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Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £35,254 to £65,584

Clinical post

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to 3 years

Closing date: 31st January 2024

Background

This post is key to delivery of the clinical translational research strategy of the oral-gastrointestinal theme of the recent Birmingham NIHR Biomedical Research Centre renewal grant (£30m). Our work is an exciting collaboration between MDS and the Dental School with Professor Iqbal (GI) and Professor Chapple (Dental) being co-leads. The work will build on an existing unique inception IBD cohort which we have curated in the last 2 years to initially further phenotype the oral and gut microbiome in these patients at first presentation before treatment. This involves collection of relevant clinical meta-data and has been, and continues to be supported by, Hoffman La Roche with whom we are working in parallel on developing novel biomarkers for IBD (Dr Asif Iqbal PI). In addition to phenotyping these patients at baseline we are following them up prospectively with the aim of developing novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker panels based on the microbiome. Key to this project is the Birmingham Microbiome Treatment Centre which is the only public sector body in the UK able to undertake FMT under an MHRA licence. The plan is to undertake an FMT trial in IBD patients early in their disease course with a view to both treating the patients and undertaking human ‘discovery science’ to develop relevant novel microbiota consortia to take forward in early phase human trials. This work is facilitated by our world class sequencing set up (Prof Andrew Beggs lead) and funding to culture anaerobic organisms and encapsulate them into novel treatment formulations. This project thus builds on a firm existing foundation and is facilitated by world class resources in a well-established team. It affords a clinician to both engage in cutting edge translational research while maintaining an active IBD practice.

Role Summary

This post will be funded by the £30M NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) in Inflammation and will specifically focus on the oral and gastrointestinal theme within the Centre. The overarching aim of the theme is to discover the pathophysiological link between the oral and intestinal microbiome initially in IBD and to develop novel biotherapeutic formulations to trial in IBD. We aim to:

• Complete recruitment, phenotyping and capture oral and gut microbiome sequencing data from patient volunteers in our inception cohort
• Identify and validate specific microbial and salivary signatures/clusters to differentiate inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and oral diseases, and also between different IBDs
• Develop classifier algorithms that distinguish GI and oral diseases based on microbial and/or salivary features aiming for >90% accuracy, and we will validate against participant clinical data and available external data.
• Design and open an early-phase open label study of patients using allogeneic FMT
• (year 5) incorporate bioactive bacterial consortia and/or faecal metabolites into pre-developed colonic-delivery oral formulations and examine activity in vitro .

The Research Unit : This work involves a collaboration between the University of Birmingham Medical and Dental School, the Dental Hospital, the University of Birmingham Microbiome Treatment Centre and University Hospitals Birmingham. We have the only UK experience of undertaking FMT trials in IBD (STOP-Colitis EME £2.5m) and have an excellent clinical/basic scientific team able to undertake this work. The work is supported by a mature collaboration with ‘big pharma’ in the form of Hofmann La Roche. This is essential to facilitate the latter end of the project (early phase trial of novel biotherapeutics)

Clinical Research : This is a very ‘clinically focussed’ project which will expose the successful applicant to rich and varied ongoing training in IBD as well as an opportunity to train in basic laboratory techniques including genetic sequencing, bio informatics and anaerobic culture in the context of the use of in- house ‘artificial gut’. Patients will be recruited from two sites (the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Heartlands Hospital Birmingham) form two IBD inception clinic at each site per week. This post would be based at the QE site and supported by the Welcome Clinical Research Facility on this campus which will be the focus of all endoscopy and sample collection and preparation. The post would be supported by two dedicated research nurses. In addition to recruiting patients to the research and working with the Dental School researchers to maintain a comprehensive REDCAP database containing clinical and biological data, the research fellow would be expected to colonoscope and collect biopsies from the patients on a weekly basis and to work closely with basic scientists to both collect and process biological specimens for analysis and to get involved with some ‘wet lab’ work under supervision. Our current inception cohort uniquely involves a oral/dental examination in the clinic undertaken by collaborators from the Dental School. The research fellow will work closely with this team.

It is expected that the successful candidate will register for a PhD at the University of Birmingham under joint clinical/basic scientific supervision.

Broad aims of the post

• To contribute to the achievement of the Institute’s research strategy by undertaking specified research activities within IBD
• To contribute to the management of and recruitment of patients with first onset IBD
• To assist with research in patients recruited to the IBD Inception Cohort.
• To undertake clinical work by attending two IBD clinics and one colonoscopy list per week to recruit patients and develop and maintain clinical skills.

Main Duties

• To identify and recruit patients to the established IBD inception cohort.
• To ensure that, once recruited, patients are followed up at appropriate intervals and clinical samples are processed and despatched to the relevant laboratories according to Standard Operating Procedures.
• To work closely with laboratory technicians, post-doctoral scientists and trial co-ordinators to establish and undertake laboratory research to support the BRC-related projects.
• To discuss research data and devise appropriate plans for data analysis in conjunction with experienced colleagues and bio-statisticians.
• To assist with trial set-up and obtaining necessary local and national approvals (ethics, MHRA) and contribute to site file and data management under guidance of the trials coordinators and lead investigators.
• To work closely with and support the oral-GI Research Team, the Clinical Research Facility and the Microbiome Treatment Centre to develop and deliver FMT trials.
• To prioritise tasks within an agreed work schedule to ensure that projects are delivered in timely fashion accordance to the milestones in the BRC.
• To suggest and contribute to the development of research techniques, models and methods in collaboration with colleagues.
• To contribute to writing bids for future research grants.
• To disseminate research findings using appropriate and effective media such as publication, research seminars etc.
• To provide guidance to other staff and students.
• To contribute to the production of research reports and publications in high impact-factor journals
• To plan and develop research contributions to subject area using methodologies, critical evaluations, interpretations, analyses and other appropriate techniques.
• To contribute to events celebrating the public engagement of science/social sciences/humanities.
• Keep up to date with recent literature and advances in the field.
• To engage in continuous professional development.
• To undertake clinical work under an NHS honorary contract.
• To contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan.

Person Specification

• Candidates should be registered with the GMC with a License to Practice. Medical degree with preferred MRCP or equivalent.
• Candidates should be on a GI SpR training programme (ST3 or above) and have some experience in colonoscopy though not necessarily independent colonoscopists.
• Core clinical skills, including phlebotomy.
• Preferred: previous undergraduate experience of research via scholarship, funded holiday project or intercalated degree.
• Desirable: Clinical research experience in IBD.
• Analytical and problem-solving capability
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity, both verbally and in writing
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to get on well with colleagues.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work towards departmental and Institute objectives.
• Excellent IT skills

OH & DBS required

Pre-employment OH & DBS

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health and/or DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquires to Tariq Iqbal, email: [email protected]

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working .