Research Project Support Officer (NWCPCR)

Applications are invited for the above full-time post working in Bangor University’s North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research (NWCPCR). This fixed term post currently expires 30/06/2027, subject to further funding becoming available.

The successful candidate will join the ThinkCancer! Team part-way through this fully recruited trial, (and until its conclusion) to provide research support along with the wider team. The ThinkCancer! phase III randomised controlled trial (RCT) is a pragmatic RCT of a novel behavioural intervention for primary care teams to promote earlier cancer diagnosis, with embedded process and economic evaluation. This is a study jointly funded by Cancer Research Wales and North-West Cancer Research being led by Professor Clare Wilkinson (Professor of General Practice, North Wales Medical School, Bangor University).

The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the ThinkCancer! intervention for general practice teams compared with usual care, in terms of the primary care interval (time between first presentation of potential cancer symptoms and referral to secondary care). Secondary objectives include determining the cost-effectiveness of ThinkCancer! compared to usual practice, exploration of patients and carer experiences of urgent referral, the study of contextual factors driving implementation, determining the acceptability of the intervention among practice teams and assessing possible safety netting improvements. ThinkCancer! is a whole-practice based behavioural change intervention, comprising educational and quality improvement workshops: two educational sessions: one for all clinical staff (the ‘early diagnosis’ session) and one for non-clinical but patient-facing staff (the ‘cancer aware’ session). Intervention delivery will be accompanied by parallel qualitative work and economic evaluation. 99 general practices in Wales, North-West England and South of England have been randomised to the ‘ThinkCancer!’ intervention or usual practice.

The postholder will support Professor Wilkinson and the trial manager in the delivery of the ThinkCancer! trial. The successful applicant will be responsible for working with the trial manager and the wider study team to ensure smooth day to day running of the trial. The post holder will be expected to conduct a range of research activities including supporting general practices with data collection, data entry and storage, reporting on progress and attending trial meetings. The post holder will also be responsible for liaising with the wider study team, stakeholders and other outside organisations as directed by the trial manager. The post holder will be required to contribute towards written reports to the study funders, publication in peer reviewed journals and conference proceedings. The post holder will work alongside the trial manager to ensure that the trial is delivered in adherence with current Good Clinical Practice and GDPR guidelines.

The successful candidate will also form a part of the wider NWCPCR team and will be expected to attend departmental meetings and contribute to the PRIME Centre Wales work package 4 within which ThinkCancer! is situated.

This role will be located on campus at Wrexham. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a job share basis.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the following for informal discussions regarding the post: Nicola Nikolic, Trial Manager (n.nikolic@bangor.ac.uk), or Richard Evans, Senior Research Administrator NWCPCR (richard.evans@bangor.ac.uk).

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