Research Associate

The role

The IN-FAKT study is an NIHR-funded investigation of the experiences and management of individuals whose kidney transplants are failing or have recently failed.

Kidney transplantation is the best treatment for most people with kidney failure. However, kidney transplants rarely work for the whole of a patient’s life. Transplant failure is associated with a high burden of medical morbidity, with evidence that patients with failed transplants fare worse than those with failure of their own kidneys only across traditional measures of quality of care. Many decisions need to be made when a kidney transplant fails, including whether the transplant should be removed, which medications should be stopped, and what treatment should follow. There is limited, poor-quality evidence on which to base these decisions, and there is evidence of national variation in practice.

This post is an exciting opportunity for a talented researcher to conduct qualitative interviews with people experiencing kidney transplant failure, their family, and healthcare professionals who contribute to their medical care.

The study aims to understand:

• patient and family experiences of kidney transplant failure
• patient priorities when a transplant fails
• patient, family and healthcare professional beliefs about the best treatment for transplant failure
• how and why decisions regarding failing transplants are made between patients, their families and clinicians
• views on a possible clinical trial comparing different treatments for transplant failure

You will join the growing, interdisciplinary Bristol Renal Population Health Sciences (PHS) Research Group. The group is based in the University of Bristol’s world-renowned PHS department. Translational health services research in this group uses epidemiology, qualitative approaches and optimised clinical trial design to produce evidence to improve renal population health. Research undertaken is internationally recognised and internationally leading, with several recent invitations to principal investigators to lecture at ERA-EDTA, BTS and UKKW meetings.

You will be based in Bristol and work under the supervision of Chief Investigator Dr Pippa Bailey and Co-Investigators Dr Lucy Selman (Bristol University), Prof Jane Noyes (Bangor University), Prof Cath Exley (Newcastle University), Dr Sian Griffin (University Hospital Wales), Dr Alan Hancock (Patient expert) and Mr Paul Maxted (Patient expert).

What will you be doing?

Over the next 24 months you will undertake:

• Study set-up: Approaching NHS sites and undertaking site initiation visits at participating sites.
• Data collection: Developing an interview topic guide with the patient advisory group and the PI. Undertaking in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews via telephone and video-conferencing software with:
  • approximately 25-30 people who have experienced or are experiencing kidney transplant failure
  • approximately 25-30 family members of people who have experienced or are experiencing kidney transplant failure
  • approximately 10-15 healthcare professionals who contribute to the medical and surgical care of people with kidney transplant failure
• Analysis: Leading analysis of the qualitative data.

Dissemination and impact: Writing-up results for publications and presentations. Working with the patient advisory group to write a plain language summary of the study findings and patient information on transplant failure.

You should apply if

• You have a good honours degree (or equivalent) in social or health sciences.
• You have a relevant postgraduate research degree e.g. MA, MSc or PhD in social or health sciences (or are working towards one) or have equivalent professional qualifications/experience.
• You have experience of qualitative data collection and analysis.
• You have a track record of excellence in research project administration and delivery.
• You are excited about undertaking research to understand the experiences of people with failing kidney transplants, with the goal of ultimately improving their experiences and outcomes.

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended with funding until 28/02/2025

Work pattern: Part time/ 0.75 FTE

Grade: Grade I/Pathway 2

Salary: £35,333 - £36,386 per annum pro rata

School/Unit: Bristol Medical School

Shift pattern: 26.25 hours per week

This advert will close at 23:59 GMT on 01/03/2023

For informal queries please contact: Dr Pippa Bailey, pippa.bailey@bristol.ac.uk , 0117 331 4522

Available documents

• School Information - BMS - October 2022.pdf
• ACAD106655 - Research Associate - JD updated.pdf