Medical Statistician for the Leicester Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease

College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences

Salary Grade 7 - £30,870 to £35,788 per annum

Open Ended Contract, subject to Fixed Term Funding. Funding is currently available for 5 years.

Ref: MBP00476

At Leicester we're going places. Ranked in the top 20 universities in Britain our aim is to climb further. A commitment to high quality fused with an inclusive academic culture is our hallmark and led the Times Higher Education to describe us as "elite without being elitist".

Applications are invited for a Medical Statistician post in the Leicester National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Unit (BRU) in Cardiovascular Disease. The primary role of the post holder will be to provide expert statistical input into the wide range of clinical and translational studies undertaken within the BRU, including genetic and genomic studies.

The position is ideal for someone with experience in biomedical statistics who wishes to undertake high quality statistical analysis of clinical research and contribute to the research output, innovation and further development of a Centre of Excellence in cardiovascular research.

The Leicester BRU in Cardiovascular Disease is based in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester. The post-holder will be supervised by and report to Professor NJ Samani (BRU Director)

The University

There's never been a more exciting time to join us. At the University of Leicester we are enjoying research success on a world stage and gathering the awards and plaudits to match.

A judge in a recent awards ceremony described Leicester as "elite without being elitist". We are proud to be elite. But we are at least as proud to be an inclusive and progressive university. This commitment to high quality, an inclusive academic culture and belief in the synergy of teaching and research are our hallmarks. We believe that teaching is inspirational when delivered by passionate scholars engaged in world-changing research that is delivered in an academic community that includes postgraduate as well as undergraduate students.

Our approach to research yields great rewards. Our research impact, measured by citations per academic, is the sixth highest in the UK. Our success in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise saw Quality Related research income rise by 18% placing us firmly amongst Britain's top 20 research universities by this measure. The RAE also revealed that Leicester is home to Britain's top-rated research department - Museum Studies - which has the highest concentration of world class research of any department of any discipline in the UK.

For a University that believes teaching and research are synergistic, it is pleasing that the National Student Survey reveals the quality of our teaching is amongst the highest in the country. Since the launch of the survey in 2006, Leicester has consistently featured amongst the top-10 universities in England for student satisfaction. The Sunday Times<http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/sunday_times_university_guide/article6831796.ece> recently described Leicester as "top... amongst mainstream multi-faculty universities for student satisfaction".

Currently a University of 23,000 students, with a turnover of £260m and 3,800 colleagues, our future is bright. Our Strategic Vision describes our plans to invest a billion pounds in our estate as we transform our campus. Already consistently ranked in the top-20 universities in Britain, by 2015 we aim to rise further to become top-10.

Leicester is the most inclusive of Britain's top-20 universities with the greatest proportions of students from under-represented groups.

As a group of talented individuals we are more diverse than ever and stronger for it. At Leicester we are proud of our distinct approach, our achievements and our ambitious plans. If you share our approach join us.

College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology

Pro-Vice-Chancellor & Head of College: Professor David Wynford-Thomas FMedSci



The College's mission is to pursue the highest standards of research, education and training in biomedical and related subjects, and to apply this knowledge and expertise to enhance the quality of life and economic prosperity of populations, both locally and in the wider world.

Its considerable academic resources mean that it is already widely recognised for the international impact of its research and the quality of its undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. This is reflected in the high proportion of academic staff regarded as international in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, and the consistently high ratings achieved in the National Student Survey.

This is an exciting time to join a dynamic new academic enterprise and contribute to its development. The new College is creating the academic and physical environment to enable scientists and clinicians to work together across traditional boundaries to address some of the key outstanding questions in biomedical research and to engage with increasing effectiveness with commercial and public bodies.

The College brings together 10 departments: Biochemistry, Biology, Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Sciences, Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, Genetics, Health Sciences, Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical and Social Care Education and Psychology. In addition the University hosts the MRC Toxicology Unit, with which there is close collaboration. Building on existing strengths, multi-disciplinary research themes have been developed to exploit synergies between basic science, clinical medicine and psychology in the College. These themes are in the fields of genome science; molecular & cellular bioscience; cancer; cardiovascular sciences; respiratory science; microbial science; neuroscience and behaviour; and population science.  A further theme is exploring the research which underpins teaching & learning.

