Faculty of Medicine and Health
School of Medicine
Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology (LICAP)
Section of Experimental Oncology
Children’s Cancer Research Group
Based at St James’s University Hospital
Research Fellow - Grade 7 (0.6 FTE)
Applications are invited for a Research Fellow to join the Children’s Cancer Research
Group in the Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology to work on a European wide
translational research project evaluating the clinical significance of minimal disease in
children with neuroblastoma.
The successful candidate will take operational responsibility for coordinating studies
across seven laboratories and assuring timely analysis and reporting of results for clinical
utility. You will be required to liaise with key stakeholders at the University of Leeds,
European and UK treatment centres, Cancer Research UK and a number of clinical trial
units in order to determine their needs, ensure adoption of SOPs and implementation of
recommendations. You will also be responsible for providing judicious advice to
collaborating centres and partners.
Applicants should have a PhD in a biological science and previous experience managing
projects in a research setting. You must have strong communication and negotiation skills
and will have experience in the, analysis of nucleic acids and working with clinical
samples.
This post is funded by Cancer Research UK and is available immediately for a fixed
term to 31st Aug 2017 (with the possibility of funding for a further 12 months).
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.
University Grade 7 (£31,342 - £32,277 due to restrictions in funding) depending on
qualifications and experience
Informal enquiries regarding the post should be directed to Professor Sue Burchill, email:
s.a.burchill@leeds.ac.uk. If you have any specific enquiries about your online application
please contact Nicola Johnson, email: N.Johnson@leeds.ac.uk or Sharon Collins, email:
s.collins@leeds.ac.uk
Job Ref: MHCAP1016
Closing Date: 23rd January 2015
BACKGROUND
The Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology (LICAP)
Director: Professor Tim Bishop
http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/info/900/leeds_institute_of_cancer_and_pathology
The Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology addresses both laboratory based and clinical
research into cancer with a major focus on translational science. LICAP is one of the
largest cancer Institute’s in the country and has major financial support from the cancer
charities. The laboratories and clinical research are all based on the St James’s site with
laboratory activities being located in the Wellcome Trust Brenner Building and adjacent
buildings while the clinical work is based within Bexley Wing. The Institute consists of
seven Sections: Epidemiology & Biostatistics; Experimental Haematology; Experimental
Oncology; Oncology & Clinical Research (Clinical); Oncology & Clinical Research
(Laboratory); Pre-cancer Genomics; and Pathology & Tumour Biology.
Cancer Research UK Leeds Centre
http://www.cancerresearchukcentre.leeds.ac.uk
The Leeds Cancer Research UK Centre is a partnership between the University of Leeds,
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Cancer Research UK, which aims to harness
the scientific power of Leeds-based cancer researchers to deliver improvements in cancer
care at local, national and international level. It fosters excellence in basic and
translational research and offers services to all cancer researchers in Leeds, irrespective
of their funding source. Beyond research, the Centre is also keen to build stronger
relationships with the local community, with patients undergoing cancer treatment, their
carers, cancer survivors and the wider public.
Section of Experimental Oncology – Professor Margaret Knowles
The Section focuses on the translation of biological information into clinical application,
working closely with surgeons, oncologists, cytogeneticists and pathologists and using a
range of preclinical models and human tumour samples to study basic tumour biology and
to test and validate hypotheses related to clinical application. Specific interests include
bladder and breast tumours, and Ewing’s Sarcoma and neuroblastoma.
The Project
Neuroblastoma is the second most common solid tumour in children, affecting
approximately 100 new children per year in the UK. Children with neuroblastoma
frequently have disseminated or metastatic disease at diagnosis, which is a powerful
indicator of poor outcome. Since outcome is dependent on the presence of metastases
and determines the treatment children will receive, the accurate and sensitive quantitative
assessment of this disease is clearly essential. Methods currently used in clinical practice
for assessing disseminated disease status in neuroblastoma largely depend on imaging to
identify characteristic lesions or examination of bone marrow aspirates by cytology.
