Clinical Research Fellow

This job is only available to University of Leeds staff. It may be released externally should we not appoint internally.

Are you an ambitious clinical researcher looking for your next challenge? Do you have experience in treating autoimmune connective tissue diseases such as SLE? Are you interested in undertaking a research degree? Do you have excellent organisational skills and attention to detail? Do you want to be part of a successful, highly talented and leading research team? Are you keen to expand knowledge into this field and work collaboratively across research themes? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive Universities? SLE is one of a group of connective tissue diseases characterised by inflammation in multiple organs, type I interferon activity, and autoantibodies, leading to poor quality of life. It is more severe in children and people of non-European ancestries. Current practice is to treat SLE with a series of conventional immunosuppressants combined with glucocorticoids (GC), but evidence for the sequence in which they should be used is weak. Under current clinical guidelines, if this approach fails, and people have moderate/severe SLE, a more effective biological therapy such as rituximab, can be added to these agents later as usual care. This approach may not be optimal since SLE is most severe within the first 12 months of diagnosis, with the highest mortality, GC exposure and healthcare resource use.

Our current work aims to advance understanding on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of biological therapies given first-line or after failure of conventional immunosuppressants in people with moderate to severe SLE, as well as optimising outcome measures/treatment targets used in clinical trials and clinical practice. There may also be work involving immunophenotyping and skin biopsy. Systematic literature review and patient public engagement are essential parts of this role.

You will lead your own studies in this area, including methods development and clinical studies and contribute to the work of the research group as a whole. You will be medically qualified with MRCP or equivalent and full GMC registration.

Junior Doctor / Dentists in training

We have implemented a new approach to pay for junior doctors and dentists in training which mirrors the new pay system and transitional arrangements introduced into the NHS by the 2016 contract for Junior Doctor / Dentists in training; the salary awarded for this role will be awarded depending on a trainee’s current NHS pay scale status under the transitional arrangements.

What we offer in retur n

26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That’s 42 days a year!

Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 21.6% of salary

Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.

Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development &​ Professional Learning team, and self-development courses including languages, Creative Writing, Wellbeing Therapies and much more.

Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: Professor Edward Vital,

Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds and NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre

Tel: +44 (0)113 3438412

Email: e.m.j.vital@leeds.ac.uk