Job summary
Professor Flanagan's research is based in the Research Department of Pathology in the UCL Cancer Institute and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. Her research involves the use of bioinformatic and computational approaches to provide novel diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive indicators for patients with sarcoma as well as gaining epidemiological and pathophysiological insights into these diseases through a histopathological lens. Professor Flanagan collaborates and holds AI research grants with Dr Charles-Antoine -Collins-Fekete, Prof Gary Royle, Rohan Chakroborty (computational scientists at UCL and Turing Institute), Dr Nischalan Pillay (ULC Cancer Institute), and Professor Paul Cool, Keele University. She holds genomic research grants with Dr Isidor Cortes (EBI), Peter Van Loo (MDM Anderson/ Crick) and Nischalan Pillay. Examples of current projects include:
- GeCIPing Sarcoma: A UK-led initiative to personalise sarcoma treatment
- Multi-omic analysis of epithelioid sarcoma: an expanded cohort to validate preliminary data and to unravel the complexity of epithelioid sarcomas genomes
- Decoding the role of chromothripsis on the evolution and chemoresistance of osteosarcomas
- Improving Sarcoma Diagnostics Through Exploiting Genomic Data
- Advancing ICONIC (AD-ICONIC) An Osteosarcoma study involving immune-oncology
- TP53 as an immunotherapeutic target for sarcoma
Main duties of the job
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) project is built on a pilot study using Machine Learning tools that we have developed already classifying 15 different tumour types. The diagnoses are based on molecular biomarkers to which we have contributed significantly since the introduction of genomic sequencing.
With support from expert Consultant Pathologists and Clinical Fellows in the field of sarcoma, the Project Manager (PM) will oversee the efficient gathering of high quality data. They will supervise a team of 4 data/research technicians. The data will be collected from the RNOH and up to 20 other NHS Trusts. The data will be collected on a database, which the PM will help to develop, maintain, and share with relevant collaborators. They will also play a key role in data transfer from NHS Trusts to the UCL computer scientists ensuing excellent communication between these groups.
The PM will also monitor progress, ensure that milestones are reached in a timely manner and to the highest quality standards, within scope and budget for a small number of other related projects run by Professor Flanagan at UCL and RNOH.
The role is largely based at the RNOH in Stanmore where much of the data are gathered and where the data technicians are largely based. The post holder would also have an honorary contract at UCL Cancer Institute thereby facilitating engagement with the UCL computer scientists, with some travel to other participating NHS sites.
About us
The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust is the largest orthopaedic hospital in the UK and a global leader in our field. We provide a dynamic working environment where we support frontline staff to implement improvements so that we can realise our vision of being a world leading neuro musculoskeletal hospital providing the best patient care and staff experience in the NHS, delivering world leading research, and offering a strong foundation of education, training and career progression. Our dedicated staff come from diverse backgrounds, and our patients benefit from the wide range of experience they bring to the Trust. The RNOH brings unrivalled expertise together in one place allowing us to deliver some of the world's most complex and innovative care to our patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will be a highly motivated Hands-on Project Manager with a Masters in health science with experience in data management. This work will be instrumental in developing AI for pathology and should deliver significant benefit for both patients and Healthcare professionals. The major focus of this job involves playing a pivotal role in a multidisciplinary team in a UK-wide AI/Machine Learning project for classifying sarcoma - a rare form of cancer with 70 subtypes - and its mimics. They will be the key link communicating and transferring data between a group of clinicians (pathologists) across multiple Trusts, computational scientists at UCL and the research Team at RNOH.
- Manage and coordinate research projects including the AI project and other related cancer projects, utilising data science methodologies.
- To manage and extend a large database indexing all available data including the physical locations of samples and digital locations of files.
- To process data for anonymisation, perform quality control and extract features using HPC, bash, Python and R following the development of pipelines.
- To contribute to the building of a database of images and related clinical data.
- To organise and manage secure transfer of data.
