THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

PARTICULARS OF APPOINTMENT

FACULTY OF BIOLOGY, MEDICINE & HEALTH

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

DIVISION OF MUSCULOSKELETAL AND DERMATOLOGICAL SCIENCES

RESEARCH ASSISTANT IN MUSCULOSKELETAL RESEARCH AND CLINICAL TRIALS

VACANCY REF: BMH-024687

Salary: Grade 5 £30,487 to £31,396 per annum, depending on relevant experience

Hours: 35 hours per week

Duration: Fixed term for 41 months

Location: Oxford Road, Manchester

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Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Dr James Bluett
Email: [email protected]
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Introduction to the University of Manchester and the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
The University of Manchester is the largest single-site university in the UK with around 38,000
students and more than 11,000 staff. We aim to become one of the top 25 research universities in
the world and are committed to delivering an outstanding teaching and learning experience;
contributing to the social and economic success of local, national and international communities;
producing the highest calibre graduates; and developing our staff to be amongst the very best of
their peers.

To achieve our ambitious goals we aim to attract and retain the very best people to work across a
range of academic disciplines and support functions.

The Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

The integrated structure of our faculty enables a truly translational approach to biology, medicine
and health - from pure discovery science through to clinical application and patient care. It also
encourages collaborative working, enabling staff to deliver innovative, world-leading research that
has a very real and positive impact on people’s lives, as well as high-quality education and training
to over 11,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Our Strategic Partnerships
The faculty has established a number of key strategic partnerships that underpin its ambitions to
develop ground-breaking research.

Working alongside six local NHS Trusts, the Faculty is a key member of the
https://mft.nhs.uk/withington/research/manchester-academic-health-science-centre-mahsc/ - a
federation of equal partners that unites leading healthcare providers with world-class academics
and researchers. It aims to be a global centre for the delivery of applied health research and
education and provide leadership for our local and regional health systems.

We also play a leading role in https://healthinnovationmanchester.com/, which was launched in

September 2015, as part of the UK Government’s decision to devolve health and social care
responsibilities to Greater Manchester. HInM offers a unique opportunity to bring together health
and social care, academic and life science related business resources across the region to deliver
an innovative health ecosystem that can help accelerate innovation into our local health and social
care systems, enhance our global scientific standing and act as a magnet for inward investment.

Key partnerships in the charitable sector include Cancer Research UK; Diabetes UK; and the
Wellcome Trust; and the faculty also has research and funding links to a number of commercial
organisations including Unilever, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Boots, who help us to bring
new drugs and products to the market.

Working for the University of Manchester

The University of Manchester strives to make our community a welcoming, caring and enthusiastic
one, fuelling ambition with opportunities and support to help us all achieve our personal and
professional goals.

Our diverse job opportunities include an attractive https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/people-

and-od/benefit/ with family-friendly policies that provide for flexible working. We care deeply about
career and personal development, offering a structured induction programme for new staff, an
annual performance and development review, staff training for all career stages and mentoring
opportunities to support your career development.

We have a genuine commitment to http://www.manchester.ac.uk/connect/jobs/equality-

diversity/awards/ for our staff and students and are proud to employ a workforce that reflects the
diverse community we serve.

As a global institution, situated at the heart of a lively city,

http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/experience/student-life/city/, we welcome applicants of all
nationalities.

To help international job applicants plan for life in the UK, we have put together some useful
http://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/employment/joining-the- university/international-staff/ travel
to the UK, accommodation and a number of other practical considerations.
Chief Investigator: Dr James Bluett
Dr James Bluett is a Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist at The
University of Manchester. James has a specialist interest in interventions to improve treatment
response in inflammatory arthritis and is an experienced chief investigator. He is a chief
investigator of a multi-centre UK observational study of psoriatic arthritis (n=600) patients initiating,
switching or escalating to biologic DMARDs, a complex biofeedback intervention study and the
NIHR Greater Manchester CRN Lead for Musculoskeletal Diseases. He will be the Chief
Investigator of the LEADER study.

Overall Purpose of the Role

You will have excellent organisational skills and be able to work both independently and as part
of a team. You will demonstrate a flexible approach to work and be able to meet deadlines
using initiative and judgement to prioritise competing demands. In addition, you will have
excellent oral and written communication skills.

