Clinical Research Fellow - Department of Inflammation and Ageing Clinical

Position Details

Department of Inflammation and Ageing, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health

Location:

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £45,943 - £77,196

Clinical

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to March 2029

Closing date: 12th March 2026

The Medical Research Council (MRC) has recently funded a Four-year, £1.5M cohort study, that is studying the impact of e-cigarettes on immune and epithelial cells within the lungs of smokers trying to quit using e-cigarettes.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, and a risk factor for many diseases. With an ageing population, the profound economic and health burden of smoking-related disease continues to increase. E-cigarettes are an effective, NICE recommended smoking cessation tool yet the long-term effects of vaping remain uncertain. Our short-term exposure studies have shown the deleterious effects of e-cigarette exposure on innate immune cell function (neutrophils, alveolar macrophages), suggesting potential harm from chronic exposure.

This project aims to address this knowledge gap by recruiting a cohort of healthy smokers aiming to quit smoking using e-cigarettes, to provide critical data needed to determine safety and to inform personal choice, public debate, and policy. This longitudinal cohort study will evaluate accumulation of toxins in the airways, changes in epithelial and innate immune cell functions during smoking cessation, by combining a multi-omic approach with whole-cell effector functions and characterise changes in the respiratory microbiome.

This vacancy is for a clinicalresearchfellow (CRF) working as part of the Acute Care research theme in the department of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham. The post will deliver a mixed job role working within the University of Birmingham as an MRC funded fellow (60%) and supporting the NIHR Clinical Research Facility (40%) aiding in the delivery of early phase and first-in-man clinical trials.

The post-holder will contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities within an established research project, specifically an MRC funded Project grant EVALUATE. The CRF will lead on delivery of this cohort study, driving patient recruitment in collaboration with nursing team at the NIHR Clinical Research Facility, supervising and undertaking sample collection including bronchoscopic sampling of the lower airways and ensuring participant eCRFs are and clinical databases are updated throughout the study.

The post holder will benefit from the infrastructure and expertise in the Acute care team, as well as the track record of delivering patient cohort studies and clinical trials. This job share role will be integrated with a 40% job role with the NIHR Clinical Research Facility to support delivery of early phase clinical trials which require clinical support. This post is funded for 36 months.

The post-holder will be expected to register for a higher degree and will be supported to apply for further development and funding.

• To coordinate recruitment of patients, including patient identification and consent and performance of study-related procedures where relevant
• To assist with study set-up and obtaining necessary local and national approvals (ethics, MHRA) and contribute to site file and data management under guidance of the trials coordinators and lead investigators.
• Tocarryouta literature reviewofthetopicarea.
• Togain sufficientresearch dataand experience thatwill enable completion of a higher degree(PhDorMD).Tocomplywith thetermsandconditionsset outinthe Universityof Birmingham’sgraduate Programmeofstudy.
• To contribute to the enhancement of scientific understanding of pulmonary inflammatory disease mechanisms in accordance with the aims of the project grant.
• To undertake prescribedresearchtasksandcollection ofresearchdata
• Toprioritisetaskswithin the agreed work schedule toensurethatprojectsare delivered in atimelyfashion according tothetimelinesin the project grant.
• Tosuggestandcontribute…