Research Leaders Scheme

Current Vacancies 

The RCoA CR&I has opened the application process for its Research Leaders Scheme for new recruits to join in 2025.  The scheme was originally intended to provide training and mentorship for a small number of talented individuals who wish to lead their own clinical trials in perioperative medicine. However, the importance of a wide range of applied clinical research skills in building the case for changes in clinical practice is recognised, and the scope of this scheme has been broadened beyond those with an interest in clinical trials to all applied clinical research methodologies.

Successful applicants are expected to actively engage with RCoA CR&I activities e.g. board meetings, as well as Research Leaders training events. Applicants will have experience as a local investigator, and ideally of a complete research cycle through to publication and dissemination of results. The CR&I welcomes applications from individuals of any clinical background of relevance to perioperative medicine. It is not necessary to have a clinical academic role, and a major strength of the scheme is the diversity of its membership.

Applications close: Friday 30th May 2025

Aims

The CTN Research Leaders scheme is designed for a very small number of leaders of future clinical research, around five at any one time, who are individually selected at competitive interview from amongst existing members of both the Local and Principal Investigator scheme.

The Research Leaders (RL) scheme will necessarily be based on prior research experience, including recruitment of patients to research as a trainee, and undertaking the roles of local investigator, local principal investigator and grant co-applicant. In most cases potential RLs will be building upon knowledge, skills and personal attributes already developed through the scheme for local and principal investigators, as well as by working on trials with a more experienced investigator acting as CI and enhanced by attending RL training days organised by the CTN.

Person Specification

Applicants will be existing members of the POMCTN Local or Principal Investigator scheme, with a proven track record of recruitment to clinical research. For details on CTN membership please visit the registration page. They will also ideally have the experience of a complete research cycle, perhaps as a grant co-applicant, through to publication and dissemination of results. Applications are welcomed from individuals of any clinical background of relevance to perioperative medicine. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the position informally before applying. To do so please contact the POMCTN.

Role

Successful appointments to the POMCTN Research Leaders Scheme will be expected to attend two in-person training meetings and other events each year at which experienced researchers will lead discussions, exchange of views and problem based tutorials covering important practical and theoretical topics in the delivery of clinical trials and other applied research methods.They will be attached to an established senior researcher who will provide mentorship and exposure to the leadership and governance of research. Candidates who have a pre-existing relationship of this type already in place can be accommodated on the scheme.

Training

Broad competencies to be covered in mentor meetings and supplemented by the CI training days include:
 

• Project management

• Developing an Application

• Trial Design and Methodology

• Ethics and Approvals

• Statistics

• Finance and administration

• Health economics

• Academic writing