College of Medical & Dental Sciences

ACADEMIC CLINICAL FELLOW JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:
Academic Clinical Fellow in Plastic Surgery
Research Theme: Therapeutics or Clinical Pharmacology

Duration of the Post:

Fixed term appointment for 3 years

Grade/Level

ST1 - 3

Lead NHS Hospital/Trust in which training will take place.

The ACF programme will be overseen by a lead NHS Trust within the West Midlands Workforce
Deanery area but trainees may be required to rotate to other trusts within this area during their
training.
For further information about the location of the post please contact the academic supervisor.

Research institutions in which training will take place

University of Birmingham

What arrangement of day release or block release will be used for protected
research time?
3 months blocks

Description of research component of programme

Environment

The ACF will join an established interdisciplinary programme of research involving basic
scientists, clinicians, engineers, and computational biologists.

Advances in burn care have improved patient outcomes, however the prevalence of sepsis
remains high, and failure to diagnose early leads to multiple organ failure (MOF). Although MOF
is well characterized clinically, the mechanisms mediating organ damage and mortality remain
poorly understood.

We have shown that quantification of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) in blood from injured patients has the
potential to predict sepsis, septic shock and mortality. The high levels of cfDNA observed are due
to a reduction in DNAse activity and increase in its natural inhibitor, actin. As a result restoration
of DNase activity could reduce the risk of cfDNA‐induced host tissue damage and thrombosis.

The research project proposed will involve understanding the “actin scavenging system” and
looking into novel agents to restore DNAse activity for a future clinical trial (e.g. Gelsolin with
BioAegis). Research training will be bespoke, including biomarker measurements/assays,
statistics, bioinformatics and trial design, appropriate to the project.
 College of Medical & Dental Sciences

Description of clinical training component of programme

The candidate will receive training in the generality of surgery for the first 2 years of the ACF post.
This will include clinical training in plastic surgery and one or more related surgical specialties and
may involve working in several surgical units within the West Midlands. This will allow them to
develop generic as well as specialist surgical skills and knowledge to allow them to successfully
complete the MRCS examination.

Once they complete core surgical training, they will enter the specialist training programme at ST3
level. They will have access to specialist plastic surgery training within 5 different units throughout
the West Midlands which will give access to all subspecialties of plastic surgery. They will develop
their specialist skills and knowledge and work towards completing the FRCS(Plast) examination
as well as the other competencies required to gain CCT in Plastic Surgery.

Throughout the training programme the candidate will have access to a comprehensive regional
teaching programme as well as other educational opportunities such as relevant courses and
conferences according to their specific learning requirements. They will have an allocated
educational and clinical supervisor in each post who will ensure that they are making satisfactory
progress towards their clinical targets at each stage of the training programme. Their progress will
be assessed by ARCP process in the same way as non-academic trainees.

Academic Lead (University) for the IAT Programme

Professor Kristien Boelaert

Academic Supervisor (University) details

Prof Janet Lord University of Birmingham

Institute of Inflammation and Ageing
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
University of Birmingham

Educational Supervisor (Trust) details

Miss Elizabeth Chipp

Consultant Plastic and Burn Surgeon
University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust

Clinical Supervisor(s) (Trust) details

Prof Naiem Moiemen

Consultant Plastic and Burn Surgeon
University of Birmingham- University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust

Deanery Programme Training Director details

Miss. Clare Pattenden

 College of Medical & Dental Sciences
Consultant Renal Surgeon
Training Programme Director Core Surgery (HEEWM)
University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust

Miss Elizabeth Chipp

Consultant Plastic and Burn Surgeon
University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust

Confirmation that ACF posts attract an NTN (a)

The post includes an NTNa in the appropriate speciality, and transition into the specialty training
programme, upon successful completion of progression requirements and clinical benchmarking.