- To keep clear, accurate up-to-date detailed records.
- To plan day-to-day activities of data / research technicians within the framework of the agreed research programme and undertake these independently.
- To work with team members, collaborators and colleagues including providing supervision to technicians, students and other staff members.
- Authorised signatory for the AI budget and related projects.
- Play a central role in communicating with researchers who have little knowledge of cancer biology but are experts in AI/Machine Learning to ensure the success of projects.
- Draft standard operating procedures to ensure resilience and reproducibility of tasks undertaken by data technicians and transfer of data to computer scientists.
- Supervise and instruct data/ research technicians on collection and cleansing of data. This will be involve working with pathology teams at several NHS Trusts across the UK.
- Ensure adherence to appropriate ethical practices. This will involve delivery of appropriate ethical documentation.
- Work with NHS Trusts to agree and deliver data transfer agreements across sites in a timely manner.
- Develop project plans and timelines and ensure that they are adhered to throughout the project lifecycle.
- Develop project plans and timelines, ensuring adherence to throughout the project lifecycle.
- Organise regular meetings and workshops with Consultant Pathologists across NHS sites.
- Monitor project progress, identify risks, and develop and execute mitigation plans as needed to ensure successful project delivery.
- Carry out routine administrative tasks associated with the research projects including organisation of project meetings and documentation, financial control and risk assessment of research activities.
- To be aware of and adhere to the requirements of information governance, Data Protection Act and the Human Tissue Act.
- To attend research seminars and other departmental meetings as required.
- To contribute to the overall activities of the research team and department as required.
- Provide regular updates to project stakeholders on project status, risks, and other issues.
- Facilitate communication between team members and stakeholders to ensure a clear understanding of project objectives, timelines, and expectations.
- Ensure that project deliverables meet the highest quality standards, are delivered on time and within budget.
- Develop and maintain project documentation, including project plans, risk management plans, progress reports, and final reports.
- Contribute to the writing and submission of grants and papers.
- Organise the recruitment of junior staff members.
- Ensure appraisals are carried out for all staff and training needs are identified within the research team.
- Manage mandatory training levels and ensure that all staff managed records are kept up to date for research staff.
- Be accountable for managing absence rates for the research team.
- To be aware of and act upon:
- Disciplinary procedure and Disciplinary rules
- Grievance procedure
- Health and Safety at Work Act
- Departmental Fire Guidelines
- Equal Opportunities Policy
- To comply with the Health & Safety regulations of the department.
- To participate in any duties commensurate with the grade as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will be a highly motivated Hands-on Project Manager with a Masters in health science with experience in data management. This work will be instrumental in developing AI for pathology and should deliver significant benefit for both patients and Healthcare professionals. The major focus of this job involves playing a pivotal role in a multidisciplinary team in a UK-wide AI/Machine Learning project for classifying sarcoma - a rare form of cancer with 70 subtypes - and its mimics. They will be the key link communicating and transferring data between a group of clinicians (pathologists) across multiple Trusts, computational scientists at UCL and the research Team at RNOH.
- Manage and coordinate research projects including the AI project and other related cancer projects, utilising data science methodologies.
- To manage and extend a large database indexing all available data including the physical locations of samples and digital locations of files.
- To process data for anonymisation, perform quality control and extract features using HPC, bash, Python and R following the development of pipelines.
- To contribute to the building of a database of images and related clinical data.
- To organise and manage secure transfer of data.
- To keep clear, accurate up-to-date detailed records.
- To plan day-to-day activities of data / research technicians within the framework of the agreed research programme and undertake these independently.
- To work with team members, collaborators and colleagues including providing supervision to technicians, students and other staff members.
- Authorised signatory for the AI budget and related projects.
- Play a central role in communicating with researchers who have little knowledge of cancer biology but are experts in AI/Machine Learning to ensure the success of projects.