The position is funded for 41 months by a grant awarded to James Bluett (lead applicant),
Professor Anne Barton and Professor Heidi Lempp (King’s College London) by the NIHR to
identify the most effective and safest way of using steroids for patients with uncontrolled RA who
are starting an anti-rheumatic medicine. To fulfil this aim, a national clinical trial will be undertaken
to assess whether an injection or daily tablet is better at controlling the disease whilst remaining
cost-effective. The study will compare how active the RA is, between tablets and injection and
prescribed dose levels, to assess which treatment is most effective. The study will also consider
if the treatment has improved fatigue, ability to carry out daily activities of living, ability to work,
maintain quality of life and reduction of the amount of pain killers used. The study will include a
qualitative arm that will assess the intervention’s acceptability and explore processes of change
through a process evaluation.

The appointee will be expected to carry out the necessary research work to advance this project
and ensure it remains on schedule. Primarily (but not exclusively) this will involve working with
team members and- commercial and patient partners to develop the project. You will also work
with the chief investigator, under the co-supervision of HL, to conduct and analyse the qualitative
research studies. You will liaise with sites, assist with setting up site initiation visits, organise and
attend the LEADER meetings, co-develop the LEADER introductory video with patient partners,
the dissemination workshops, and the animation video.

The appointee will be expected to take part in training and the communication of clinical trial
procedures, results and further hypotheses to colleagues both within the University of Manchester
and other institutions, including our collaborators at King’s College London. This may involve the
presentation of data, papers or posters in a formal or informal style, using modern methods of
preparation such as computer graphics.

You will have, or will undertake, training in clinical trials, qualitative research and/or medical
statistics. You will make a major contribution to this important area whilst extending your own
experience, research skills and building up your CV.
Main Responsibilities
• Assist study staff/students/external researchers working on the clinical trial.
• Undertake analysis tasks under supervision, where appropriate.
• Work with the chief investigator and under the supervision of HL to conduct and analyse
the qualitative research studies.
• Through interaction with the PI/CoI’s contribute proactively to the development,
progression and execution of the project.
• Training, advising and possible assistance with supervision of students.
• Prepare reports for presentation at both internal, national and international meetings, and
for publication.
• Demonstrate effective time management and ability to work to strict deadlines.
• Conduct literature reviews where appropriate under supervision.
• Work with confidential data.
• Collaborate and work with Patient Partners within the NHS to co-develop the LEADER
media materials.
• Contribute to the implementation of the project, ensuring that milestones and deadlines
are achieved, and that work is completed on time and within budget.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of all findings, ensuring the validity and reliability
of data at all times.
• Provide clear and timely written work, producing a first draft publication of quality data, and
communicate verbally as required with other members of the University and with
collaborating partners.
• Attend and organise meetings, workshops and conferences as agreed by the project
leaders.
• Undertake any necessary training and/or development for the benefit of the project and
your professional development.
• To be an active team-member, participating in all group meetings and activities, and set
positive examples by showing a commitment to achieving results, encouraging and
supporting junior members and Patient Partners of the team and raising suggestions for
continuous improvement.
• To act at all times in accordance with the University’s policies and procedures relating to
Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, and all other policies and procedures that apply
to the post.
• Any other duties appropriate to the post and grade that may be reasonably requested.
Person Specification
The person appointed will be an enthusiastic, dynamic and highly self-motivated individual, with
excellent communication and time management skills and a keen interest in qualitative research
and working with patient partners.

Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• You will hold a BSc (2:1 or above) or MSc with relevant experience in biomedicine,
psychology or a related discipline or equivalent experience.
• Excellent IT, organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to plan, organise, and undertake work without detailed supervision following initial
training.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with all levels of staff, students and
external contacts.
• Ability to work under pressure and maintain a high degree of accuracy.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to work independently, use own initiative, where appropriate, and be proactive in
approach to work.
• Ability and enthusiasm to learn new skills outside own discipline.
• Fluent in English (oral and written).
• Be able to demonstrate good interpersonal and good organizational skills and excellent
communication skills (verbal and written).
• Demonstrate a flexible and responsive attitude to a dynamic and fast moving workplace.
• Understanding of Good Clinical Practice and research ethics requirements / processes.

Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of undertaking applied health-related research.
• Experience of medical research and scientific writing.

The above particulars are intended as a general guide to the duties of the post and the conditions
of service. They do not constitute a contract of employment between the University and the person
appointed. The successful applicant will, however, receive a full set of conditions of service on
appointment.