Senior Research Associate (OPTIMAL feasibility trial)

The role

The OPTIMAL feasibility trial is an NIHR-funded trial investigating whether an effectiveness randomised controlled trial (RCT) of two immunosuppression regimens in older kidney transplant recipients is feasible.

People with kidney transplants need to take tablets to prevent their bodies from rejecting the transplant (‘immunosuppression’). The immune system becomes less effective in later life, meaning lower doses of immunosuppression tablets may be enough to stop transplant rejection. The amount of immunosuppression medication given to older transplant recipients is currently based on research in young people. Immunosuppression tablets affect older adults differently, causing more infections, cancers and side-effects such as diarrhoea, which prevent people from living their lives fully. Lower doses of immunosuppressives may prevent these problems. However, less immunosuppression could mean someone is more likely to need treatment for rejection. Older adults could find the side-effects of treatment for rejection more severe than younger adults. It may be that older recipients prefer to live with the side-effects of standard immunosuppressive doses to avoid rejection.

We do not know what the right level of immunosuppression is for older transplant recipients. There are no national guidelines. Older people cared for at different UK kidney units receive different treatments.

The OPTIMAL feasibility trial aims to assess the feasibility of an RCT of lower dose MMF (1g/day) versus higher dose MMF (1.5g/day), and its acceptability to transplant recipients aged ≥65 years.

The qualitative study component aims to understand:

• Reasons for non-participation and barriers to recruitment
• Reasons for participation and facilitators of recruitment
• Participant experience of the treatment arms and trial procedures
• Outcomes of importance to patients
• Study resource design
• Healthcare practitioner experience of trial delivery
• Healthcare practitioner willingness to recruit and randomize (including clinical equipoise)
• Healthcare practitioner views on the treatment arms

What will you be doing?

Over the next 18 months, you will undertake:

• Study set-up: Working with study sites to invite potential participants.
• Data collection: Develop an interview topic guide with the patient advisory group and the PI. Undertaking in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews via telephone and video-conferencing software with:
  • approximately 10 trial non-participants
  • approximately 10 trial participants
  • approximately 10 healthcare professionals (research nurses, transplant nurses, nephrologists, transplant surgeons)
• Analysis: Leading analysis of the qualitative data. Contributing to overall trial analysis.
• Dissemination and impact: Writing-up results for publications and presentations. Working with the patient advisory group to write a plain language summary of the study findings.

You should apply if

• You have a good honours degree (or equivalent) in social or health sciences.
• You have a relevant postgraduate research degree e.g. MA, MSc or PhD in social or health sciences, or have equivalent professional qualifications/experience.
• You have experience of leading qualitative data collection and analysis.
• You have a track record of excellence in research project administration and delivery.
• You are excited about undertaking research to understand the experiences of people with failing kidney transplants, with the goal of ultimately improve outcomes for people with kidney transplants.

Additional information

Contract type: Open-ended with funding until 31/10/2026

Work pattern: Part-time/0.2FTE (days negotiable)

Shift pattern: 7 hours per week 

For informal queries please contact:

Dr Pippa Bailey, pippa.bailey@bristol.ac.uk, 0117 331 4522

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