Clinical Research Fellow in Streptococcal Immunity and Transmission

Clinical Research Fellow in Streptococcal Immunity (the iSpy Network) SP4 

Location: Hammersmith and Fieldwork in Greater London 

Job Summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic Clinical Research Fellow to co-ordinate the Imperial College-led “iSpy-LIFE” school study, to understand how immunity to Strep A develops in children who encounter group A streptococcus (GAS). Our ultimate goal is to gain better understanding of how people become immune to GAS in order to facilitate development of successful vaccines. The iSpy network has recently been funded by the Leducq Foundation, a philanthropic organisation with an interest in preventing rheumatic heart disease, which is a complication of Strep A.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/251477/global-research-network-combat-deadly-strep/

GAS is responsible for over half a million deaths per year globally. Apart from rheumatic heart disease, GAS is also a major cause of deaths from invasive infection (iGAS), as was seen during the upsurge in iGAS in late 2022-23 in the United Kingdom. The work of the iSpy network aims to help unravel how children eventually become immune to GAS. Ultimately this will help us to deliver a vaccine that will prevent not only iGAS-related deaths but also rheumatic heart disease. Working alongside UKHSA, this study will also provide important follow up to our earlier study which investigated transmission of GAS in schools.

Duties and responsibilities

You will be directly involved in the fieldwork required to recruit participants, and take samples, both in schools and households when scarlet fever or other GAS cases have been identified. You will then undertake an experimental laboratory based study to investigate the relationship between immune and inflammatory responses in child and adult participants, in relation to infection onset. You may be able to extend your work to include hospitalised patients.

Your work will involve

• Recruitment of cases and contacts of scarlet fever in the community and in schools
• Liaison with UKHSA and individual schools for recruitment
• Amendment of protocols as required for Research Ethics Committee
• Taking samples from children and adults for bacteriology and immunology studies
• Involvement in collection of samples for environmental studies
• Safe retrieval of samples to College laboratory for processing
• Recruitment of cases and samples within hospital
• Working collaboratively with other group members
• Development of immunological assays in collaboration with iSpy network
• Writing papers, and presenting research
• Liaison with UKHSA, guideline development working groups, collaborators to develop new research proposals 

Essential requirements

• Medical Degree
• GMC Registration
• Enthusiastic clinician with ambition to develop research skills and undertake higher degree
• Proven ability to work with children and adults in a clinical setting
• Full compliance with principles of clinical governance and regard for data security
• Full compliance with principles of safeguarding
• Ability to work independently when required
• Willingness to work flexibly and occasionally longer or antisocial hours as required

Further Information

This is a fulltime, fixed term role based at Hammersmith and Fieldwork in Greater London.

As this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, at the appropriate level, will be required for the successful candidate.

Should you require any further details on the role please contact: Professor Shiranee Sriskandan s.sriskandan@imperial.ac.uk

For technical issues when applying online please email sjobs@ic.ac.uk

Closing date: 22/07/2024

Apply online via the above ‘Apply’ button.

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