(http://www2.le.ac.uk/colleges/medbiopsych/research)

The College has approximately 295 academic staff and 718 research, administrative and other staff, with a total of approximately 2,350 fte undergraduate students and 850 postgraduates. It has an annual turnover of £64M.

 Department of Cardiovascular Sciences

Head of Department: Professor N J Samani BSc, MD, FRCP, FACC, FMedSci



Cardiovascular research has been a major strength of the Leicester Medical School since its inception.  In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise 95% of the cardiovascular research in Leicester was considered to be of international level, over half the submitted outputs ranked as outstanding or excellent and one in seven of the submitted research outputs ranked as world-leading.

The Department of Cardiovascular Sciences undertakes research ranging from molecular and cellular studies, all the way through translational research and into clinical studies. The strong links with the NHS were highlighted in the Research Assessment Exercise. This has been further recognised recently by the award of a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Unit (BRU) in Cardiovascular Disease to a partnership of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHLT) and the University of Leicester. The BRU has developed a state-of-the art clinical research facility for detailed cardiovascular assessment at Glenfield Hospital and plans to also develop a research informatics centre and a Biobank to facilitate research including genomics research. UHLT have also been awarded a 3.0 Tesla MRI machine by the NIHR to facilitate cardiovascular research.

Major areas of research in the Department include: cardiovascular genetics, vascular biology, hypertension and vascular damage, thrombosis and haemostasis, coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke and baroreceptor regulation, cardiac arrhythmias, carotid and peripheral vascular disease, myocardial protection and regeneration, biomarkers and diagnostics, and diabetes.

The Department is organised into four Research Sections to mirror cardiovascular sub-themes in the College. These are:

Cardiovascular Genetics (Professor NJ Samani, Professor A Goodall,  Mr M Bown, ,  Dr N Chong, Dr D Lodwick, Dr M Tomaszewski , Dr T Webb)

Cardiovascular Signalling and Cell Biology (Professor N Brindle, Professor D Lambert, Dr C Erridge, Dr K Herbert, Dr R Norman, Dr R Rainbow ,  Dr G Rodrigo)

Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology (Professor B Williams, Professor D Evans, Professor R Naylor, Professor R Panerai, Professor L Ng, Professor R Sayers, Dr E Choke,  Dr J Davies, Dr E Chung, Dr M Horsfield, Dr G McCann, Dr A Ng,)

Population Research and Clinical Trials (Professor T Robinson, Professor MJ Davies, Professor T Coats, Professor AH Gershlick, Professor I Squire, Professor T Spyt, Dr A Mistri, Dr J Thompson, Dr W Toff, Dr D Webb)



The department also hosts an Ophthalmology research group (Professor I Gottlob, Mr F Proudlock)

The Department currently occupies accommodation in the Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, the Clinical Sciences Wing of Glenfield Hospital and the Leicester General Hospital.


Departmental administration



The Department is managed on a day-to-day basis by an Executive committee, consisting of the Head (Professor NJ Samani), Deputy Head (Dr R Norman) and research Theme Lead (Professor AH Goodall), the Department Manager (Mr M Maisuria) and two Technical Services Managers, which meets weekly. The committee reports to the Departmental Strategy Board, comprising the Heads of each research section and other senior members of the Department. The Board, which meets bi-monthly, is responsible for the research strategy and financial administration of the Department. An Academic Committee (Chair: Dr RI Norman) is responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate academic issues and running the Departmental seminar program and research days. A technical and clerical sub-committee is responsible for technical and clerical matters.


The Leicester Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease

Director: Professor NJ Samani FMedSci

The Department of Health via the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) have awarded a number of Hospital/University partnerships, Biomedical Research Units (BRU) to undertake translational research in specific disease areas. This is in recognition of the strength of the partnership in conducting high quality research in the disease area. The Leicester BRU in Cardiovascular Disease was first awarded to the partnership of University Hospitals NHS Trust (UHLT) and the University of Leicester in April 2009 with initial funding for three years. We have recently been successful in being awarded further funding until April 2017.

