PhD Studentship
Centre for Immunology and Infection, Blizard Institute
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Queen Mary, University of London
Program Title: eSTI2 Electronic self-testing instruments for sexually transmitted
infections: Enabling and translating advances in diagnostic and communication
technologies to reduce the burden of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Project Title: How can we safely and effectively harness new complex health
interventions using novel diagnostic and communication technologies for STI
control into mainstream NHS practice?
Supervisor:
Co-Supervisor:
Dr Claudia Estcourt (Centre for Immunology and Infection:
Sexual Health & HIV Group)
Prof Richard Ashcroft, Department of Law, and working closely
with Ms L Sutcliffe, Senior Researcher (Centre for Immunology
and Infection: Sexual Health & HIV Group)
We are looking for a bright, enthusiastic graduate to work with our expanding team
of multidisciplinary health service, clinical and public health sexual health & HIV
researchers based at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. The project sits within eSTI2, our
large consortium of national research leaders in microbiology, statistics,
epidemiology, clinical medicine, public health, microengineering and human
technology interaction, which has been newly funded by a UKCRC Strategy
Development Grant. You will be one of six PhD studentships funded across the
program. You should have at least an upper second class honours degree and may
be from a variety of academic backgrounds including health service research,
biomedicine, ethics and law.
Addressing one of the UK Government’s priorities for health, the eSTI2 Consortium
aims to reduce the high health and economic cost of STIs by the development and
deployment of rapid testing technologies that bring diagnosis and management
strategies directly to the patient. Connectivity with mobile phone mediated patient
care aims to attenuate the individual consequences of infection. This strategy will
give greater control of personal sexual health, reduce psychological morbidity and
improve quality of life. This is particularly important for young people. Community
surveillance of STIs using mobile phone diagnostics is novel and may facilitate
improved public health interventions. The Consortium will actively engage with
Industry and evaluate their diagnostics and thus encourage the generation of
commercial wealth, intellectual property and revenue for industry and academic
partners alike. Mobile phone linked diagnostics have real potential for
implementation in developing world settings.
Your project is a fundamental element in the success of the program and will
address three main areas: regulation and governance of eSTI2 approaches to
diagnostics and patient management; validation of an internet based clinical
consultation; development of an online survey to determine acceptability of the
novel clinical pathways to participants in exploratory pilot studies planned for 2013.
Key tasks will include:
a) reviewing regulatory, data protection, ethical, and perceptual barriers, to
implementation, which may include interviews with key stakeholders
b) assisting development of published guidelines for an approval pathway for
adoption of innovative models of STI care into NHS practice.
CSE draft 23.11.11
c) validating an online clinical consultation for Chlamydia treatment, working with
human technology interaction specialists across the consortium
d) developing an online evaluation to explore acceptability, feasibility and some
outcomes for participants in the exploratory studies
Successful completion of the PhD will enable you to become a leader in growing
fields of research which intersect new technologies, clinical care, diagnostics, and
health service policy.
You will be supervised by Claudia Estcourt & Lorna Sutcliffe (Senior Researcher) at
St Bartholomew’s, and co–supervised for regulatory elements by Prof Richard
Ashcroft from Queen Mary Department of Law. You will work closely with other
consortium colleagues as relevant to each stage of the project and benefit from the
expertise of the consortium members and institutions. The eSTI2 consortium work
is now well established and we are aiming for the studentship to commence early in
2012.
For an informal discussion please email the lead project supervisor:
Dr Claudia Estcourt, c.s.estcourt@qmul.ac.uk
To apply, please download the paper-based School of Medicine & Dentistry
application form from our website:
http://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/index.html
and return to the Admissions Office - email: pgsmd@qmul.ac.uk Please note that
we accept postal and electronic applications with a copy to the lead project
supervisor.
Please note that we accept postal and electronic applications.
Referees may email references directly to pgsmd@qmul.ac.uk
This three year studentship is funded by the Medical Research Council and comes
with a minimum tax free stipend of £15,740 per annum. This studentship is open
to UK Nationals, EEA/Swiss migrant workers and non UK nationals with indefinite
leave to remain in the UK who all have three years ordinary residence in the UK
prior to the start of the studentship.
Closing date for applications is 31st December 2011
CSE draft 23.11.11