However, these methods do not detect and quantify the small volume disease that is
frequently difficult to treat and the cause of relapse and recurrence. We have
demonstrated that the detection of neuroblastoma mRNAs predicts outcome in children
with neuroblastoma (Viprey et al. Neuroblastoma mRNAs predict outcome in children with
stage 4 neuroblastoma; A European HR-NBL1/SIOPEN study, 2014, Journal of Clinical
Oncology, 32; 1074-1084). In this project the independent clinical utility of this method will
be prospectively evaluated in children with high risk disease.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Purpose of the Post
The primary purpose of this post is to investigate the independent clinical value of
detecting circulating mRNAs in children with high-risk neuroblastoma. The appointee will
take operational responsibility for coordinating these studies across seven SIOPEN
Europe reference laboratories and assuring timely analysis and reporting of results for
clinical utility. You will liaise with key stakeholders at the University of Leeds, with
participating SIOPEN European centres, the 22 UK treatment centres, the SIOPEN
Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) in Austria, the Birmingham CTU and Cancer Research UK in
order to determine their needs, ensure adoption of SOPs and implementation of
recommendations. You will also be responsible for providing judicious advice to
collaborating centres and partners. This is a university post but you will hold an honorary
contract with the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust.
This post, funded by Cancer Research UK, will be held in the Section of Experimental
Oncology, Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology. You will work within the Children’s
Cancer Research Group that has a long-standing reputation for international research
excellence in the field.
The group comprise post-doctoral research fellows, PhD students, Clinical Fellows and
research support staff involved in a range of translational projects in childhood cancer.
Main duties and Responsibilities
You will be responsible for:
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Collaborating with the IT partner of the clinical trial (Austrian Institute of Technology)
to record results from analysis and link these to centrally reviewed data of cytology
and mIBG (the current gold standards for the assessment of disease status and
response), results of immunocytology and genetic biomarkers (investigational
molecular markers of disease status and response) and clinical outcome data at the
end of the proposed study.
Interpretation of results in collaboration with the study PI and biostatisticians, and
preparation of data for publication of manuscript(s) in high impact factor journal(s).
Maintenance of quality control across the seven reference laboratories and
adherence to SOPs of 22 participating UK clinical centres.
Provide advice and troubleshooting on SOPs and analyses by the reference centres
participating in the biomarker studies across Europe.
Provide direct supervision to the grade 5 technician and general support and
guidance to less experienced team members.
Co-ordination and securing national and international sample collection from
children with neuroblastoma entered into the high risk NBL study of SIOP-Europe.
Budgeting and ordering of consumables for the biological studies and chasing
orders where necessary.
Liaise with nursing and clinical colleagues and members of SIOPEN to secure clinical
sample collection and transport according to SOPs
Work to Good Clinical Laboratory Practice
Liaise closely with and supervise the team members to plan and conduct experiments
whilst working with minimal supervision on a day-to-day basis
Make and contribute to decisions on day to day matters that affect your own work and
that of the wider project team.
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Isolate RNA from clinical samples collected from children with neuroblastoma
throughout HR-NBL-1.5/SIOPEN according to SOPs. Assess the quality of isolated
RNAs and analyse for selected markers using molecular techniques including RTqPCR.
Perform RTqPCR for TH, PHOX2B and beta2 microglobulin on RNA samples.
Provide training and support on molecular methods to staff and students as needed.
Communicate research results at international meetings as appropriate.
Attend departmental and Institute research seminars and meetings
Be aware of the risks in the work environment and work in accordance with the GM and
COSSH assessments; contributing to GM and COSSH assessments when appropriate.
Treat data with confidentiality and in accordance with current policies
Work collaboratively with other staff/students within and external to your own research
team as appropriate.
Support and adhere to the Institute’s commitment to Equality and Diversity.
University Values
All staff are expected to operate in line with the university’s values and standards, which
work as an integral part of our strategy and set out the principles of how we work together.
More information about the university’s strategy and values is available at
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/comms/strategy/
Relationships
The appointed research fellow will be responsible to Professor Sue Burchill, through whom
he/she will be accountable to Professor Tim Bishop, Head of Institute, the Dean of the
School of Medicine and Dean of Faculty of Medicine and Health
Person Specification
Essential
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A relevant first scientific degree
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A relevant higher degree (PhD) in biological sciences
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Project management experience in a research setting including the management or
supervision of staff
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Practical experience of working to Good Clinical Laboratory Practice, conducting
experiments with consistency, extracting and analysing nucleic acids in clinical
samples.
