Job Description

Ref Number

B02-09753

Professional Expertise

Clinical

Department

School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

See advert text

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Working Type

On site

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

04-Dec-2025

About us

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UCL Cancer Institute (UCL CI)

is a state-of-the-art institute to consolidate cancer research at UCL and promote links with our partner teaching hospitals, in order to support excellence in basic and translational studies. The Institute draws together talented scientists who are working together to translate research discoveries into developing kinder, more effective therapies for cancer patients. It is a Cancer Research UK and Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, and contains approximately 580 staff, including 120 PhD and MD (Res) students and 40 MSc students. (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/cancer/)



This is a post within the

Myeloma research group in the department of Haematology in the Cancer Institute at UCL.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells that affects older adults, and current treatments are not curative. The Myeloma Research Group seeks to understand how myeloma develops from the pre-cancerous condition, smouldering myeloma. This post is funded as part of a Cancer Research UK programme grant "Tumour-immune interactions in smouldering myeloma".



The main focus of this research post is the

Modify trial in smouldering myeloma

. This is a national multi-centre phase II study run from UCL, in which participants with high-risk smouldering myeloma are given 2 years treatment with immunotherapy drugs, to test if this will delay the development of myeloma. You will help to recruit and care for these patients (at UCH), and coordinate research samples for the genomic and immunological assays. You will be involved in central trial activities including trial management group meetings, investigator meetings and data analysis. You will undertake laboratory translational work related to Modify.



The myeloma laboratory at UCL is the central hub for clinical trials like Modify, and other national studies in myeloma and smouldering myeloma. Our translational projects seek to understand how tumour biology interacts with host immune function to control disease evolution from smouldering myeloma to myeloma, and to influence the response to intervention. Our clinical trials provide essential material for our research projects.



The post-holder will work within a team of laboratory and clinician scientists, including PhD students, post-doctoral scientists and clinical research fellows, and will be encouraged to develop a research project towards a PhD. The project will be in the area of smouldering myeloma, and may focus on genomic or immunological aspects. The post-holder will work under the direct supervision of

Prof Kwee Yong (group leader)

,

Dr Lydia Lee (Immunotherapy group leader), and Dr Eileen M Boyle (Clinician Scientist).

About the role

------------------


An exciting opportunity for a keen and enthusiastic Haematology trainee to undertake a research project on smouldering myeloma. This post combines clinical and laboratory research into

Smouldering Myeloma (SMM)

, and is funded as part of a Cancer Research UK programme grant. The post-holder will join a team of laboratory and clinical scientists in the

UCL Myeloma Laboratory and the Myeloma Immunotherapy group in the Cancer Institute at UCL.

Multiple myeloma remains incurable despite impressive advances in therapy. Our work is focused on understanding how myeloma develops from smouldering myeloma, and designing interventional studies to intercept disease progression.



The post-holder will work on clinical and translational aspects of the

Modify trial, a Phase II interventional immunotherapy trial in SMM

. The CRUK Population and Prevention Programme is run jointly in partnership with Oxfrod University, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institutes in Boston, giving opportunities for external collaboration. SMM is a precursor condition that is usually picked up by a blood test. Over the first 5 years, around 50% of people with SMM will develop myeloma.



This 5-year programme will use experimental and computational tools to study disease progression and generate novel predictive models. You will work alongside a team of clinical fellows, post-doctoral scientists, doctoral students and technicians in the Myeloma laboratory in the Cancer Institute.

Funding is for 18 months in the first instance

and would suit a Haematology specialist trainee with experience of managing myeloma and related disorders, and are seeking a research position. International trainees are welcome to apply.

Applications should include a CV and a Cover Letter:

In the Cover Letter please provide evidence of the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification part of the . (By including a Cover Letter, you can leave blank the 'Why you have applied for this role' field in the application form, which is limited in the number of characters it will allow.)

About you

-------------


We are seeking a highly motivated Haematology trainee who has obtained Part 1 of the FRCPath, and wishes to gain research experience at the laboratory/clinical interface. Applicants will have completed at least 12 months of speciality training in Haematology and previous laboratory experience is desirable, but not essential.



International applicants are welcome. Applicants will be highly motivated, able to work in a team, to drive a project and to work independently. Evidence of previous research work in the form of audits, presentations at meetings and publications would also be desirable.

What we offer

-----------------


As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:


41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan On-Site nursery On-site gym Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service Discounted medical insurance

Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.



We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.



These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.



You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/