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Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Research Fellow in Ophthalmology

The closing date is 23 July 2025

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Job summary

Applications are invited for this non-training research fellow post specialising in Medical retina research to join the Ophthalmology Team at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.This position is 12 months in the first instance. The Medical Retina fellow will be expected to fully participate in departmental clinical research, help run trials, from setting up trials, help in patient recruitment, coordination and smooth delivery of trials. Other duties involve data gathering, analysis and help write up of publications and presentations. They will also help in departmental Audits ensuring completion of audit cycles.

Main duties of the job

We submit high quality grant applications which are often successful and we need assistance with writing the applications, preparing the trust and ethical committee approval applications via IRAS and then in overseeing and managing the delivery of the grants and the writing up of the studies.The initial planned timetable will be for the research fellow to be based in the Gloucestershire Retinal Research Group offices at Cheltenham General Hospital on Wednesdays and on Thursdays with occasional sessions spent at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital or in Cheltenham General.There may be some service commitment within the two days working and so there would need to be some flexibility about the day worked. Any service commitment is likely to be infrequent and would be at Cheltenham General Hospital or Gloucestershire Royal Hospital between Tuesday and Friday. We would aim to give at least 4 weeks notice if a request was made to cover a clinic on a Tuesday or a Friday. The research fellow may occasionally be asked to present at a departmental audit meeting on a Friday pm.

About us

Gloucestershire Eye Unit provides ophthalmic services for the population of 652,475 in Gloucestershire as well as caring for patients from surrounding counties and beyond. Medical staff include: 19 Consultants, 9 four Specialty Doctors, three fellows, 4 Specialist Trainees and 2 Trust Doctors. The department consists of a dedicated day-case unit (Eyeford ward), two fully equipped ophthalmic theatres at Cheltenham General Hospital and a third theatre in Tewkesbury where day case cataract surgery is performed, and independent outpatient facilities. Gloucestershire Retinal Research Group (GREG) employ 13 staff with a 2017-21 and currently oversee 10 Interventional, 6 Non-Interventional Trials, 2 Epidemiology, 3 Reading Centre studies, 1 funded project and 4 National audits.

Details

Date posted

16 July 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Doctor - other

Salary

Depending on experience Dependant on experience

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

318-25OPH

Job locations

Cheltenham General Hospital

Sandford Road

Cheltenham

GL53 7AN


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Clinical Responsibilities/Key Responsibilities

To fully participate in departmental clinical research, help run trials, from setting up trials, help in patient recruitment, coordination and smooth delivery of trials

To participate in some clinical activities required within the portfolio of research studies

2. Professional Development, Education and Training

To participate in teaching activities when needed

To keep up to date with the latest research and development within the work remit

3. Planning and Organisation

To identify sources of funding and contribute to process of securing funds

To collaborate with the team to plan, design, and implement research projects to ensure each project is delivered successfully

4. Research and Development

To participate in audits and research activities within the medical retina service including help with research trials

To write or contribute to publications or distribute research findings

To prepare and submit applications and progress reports to funding bodies that support research projects

5. Communications and Working Relationships

To collaborate with colleagues and participate in meetings and research group activities.

To present work at seminars and conferences as appropriate to enhance the profile of the research group.

To work together with other research partners and colleagues to ensure the projects run smoothly

6. Clinical Governance

To assist in departmental Audits ensuring completion of audit cycles.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Clinical Responsibilities/Key Responsibilities

To fully participate in departmental clinical research, help run trials, from setting up trials, help in patient recruitment, coordination and smooth delivery of trials

To participate in some clinical activities required within the portfolio of research studies

2. Professional Development, Education and Training

To participate in teaching activities when needed

To keep up to date with the latest research and development within the work remit

3. Planning and Organisation

To identify sources of funding and contribute to process of securing funds

To collaborate with the team to plan, design, and implement research projects to ensure each project is delivered successfully

4. Research and Development

To participate in audits and research activities within the medical retina service including help with research trials

To write or contribute to publications or distribute research findings

To prepare and submit applications and progress reports to funding bodies that support research projects

5. Communications and Working Relationships

To collaborate with colleagues and participate in meetings and research group activities.

To present work at seminars and conferences as appropriate to enhance the profile of the research group.

To work together with other research partners and colleagues to ensure the projects run smoothly

6. Clinical Governance

To assist in departmental Audits ensuring completion of audit cycles.

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • Medical degree
  • Registered with the GMC with a Licence to practice
  • Studying for FRCOphth part 1 or MRCOphth equivalent
  • Completion of foundation years training or equivalent

Desirable

  • Good Clinical Practice certificate
  • Research Experience
  • Previous experience of submitting abstract or papers
Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • Medical degree
  • Registered with the GMC with a Licence to practice
  • Studying for FRCOphth part 1 or MRCOphth equivalent
  • Completion of foundation years training or equivalent

Desirable

  • Good Clinical Practice certificate
  • Research Experience
  • Previous experience of submitting abstract or papers

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cheltenham General Hospital

Sandford Road

Cheltenham

GL53 7AN


Employer's website

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cheltenham General Hospital

Sandford Road

Cheltenham

GL53 7AN


Employer's website

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Professor of Ophthalmology

Peter Scanlon

p.scanlon@nhs.net

03004222851

Details

Date posted

16 July 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Doctor - other

Salary

Depending on experience Dependant on experience

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

318-25OPH

Job locations

Cheltenham General Hospital

Sandford Road

Cheltenham

GL53 7AN


Supporting documents

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