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A capacity to overcome experimental difficulties and ability to advise others on how to
overcome experimental difficulties.
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Knowledge and experience of safe handling of human tissues
 Previous experience of working on biomarkers in clinical trials
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Evidence of an ability to organise own work and that of others to meet deadlines
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Accuracy and attention to detail in work.
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Up to date knowledge of relevant guidelines e.g. HTA, Ethics and consent, GCLP, data
protection etc to achieve the objectives of the project.
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Willingness to work flexibly when necessary to fulfil the needs of the research project
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Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including experience presenting
results and report writing
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Ability to maintain confidentiality in the clinical environment.
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Evidence of an ability to work and make decisions individually Ability to engender
commitment and enthusiasm in others, working with scientific and clinical staff locally
and internationally.
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Computer literacy and a working knowledge of information technology, skilled in the use
of databases and bioinformatic methods
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Demonstration of judgment in planning and carrying out research, with a capacity to
deal with varied tasks and work under pressure
 An understanding of and adherence to health and safety procedures within a laboratory
setting
 Understanding of cancer and the role of metastases in development and progression.
 Experience of managing large multidisciplinary projects involving external partners or
organisations
Desirable
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Previous experience of translational research in clinical trials in children and working in
the childhood cancer networks within UK and Europe.
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Experience with Medical Achiever
FURTHER INFORMATION
Faculty Information
Faculty of Medicine and Health Information
With more than 6,000 students, 1,600 staff and annual research income of £60m, the
Faculty of Medicine and Health at Leeds is bigger than some universities. Leeds has one
of the largest medical and bioscience research bases in the UK, and is an acknowledged
world leader in cancer, cardiovascular, psychiatric, genetic, musculo-skeletal and health
services research. Treatments developed in Leeds are transforming the lives of people
around the world living with conditions such as HIV, TB, diabetes and malaria.
The School of Medicine
The School of Medicine at the University of Leeds is a major international centre for
research and education. Our ambition is to improve health and reduce health inequalities,
locally and globally, through excellent scientific research and the translation of that
research into healthcare practice, and through the education of future scientific and clinical
leaders who will advocate and practise an evidence-based approach. Our major strategic
aims are to:
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Deliver outstanding research including basic discovery science through to applied health
research that makes a significant difference to health.
Produce exceptional graduates, clinicians, educators, doctoral and post-doctoral fellows
whose learning has been informed and inspired by our research excellence and who will
form the next generation of academic and clinical leaders.
Develop and support knowledge transfer activities that flow from our academic activities.
Create and maintain an efficient and sustainable environment for research and teaching
within an organisational culture and management style that enacts and supports the
university’s core values of community, inclusiveness, integrity and professionalism.
The School of Medicine is organised into seven Institutes. All are committed to high quality
research-led teaching, through their training of postgraduate research students, delivery of
postgraduate taught courses, and its leadership in undergraduate teaching. The School
works closely with the local NHS, having a number of jointly funded clinical posts to ensure
this relationship is effective and strong for both research and student education.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Terms and Conditions
Details of the terms and conditions of employment for all staff at the university, including
information on pensions and benefits, are available on the Human Resources web pages
accessible via the links on the right hand side, or at http://hr.leeds.ac.uk/policies
Disclosure and Barring Service Checks
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check is not required for this position. However,
applicants who have unspent convictions must indicate this in the ‘other personal details’
section of the application form and send details to the Recruitment Officer
Disabled Applicants
The post is located in the Cancer Research Building and Clinical Sciences Building, St
James’s University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds. Disabled applicants wishing to review
access to the buildings are invited to contact the department direct. Additional information
may be sought from the Recruitment Officer, email disclosure@leeds.ac.uk or tel + 44
(0)113 343 1723.
Disabled applicants are not obliged to inform employers of their disability but will still be
covered by the Equality Act once their disability becomes known.
Further information for applicants with disabilities, impairments or health
conditions is available in the applicant guidance.