Summary
Description of research component of programme
The primary objective is to facilitate clinicians who will go on to become future academic leaders in the field of Cardiology. The post provides the opportunity for higher and advanced sub-specialist training in cardiovascular medicine, alongside research and contribution to teaching in a dynamic and high-impact field. The successful candidates research should align to the NIHR post theme of ‘Epidemiology and Public Health’.
Supporting tertiary and quaternary NHS services across the region, the post-holder will have a unique opportunity to contribute to research in their chosen speciality field, including arrhythmias, heart failure, coronary intervention, cardiac imaging, valve disease and congenital heart disease, as well as to work across disciplines.
It is anticipated that the successful applicant will undertake a programme of research in line with the current research interests in cardiovascular medicine within ICVS at the College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham. The College houses state-of-the-art infrastructure and expertise to facilitate the research career of the successful applicant. These include the Institute of Biomedical Research, which includes access to core technologies including DNA sequencing, proteomic and metabolomic facilities, and advanced imaging facilities for basic and translational science. For clinical cardiovascular research, close collaboration with NHS services at the ITM and NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility provides UK-leading facilities, including a biobank and dedicated inpatient and outpatient accommodation, staffed by trained personnel.
The post-holder will also be able to take advantage of integrated working within a broad multidisciplinary team, supported by the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, the NHS West Midlands Secure Data Environment and Health Data Research (HDR)-UK Midlands. This includes clinical and data scientists to bring forward new developments in artificial intelligence to improve cardiology research, supported by extensive patient and public involvement. With a clear portfolio of successful clinical trials, the post-holder will be able to benefit from guidance to take potential solutions through pilot phase testing and into routine clinical practice. With cardiovascular outcomes a cornerstone of all medical specialities, the post-holder will also have the opportunity to work across the spectrum of healthcare, taking advantage of established collaborations locally with renal, neuroscience, ophthalmology, immunology and infection, haematology and respiratory medicine, as well as primary care.
The lecturer programme in Cardiology at ICVS has a track record of attracting future international leaders in cardiology, with successful transition to prestigious personal fellowships and long-term clinical academic careers. ICVS brings together a broad array of Principal Investigators with substantial active grant funding. We consistently rank in the top 10 across all English universities for Cardiology and are supported by a British Heart Foundation Accelerator Award in recognition of our recent growth in clinical impact. The ‘Thrombo-inflammation’ theme of the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre is also based within ICVS, bringing together the full spectrum of experimental medicine infrastructure, experience and training. The University of Birmingham as a whole is one of the top performing universities in the UK, with the largest rise amongst all Russell Group universities in the recent Research Excellence Framework.
Teaching
The post holder will be expected to play an active role in delivering bedside and small group teaching to clinical medical students and junior doctors. In addition, they will have the opportunity to contribute to lectures, modules and small group teaching sessions on cardiovascular medicine topics on the undergraduate MBChB, BMedSc and other courses. They can also be involved in co-supervising MD/PhD students and clinical fellows.
Publications, presentations and grants
The post-holder will not only be able to lead their own research programme (supported by experienced mentors), but also contribute to a range of ongoing basic, translational and clinical research at ICVS in order to gain experience of writing papers and publishing in high-impact journals. Post-holders will be assisted to finding suitable grants to apply for (internal and external funding), providing a spring-board to apply for their own personal fellowship by the end of the ACL. All ICVS researchers are encouraged and supported to present their research work at leading national and international conferences, including the European Society of Cardiology Congress.
Publications, presentations and grants
The post-holder will contribute to a range of ongoing clinical research at the IAHR and aim to publish in high-impact journals. They will also receive help in securing funding towards increasing independence and personal fellowships by the end of the ACL period.
Description of clinical training component of programme
The post attracts specialist trainee status (NTNs), with the clinical components of training as part of the West Midlands cardiovascular speciality programme.
Clinical placements would be determined by the West Midlands Higher Speciality Training Committee for Cardiovascular Medicine, and would provide all the necessary training requirements in cardiovascular medicine and internal medicine, appropriate to the stage of training of the candidate. These will be delivered across the University Hospital Birmingham (UHB) NHS Trust, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWBH), and other NHS trusts within the West Midlands as determined by training needs.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital at UHB is a major regional and supra-regional cardiac referral centre with a full range of cardiac medical and surgical services, and one of the largest ITUs in Europe. The site performs advanced therapeutics, including heart transplantation, ventricular assist devices, complex coronary interventions, structural heart disease interventions, percutaneous mitral and aortic valve replacement, complex device implantation and lead extraction, and congenital and maternal heart disease management, as well as being a leading national centre for cardiac imaging. Three other hospitals in the UHB Trust (Good Hope, Solihull and Heartlands), provide a range of secondary care training for post-holders.
Currently, City Hospital and Sandwell Hospital at SWBH provide cardiology care to a broad and diverse population in West and Central Birmingham, with the new Midlands Metropolitan Hospital in construction to deliver advanced care to over ½ million people.
The post-holder will contribute to the on-call duties in cardiology at their clinical site, shared in the same proportion as non-academic trainees in order to maintain clinical competence (currently 1 in 10). A timetable for ward work, clinics and procedure lists will be developed by the post-holder and their clinical/academic supervisors in order to devise a coherent and practical training programme, monitored and adapted as needed during yearly ARCP reviews. This will be developed alongside protected research time in order to meet the post-holders’ academic aspirations. Close linkage between clinical and research work at ICVS will enable the post-holder to be a successful clinical academic, able to lead their own future research programmes.
Person Specification
Eligibility
Evidence of achievement of Foundation competences or equivalent. Candidate must be at IMT3 or above. Must hold a higher degree(MD, PhD or equivalent) in a relevant subject area. Evidence of commitment to GMC specialty. Evidence of good progress in clinical training and that completion of specialty training may be accommodated either during or after the 4 year period of the NIHR CL award Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
Demonstration of acquisition of the level of knowledge and skills necessary for the achievement of Foundation and clinical (matched to the entry level) competencies or equivalent. Demonstration of the potential for scientific independence and the ability to lead a research team. Potential to become a leader in chosen field. Knowledge of the centre hosting the research and how this is best placed to support the research, education and training needs. Prizes or distinctions. Presentation of work at a national or international meeting. Significant publications in peer reviewed journals. Demonstration of understanding, and commitment to, an academic career. Indication of medium and long-term career goals. Demonstration of educational reasons for applying for the Clinical Lectureship Programme. Evidence of team working skills. Evidence of leadership potential. All candidates should have submitted their final thesis to be eligible to apply and must have been fully awarded their higher degree in order to be able to take up the post (prior to 01 Sep 2024).
OH/DBS required
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 DBS clearance prior to appointment.
Further details
For full descriptions of the NIHR Integrated Academic Training (IAT) programmes, including guidance notes, selection criteria and person specifications, please refer to:
Academic Lead for the Cardiology ACL programme
Dipak Kotecha is a Professor of Cardiology at the University of Birmingham, and a Consultant Cardiologist at UHB. Having himself completed a Clinical Lecturer programme, and then progressing to an NIHR Fellowship and subsequently gaining a Chair in Cardiology, Dipak is well placed to offer guidance and mentorship to those seeking a clinical academic life. He works extensively across the European Society of Cardiology in education, trials and guidelines, and is Director of Digital Trials for the NHS West Midlands Secure Data Environment and theme lead for the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre.
Academic Lead (University) for the IAT Programme
Prof Kristien Boelaert, IAT Lead at the University of Birmingham:
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