The mission of the Leicester BRU in Cardiovascular Disease is to undertake high quality clinical research, especially translational research taking laboratory findings into the clinical setting and including Phase 1 through to Phase 111 studies. The principle themes of the Unit are (i) cardiovascular genetics and biomarkers and (ii) novel cardiovascular interventions which incorporates hypertension and vascular damage, although the BRU will encompass other relevant cardiovascular research which meets its mission. As a consequence of this activity the BRU requires a full time medical statistician to support its work.

BRU Administration


The Biomedical Research Unit is managed through a committee structure consisting of a BRU Board, a BRU Management Committee and other sub-committees and working groups all meeting regularly to manage the strategic developments of all the services the BRU. All sub-committees and working groups report to the BRU Board, consisting of the BRU Director, the Chief Executive of the UHL NHS Trust and other senior members of the both the Department and the UHL Trust. A BRU Management Committee and a BRU Executive Team also meet regularly to facilitate BRU activity.



Your Role

You will provide expert input into statistical aspects of research studies including clinical trials. You will undertake specialist statistical analysis of data from a range of studies within the Biomedical Research Unit (BRU). This may involve working with national and international collaborators. You will provide statistical input and analytical expertise in the preparation of research grants and scientific papers for publication. You will provide training in statistical methodology to scientists and researchers within the LCBRU. You will identify and establish novel analytical methods for the benefit of the LCBRU and pursue independent research projects if appropriate.

Principal Accountabilities

·         To conduct statistical analysis of data from a range of clinical trials (from Phase I to Phase III), as well as statistical analysis of observational, clinical and registry data, and data from laboratory research, including genetics and genomics research.

·         To establish statistical programs and independent lines of research to maximise the output from the data, to contribute to research papers.

·         To lead and participate in statistical aspects of collaborative research within the University, the UK and internationally.

·         To provide statistical input to the design of grants, research studies and peer-reviewed publications including the review of statistical aspects of papers. To prepare reports of analyses and write statistical analyses plans for clinical research

·         To provide teaching, training and advice to members of the research team on selection of optimal statistical methodologies and appropriate interpretation of results.

·         Continuous development of statistical expertise and self-initiated learning of relevant statistical advances and platforms, in order to ensure the most appropriate methodologies are used to maximise the effectiveness of the research.

·         Participate in BRU research activities including seminars and meetings as appropriate.

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Essential

·         Good honours level first degree in a relevant discipline (maths, social science or biology).*

·         Higher degree in biostatistics, medical statistics or applied statistics or extensive relevant work experience working as a statistician in a HE, health-related or clinical setting.*

·         Specialist knowledge in biomedical statistics and data analysis.*

·         IT knowledge to enable writing statistical programmes and data analysis methods.*

·         Expertise in STATA programming and good knowledge of other relevant statistical software.*

·         Evidence of writing and contributing to peer-reviewed publications and research dissemination activity including conference presentations.

·         Evidence of sourcing and adapting relevant statistical approaches to address specific needs of research projects.

·         Excellent skills in explaining, communicating and presenting data.

Desirable

·         Evidence of contributing to preparation of successful grant applications.*

·         Evidence of statistical design and analysis of biological research.*

·         Experience of collaboration with international partners.*

·         Experience/ working knowledge of statistical design and analysis, and in methodological aspects of clinical or epidemiological research.*

·         Experience of providing statistical advice, training or teaching to non-statisticians and supervision of less experienced colleagues.

·         Understanding of research structures, ethical review processes and relevant research bodies.

Skills, Abilities and Competencies

Essential

·         Ability to provide appropriate advice on a wide range of quantitative statistical methodologies

·         Excellent verbal, written* and teaching/presentational skills with demonstrable success of publication in high impact journals.

·         Ability to work as part of an established team and also to undertake independent research.

·         Strong organisational and planning skills.

·         Excellent interpersonal skills.

·         Excellent IT skills.

Desirable

·         Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.

 (* Criteria to be used in shortlisting candidates for interview)



Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Professor Nilesh Samani on [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> .

Applications

For further information and to apply on-line, please visit our website: www.le.ac.uk/joinus<http://www.le.ac.uk/joinus>

The closing date for this post is midnight on Tuesday 10 January 2012.

Candidates short-listed for interview will be contacted by the University.  If you do not receive a communication from the University within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.


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