- Draft standard operating procedures to ensure resilience and reproducibility of tasks undertaken by data technicians and transfer of data to computer scientists.
- Supervise and instruct data/ research technicians on collection and cleansing of data. This will be involve working with pathology teams at several NHS Trusts across the UK.
- Ensure adherence to appropriate ethical practices. This will involve delivery of appropriate ethical documentation.
- Work with NHS Trusts to agree and deliver data transfer agreements across sites in a timely manner.
- Develop project plans and timelines and ensure that they are adhered to throughout the project lifecycle.
- Develop project plans and timelines, ensuring adherence to throughout the project lifecycle.
- Organise regular meetings and workshops with Consultant Pathologists across NHS sites.
- Monitor project progress, identify risks, and develop and execute mitigation plans as needed to ensure successful project delivery.
- Carry out routine administrative tasks associated with the research projects including organisation of project meetings and documentation, financial control and risk assessment of research activities.
- To be aware of and adhere to the requirements of information governance, Data Protection Act and the Human Tissue Act.
- To attend research seminars and other departmental meetings as required.
- To contribute to the overall activities of the research team and department as required.
- Provide regular updates to project stakeholders on project status, risks, and other issues.
- Facilitate communication between team members and stakeholders to ensure a clear understanding of project objectives, timelines, and expectations.
- Ensure that project deliverables meet the highest quality standards, are delivered on time and within budget.
- Develop and maintain project documentation, including project plans, risk management plans, progress reports, and final reports.
- Contribute to the writing and submission of grants and papers.
- Organise the recruitment of junior staff members.
- Ensure appraisals are carried out for all staff and training needs are identified within the research team.
- Manage mandatory training levels and ensure that all staff managed records are kept up to date for research staff.
- Be accountable for managing absence rates for the research team.
- To be aware of and act upon:
- Disciplinary procedure and Disciplinary rules
- Grievance procedure
- Health and Safety at Work Act
- Departmental Fire Guidelines
- Equal Opportunities Policy
- To comply with the Health & Safety regulations of the department.
- To participate in any duties commensurate with the grade as required.
Person Specification
Communication & Relationship Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication both verbal and written
- Ability to achieve effective team working
Knowledge, Training & Experience
Essential
- MSc in Biological or Health Sciences with a data analytical focus.
Desirable
- PhD in Biological or health Sciences with a data analytical focus.
- Background in Cancer Biology
- Experience in Clinical Trials
- Experience in data science and bioinformatics
- Experience of Pathology laboratory techniques
Analytical & Judgement Skills
Essential
- Ability to analyse large datasets
- Self-motivated and able to work independently, within their scope of practice
Planning & Organisational Skills
Essential
- Ability to deliver to deadlines and within budget
- Project management skills
IT skills
Essential
- Excellent skills in MS office packages
- Ability to process data and extract features using HPC, bash, Python and R.
Emotional Effort
Essential
- Experience leading a team
- Experience in disciplinary or grievance matters
Person Specification
Communication & Relationship Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication both verbal and written
- Ability to achieve effective team working
Knowledge, Training & Experience
Essential
- MSc in Biological or Health Sciences with a data analytical focus.
Desirable
- PhD in Biological or health Sciences with a data analytical focus.
- Background in Cancer Biology
- Experience in Clinical Trials
- Experience in data science and bioinformatics
- Experience of Pathology laboratory techniques
Analytical & Judgement Skills
Essential
- Ability to analyse large datasets
- Self-motivated and able to work independently, within their scope of practice
Planning & Organisational Skills
Essential
- Ability to deliver to deadlines and within budget
- Project management skills
IT skills
Essential
- Excellent skills in MS office packages
- Ability to process data and extract features using HPC, bash, Python and R.
Emotional Effort
Essential
- Experience leading a team
- Experience in disciplinary or grievance matters
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.
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).
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.
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Address
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Histopathology, Institute of Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Science
Stanmore
HA7 4LP
Employer's website
https://www.rnoh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
