UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
FACULTIES OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH CENTRE (MCRC)
DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
The MCRC Director of Clinical Cardiovascular Research (DoCCR) will support the MCRC
Director by providing leadership and direction in developing and delivering clinical
cardiovascular research at Leeds by consultation with colleagues in MCRC and associated
hospital centres.
The DoCCR is expected to take ownership of the MCRC’s clinical research agenda, and play a
leading role in seeking opportunities to represent Leeds’ clinical cardiovascular research
interests at national committees and to take the lead in coordinating the efforts of other Leeds
members of national committees to ensure maximum benefit for Leeds in the area of clinical
cardiovascular research.
The strategy will focus on building upon the MCRC’s strong record of research excellence to
develop a portfolio of activities to encourage NHS Clinical Directors, Directorate Managers and
Consultants to participate in and support research activity.
The expectation is that this appointment will be for three years from 1 September 2015, with
possible extension in future.
This role is open to members of the University’s staff at grade 8 or above and clinical academic
staff and honorary title holders within the School of Medicine.
The post will not attract additional remuneration or an honorarium, although it is anticipated that
relevant workload remission will be agreed with the successful candidate through the joint job
planning processes.
The University of Leeds is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offers a range
of family friendly policies (http://hr.leeds.ac.uk/homepage/4/policies). The University is a charter
member of Athena SWAN and holds the Bronze award. The School of Medicine gained the
Bronze award in 2013. We are committed to being an inclusive medical school that values all
staff, and we are happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working
arrangements from our employees.
APPLICATIONS
Informal enquiries can be made by contacting Professor David Beech, MCRC Director –
Telephone: 0113 343 4323 or Email: d.j.beech@leeds.ac.uk.
Applications should be in the form of a personal statement (a maximum of two pages) outlining
your vision for MCRC for the next three years and explaining how you would fulfil the role. A CV
should also be included.
You should submit your documents to Rebecca Pollitt r.e.pollitt@leeds.ac.uk by 24 July 2015.
Please note a University application form is not required.
Interviews are expected to take place in August 2015.
Job Ref: MHLCM1031
Closing date: 24 July 2015
Role Summary
The MCRC Director of Clinical Cardiovascular Research will:
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Encourage and support research excellence.
Provide leadership, innovation, direction and coordination for clinical cardiovascular
research at Leeds by consultation with colleagues in MCRC and associated hospital
centres.
Actively encourage consultants to participate in and support research activity.
Actively encourage partnerships between clinicians and basic scientists in cardiovascular
research.
Work under the leadership of the MCRC Director and the Dean of the School of
Medicine.
Liaise effectively with the Director of Research and Development at Leeds Teaching
Hospitals NHS, and other NHS units if appropriate.
Sit on, regularly attend, and bring clinical initiatives to the MCRC Executive.
Work closely with relevant NHS Clinical Directors and Directorate Managers, including
taking responsibility to discharge an active role in the job plans of MCRC related
clinicians. Where applicable, to the individual’s discipline, to take on and expand the
responsibilities of the post of Research Lead for the Clinical Management Team.
Liaise with the Director of LICAMM (Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular & Metabolic
Medicine) and Head of the Cardiovascular Division in LICAMM to ensure appropriate
representation on appointment panels for all senior clinical cardiovascular appointments
and on all relevant Leeds committees.
Seek opportunities to represent Leeds’ clinical cardiovascular research interests at
national committees and to take the lead in coordinating the efforts of other Leeds
members of national committees to ensure maximum benefit for Leeds in the area of
clinical cardiovascular research.
Ensure planning and timely responses in relation to UK Government, EU, charity and
other initiatives in the areas of translational and clinical research.
Promote a strong collegiate clinical research ethos.
Promote a good name and image for Leeds’ clinical cardiovascular research.
Develop formal international partnerships in clinical cardiovascular research.
As invited, to represent the MCRC on relevant committees.
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Report annually to the MCRC Executive on the performance of clinical cardiovascular
research at Leeds.
Person Specification
This role is open to members of the University’s staff at grade 8 or above and clinical academic
staff and honorary title holders within the School of Medicine.
Able to demonstrate a high level of clinical experience and competence in cardiovascular
medicine, together with an excellent international track record of research and publication
meeting international standards of academic excellence in an area relevant to MCRC’s strategic
priorities.
Demonstrate a track record of sustained delivery of ambitious and imaginative academic
leadership.
Demonstrate ability to provide academic leadership in research both by own work and through
the encouragement and stimulation of colleagues.
Show international links and evidence of effective engagement with and influencing national and
international research agendas.
Demonstrate a track record of effective team working and collaborative development.
Demonstrate excellent organisational and communication skills.
Demonstrate ability to think laterally, to be imaginative and to anticipate trends and
opportunities.
Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with University and NHS management Groups
Be self-motivated, enthusiastic and committed to driving forward clinical cardiovascular research
at Leeds.
Relationships
The post holder will report to the MCRC Director, and through them to Dean of the Faculty of
Medicine and Health.
Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre (MCRC)
Leeds has a long history of excellent cardiovascular research, development of its research for
the benefit of patients and regular publication at the highest level, including papers in top
international journals (Lancet, Nature and Science) in each of the past 6 years. Example
discoveries and developments include:
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Elucidation of structures of myosins
Discoveries of ion channel control by extracellular thioredoxin, heme oxygenase-2
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and REST
Determination of the sodium-hydrogen antiporter’s structure
Discovery of mammalian angiotensin-converting enzyme-2
Identification of regions on chromosome 9 associated with premature heart
disease.
Invention of a bioprosthetic heart valve implanted in 1000s of patients world-wide
Formally established in 2008, MCRC is Leeds’ cardiovascular research organisation, which
spans from the National Health Service and across the University’s faculties of Medicine &
Health, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics & Physical Sciences. Its mission is
to advance understanding of cardiovascular disease and thereby improve human life.
Therefore, MCRC addresses one of the primary challenges for modern humans – that of heart
disease and related problems, which are set to reach epidemic proportions with the ever
increasing tendencies of societies towards low physical activity, obesity and diabetes.
Specifically, MCRC focus on three elements of the cardiovascular field:
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Revealing mechanisms of vascular disease and associated changes in the myocardium
for the generation of therapeutics
Using engineering and other fundamental disciplines to find innovative approaches for
cardiovascular diagnosis and protection
Developing new investigators.
The MCRC Constitution and further information about MCRC can be found at
www.cardiovascular.leeds.ac.uk