This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic clinical research fellow to work on an MRC funded project at Cardiff University's BRAIN Unit under the supervision of Professor Gray. Professor Gray as Cardiff University's Professor of Functional Neurosurgery is the academic lead in neurosurgery in Wales with principal interest in basic and clinical stem cell research related to patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, gene and cell-based therapies for neurological disease, and neuro-oncology.

The post is for 18 months and is available to start as soon as possible.

65 million people have epilepsy, including 600,000 in the UK. To give the best treatment for seizures (disturbances in the brain's electrical activity), it is important to understand their cause, which may be genetic, metabolic, or related to brain injury or abnormal brain structure. As part of the diagnosis, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is often performed. A key challenge here is sensitivity, i.e., brain abnormalities may be small and/or subtle in their morphology and missed on conventional MRI. Even if abnormal tissue is detected, it is impossible to say whether there are differences in cell size/shape/density. Currently such information can only be obtained by cutting out the tissue and examining it through a microscope.

Main duties of the job

The Clinical Research Fellowship will be based within the Department of Neurosurgery at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW). For the research aspect of this post the appointee will be located at UHW and CUBRIC, home to one of Europe's most powerful brain scanners, depending upon the needs of your research project and as guided by your supervisor. For the clinical duties, you will be located at the UHW neurosurgery department.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Post

The Clinical Research Fellow will be required to undertake an original piece of research in neurosciences mainly focused on using advanced microstructural MRI imaging to identify abnormalities in patients undergoing evaluation for epilepsy surgery, under the supervision of Professor William Gray, with Prof Khalid Hamandi and Prof Derek Jones. It is possible for this work to become part of a submission for a higher degree (PhD) to Cardiff University dependent on acquiring further funding.

About us

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 15,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services.

Our mission is Caring for People, Keeping People Well, and ourvision is that every person's chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. As an organisation we are unashamedly ambitious for our population's health, rising to the challenges of today and tomorrow through our 10-year strategy, Shaping our Future Wellbeing. We are contributing to a healthier Wales with great emphasis placed on innovation and improvement, learning from around the world and leading the way in clinical research. Partnership working is strong at Cardiff and Vale, and we work closely with our staff and our community.

Cardiff, the thriving Welsh capital, is a fantastic city to live and work in with an abundance of sports, arts and cultural attractions. Situated to the west of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan offers a combination of beautiful Welsh countryside and a dramatic natural coastline. Whether city life or rural living, Cardiffand the Vale offers the best of both worlds.

Job description
Job responsibilities

Further details can be found in the further particulars and job description forms attached to this post.

Key Responsibilities

Research

• Conduct experimental work based on the research objectives and proposals using advanced microstructural MR imaging to identify potentially epileptogenic cortex which is invisible to standard Clinical MRI.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of all findings
• Write or contribute to publications or disseminate research findings using other appropriate media.
• Make presentations at conferences or exhibit work at other appropriate events.
• Support the set-up, development and execution of clinical trials if appropriate.
• Support the delivery of the various internal/external audits. 

Clinical  

• To be part of a Neurosurgery Department evaluating patients for epilepsy surgery
• To gain experience in ward management and neurosurgical operative experience.
• To share daily care of the inpatients; participate in fixed commitments in theatre and clinics as needed to support the research objectives
• This Clinical Research Fellowship does not involve on-call work or banding. 

Teaching 

• Contribute to teaching activities of the department.
• Supervise/ help junior students within the research group. 

Others 

• Identify sources of funding and contribute to the process of securing funds.
• To liaise, as appropriate, with other research groups 

Person Specification
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE , ABILITIES
Essential 

• Effective communication skills - Verbal and written
• Up to date with current medical practices
• Experience in lumbar puncture

Desirable 

• Audit
• Teaching
• Independently competent at lumbar puncture

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential 

• MBBS or equivalent
• Good Clinical Practice Certificate (GCP) or agreement to attend next available course

Desirable 

• Completed MRCP or equivalent
• Intercalated Degree
• MSc or PHD
• oAcademic Excellence (Publications, Prizes, merits, distinctions

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential 

• Core medical training or equivalent

Desirable 

• Neurology ST3 experience
• Previous Neurology experience, any CT level.
• Experience with clinical trials or research
• Laboratory sample processing

ATTIDUDE, APTITUDES PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Essential 

• Motivated and efficient
• Able to relate to patients, staff and medical colleagues
• Flexible, caring and hardworking
• Ability to work as part of a team 

BMJ Ref: BMJ-110130/001-MP019.23