Clinical Lecturer in Neurology - Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research - 1012 - Clinical

Clinical and Research activity balance

Clinical and research activity will be a 50:50 split between clinical and academic sessions. Time may be split to undertake 10 fixed clinical sessions every other week and remaining time will be available for research, with appropriate contributions to undergraduate teaching (small group teaching, lectures). Alternatively clinical and academic sessions may be split 50:50 on a weekly basis (or the candidate may propose 3 monthly blocks of clinical academic work). Time in post is recognised 100% to contribute to CCT accreditation and clinical competencies will be assessed annually at the ARCP assessments in the usual way. The on-call neurology commitments will be in accordance with the Hospital Specialist Registrar rota.

Flexibility will be given to whether the Clinical Lecturer post would be appointed as clinical ST 3-5 or more experienced. The person though must show commitment to an academic career in Neurology. The post holder will normally remain in post until CCT is achieved or for a period of 4 years.

Description of research component of programme.

There will be flexibility to allow the successful candidate to develop their research interest within any of the research areas (both clinical and basic science/laboratory-based work) with in the Translational Brain Sciences group.

It is required that prospective candidates have research experience and ideally research training. Ideally, the candidate will have completed or been awarded a postgraduate degree (usually PhD). The candidate should have peer reviewed publications and will be expected to achieve a significant number of publications in peer reviewed journals and to prepare for a postdoctoral career development fellowship (e.g. Wellcome/MRC/NIHR postdoctoral or clinician scientist fellowships).

Essential

• MRCP (part 2).


• It is a requirement that the candidate holds a NTN.


• Experience of teaching medical undergraduates.


• Experience of small group teaching.


• Computer literate with Word, Excel, EndNote.


• Research publications.


• Experienced in clinical trials and human physiology research.


• Ability to work in a team-orientated environment and to work without friction with colleagues.


• Motivated to take forward the specialty.


• Committed to a career in academic medicine.


• Ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team.


• Bright committed and able to produce consistently high quality work within deadlines.


Desirable

• Experience of ST3 or greater.


• MRCP (Part 3).


• Ideally be within 6 months of completion of Higher degree (PhD or MD) and registered as such with a UK EU University.


• Design of undergraduate curriculum.


• Experience of development of lesson plan for teaching sessions.


• Experienced in the use of Prism/GraphPad software.


• Demonstrate the ability to attain funding from peer review grant bodies (i.e. MRC, HTA, etc).


• Ability to develop new techniques and assess their worth.


• Friendly, non dictatorial relationship with staff.


OH/DBS required

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health and DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to deliver a 10 minute presentation with the title 'My academic background and plans for a career in clinical research'.

This position will be based in the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), College of Medical and Dental Sciences to support the area of Neurology health research and teaching portfolio. The research area has a broad portfolio of clinically based and basic science research.

Research activity will focus upon one of all potential areas of Neurology currently ongoing in the Institute. The post provides the opportunity for higher and advanced sub-specialist training in Neurology alongside pursuing an academic research career and contribution to teaching. The clinical duties of the post will rotate between the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHBFT), and Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust.

It is anticipated that the successful applicant will undertake a programme of research in line with the current research interests within the Translational Brain Sciences group within the College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham. The institute houses a significant number of internationally and world leading researchers and has one of the nation's leading track records at obtaining prestigious career development and career establishment fellowships by major funders, including clinician scientist and senior clinical research fellowships from MRC and Wellcome Trust.

During the 50% clinical training allocation of the post, the post holder will have responsibilities for the care of inpatients and outpatients with the full range of neurology, and teaching and assessment of medical students and postgraduate students.

For the 50% academic research and teaching component, it is anticipated that the successful applicant will undertake a programme of research in line with the current research interests within the Translational Brain Sciences Group lead by Professor Sinclair, University of Birmingham. We champion the academic clinical integrated training pathway and host trainees in neurology throughout their career development.

The IMSR offers a highly multi-disciplinary collaborative environment that combines leading excellence in neurology particularly intracranial pressure dynamics, headache, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, metabolic, neuro-endocrine research with mass spectrometry-based and computational systems science approaches. Our researchers employ a combination of in vitro and in vivo models, human in vivo physiology, innovative metabolic and imaging approaches, experimental medicine studies and clinical trials.

There are 3 research themes linked to Neurology within the IMRS, all of which have synergistic overlap with each other and other research areas of excellence:

• Idiopathic intracranial Hypertension and metabolism



• Headache, metabolism, and neuroendocrinology



• Traumatic brain injury and post traumatic headache


The Translational Brain Sciences research group is led by Professor Alex Sinclair and focuses on idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and neuroendocrine aspects of headache. They use in vitro and in vivo models to assess pathogenic pathways and novel therapeutic strategies which modulate intracranial pressure. They are currently running a number of clinical trials related to IIH. Linked translational studies evaluate IIH aetiology and disease biomarkers. Human physiology studies are assessing headache and intracranial pressure mechanisms. In vivo studies are utilising mouse models to study cortical spreading depression and intracranial pressure. Professor Sinclair also leads the mTBI Predict research program, a cross disciplinary collaboration aimed at identifying prognostic biomarkers in mild traumatic brain injury.

The IMSR is the academic home to ~40 internationally and world-leading principal investigators focussing on the areas of metabolic research in an integrated multi-disciplinary approach.

The IMSR contributes to strategic leadership for and houses some of the specialist facilities of the University of Birmingham Metabolomics Core www.birmingham.ac.uk/metabolomics that comprises unique expertise and technological capacities delivered by the Phenome Centre Birmingham, the Steroid Metabolomics Analysis Core, the Metabolic Tracer Analysis Core, the NERC Metabolomics Node, the Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility and the Biomolecular NMR Facility.

Our science is translated into health via the Birmingham Health Partners' dedicated translational research centres. We pride ourselves that we can offer research approaches that can cover the entire translational cascade, from cell-based and animal in vivo model studies through to experimental medicine and clinical trials, providing the opportunity for broad research training and translationally integrated working. The successful applicant will have access to all state-of-the-art technologies and expertise to facilitate the development of their research career at the cutting edge of Neurology and Metabolic Medicine.

The College houses state-of-the-art technologies and expertise to facilitate the research career of the successful applicant, with ready access to core technologies including DNA sequencing, proteomic and metabolomic facilities, and advanced imaging facilities.

The Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (WTCRF) at QEHB provides a broad range of clinical research facilities including dedicated inpatient and outpatient accommodation, staffed by trained personnel and soon to be linked to an HTA approved tissue bio-repository. The WTCRF also comprises a paediatric satellite in the Birmingham Children's Hospital and a recently launched mobile research facility, the Health Research Bus, for outreach to the community. The Clinical Trials Unit within the College is one of the largest in the UK and provides access to essential skills (statistics, trial design, randomization, and outcomes) for clinical trial activity.

The research interests of a successful candidate will be paramount, and flexibility of research training and area of research modified to support the individual., We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy . You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .