinical Oncologists will have a radiotherapy planning and peer review session, in order to enable them to maintain radiotherapy expertise required to deliver immunotherapy - radiotherapy research portfolio
• Provide telephone advice and to liaise with other health care providers, hospitals and primary care teams, as required
• To undertake the professional supervision and management of junior staff - in certain circumstances, the post-holder may be named as the person responsible for overseeing the training of junior staff
• To participate actively in clinical audit, in liaison with other colleagues and in line with the NHS Trust policy on the implementation of clinical governance
• To participate actively in Continuing Professional Development, in line with guidance from the Royal College of Physicians and in agreement with the Chief Executive of the relevant NHS Trust(s)

Other

• To engage effectively with industrial, commercial, and public sector organisations, charities, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of Cardiff University’s and Velindre’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities - these activities are expected to contribute to the Cardiff Cancer Research Hub and the enhancement of its regional and national profile
• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to, and which will enhance performance
• To support and promote the Wales Cancer Research Strategy (CReSt) launched in 2022, as well as that of Velindre Cancer R&D Ambitions 2021-31 and the Cardiff University Cancer Strategy 2023
• To engage with Velindre and Cardiff University School of Medicine research partners, including patients, patient and public representatives to develop and promote cancer research - the role will specifically require engagement with clinicians from cancer centres across Wales, Centre for Trials Research and scientists from across different Schools and Colleges within Cardiff University
• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Full General Medical Council registration and Licence to practise

Membership/Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (UK), or equivalent

Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or equivalent and registration on the Specialist Register for Clinical or Medical Oncology (or be within 6 months of eligibility for inclusion)

Postgraduate research degree, MD or PhD or equivalent, relevant to the research area outlined in the job description

Significant experience of the management of cancer patients

An understanding with evidence of the importance of the clinical impact of health research

A strong track-record of academic success in the NHS and/or in a higher education institution

Evidence of vision and previous strategic leadership including the ability to lead on the integration of partnerships between NHS, Cardiff University and/or Industry

Proven communication and networking skills, evidence of successful relationship building, initiative, and excellent project management abilities

Experience of medical undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and supervision and clear evidence of commitment to nurture and support the development of the next generation of cancer research leaders

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

It is the School of Medicine's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.

Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to your application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance for this post, 17992BR.

If candidates do not provide written evidence of meeting all of the essential criteria then their application will not be progressed. The School of Medicine welcome the submission of CVs to accompany evidence of the job-based criteria.

The post holder will also be expected:

• To maintain scientific competency by attending relevant lectures, courses, seminars and conferences
• To participate actively in the academic appraisal
• To contribute to the effective management of the Division, School and Research Theme at College, within the University
• To provide leadership that ensures Tripartite Collaboration between Cardiff and Vale; Cardiff University and Velindre and enables success of the Cardiff Cancer Research Hub
• To ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in respect of equality and diversity, data protection, copyright and licensing, security, financial and other University policies, procedures and codes as appropriate
• To perform other academic duties, on an occasional basis, and by agreement, which are not included above, but which are consistent with the role

Additional Information

The clinical base for this post will be at the Cardiff Cancer Research Hub on UHW (Heath Park) site and Velindre NHS Trust, with the possibility of clinical sessions at other hospitals in South Wales, as appropriate.  The estimated number of new patient referrals per annum is 75 – 100.

The academic base will be in School of Medicine, Cardiff University laboratories/other research areas, at the University Hospital of Wales (Heath Park, Cardiff).

The following clinical academics work in the immuno-oncology/ATMP trial clinic in Cardiff and have joint posts between Cardiff University and Velindre University NHS Trust:

Professor Robert Jones, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Cardiff University-Velindre
Dr Magda Meissner, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Cardiff University-Velindre
Professor Mererid Evans, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Cardiff University-Velindre
Dr James Powell, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Cardiff University-Velindre

There is also a large team of oncologists delivering early phase and drug-radiotherapy studies at Velindre – including Dr Paul Shaw (Consultant Clinical Oncologist), Dr Amy Quinton (Consultant Medical Oncologist), Dr Satish Kumar (Consultant Medical Oncologist), Dr Ricky Fraser (Consultant Medical Oncologist) and Dr Tom Wilson (Consultant Medical Oncologist).

These individuals are supported by a team of Clinical Research Fellows and research delivery nurses, as well as highly collaborative discovery and translational researchers at the University.

Appropriate office accommodation, internet access and administrative support will be provided to the successful post holder.

The post holder will be required to actively participate in, and comply fully with, the clinical academic/NHS Joint Appraisal Process and the requirements for consultant re-validation. The required arrangements are in place, as laid down by the Royal College of Physicians, to ensure that all doctors have an annual appraisal with a trained appraiser and supports clinical academic staff going through the revalidation process.

The University encourages mentoring to new and existing staff and runs its own mentoring scheme in addition to promoting mentoring networks, such as the Women in Universities Mentoring Scheme (WUMS).

Velindre NHS Trust supports the requirements for Continuing Professional Development as laid down by the Royal College of Physicians and is committed to providing time and financial support for these activities.

Clinically, you will have ongoing responsibility for the care of patients in your charge at the Cardiff Cancer Research Hub/University Hospital of Wales and Velindre University NHS Trust (VUNHST), in liaising with consultant colleagues, and for the proper functioning of the Site Specific Team in line with the Operational Policy and strategic plan (as amended from time to time).

It is a standard element of the role and responsibilities of all the staff of the Trust that they fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards.

You will be required to co-operate with local management in the efficient running of services within Velindre Cancer Centre and an expectation to share with consultant colleagues in the medical contribution to management.

You will be required to work within the financials and other restraints decided upon by the Velindre UNHST.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Category

Academic - Teaching & Research, Medical & Dental