Job description

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic post-doctoral Research Associate to work on an exciting, international, research study of take home naloxone.  This is a mixed methods study of the effectiveness of take home naloxone administration by lay people in reversing opioid overdose. The study aims to determine a) the rate of naloxone administration with the intention of reversing an opioid overdose by lay persons provided with THN who witness an opioid overdose and b) the frequency of deaths in the 24 hours subsequent to administration of naloxone. The post is fixed term for two years. 

Even though the study is funded by MundiPharma Research Ltd (the pharmaceutical company responsible for manufacturing the nasal naloxone, Nyxoid), the study examines any/all forms of naloxone which participating clinical services provide. The study is being undertaken in England, Wales, Scotland, Denmark and Sweden (and other countries, to be confirmed). The post holder will be located in the Addictions Department at the IoPPN, King’s College London.

A cohort of 6000 individuals having been pre-supplied with naloxone will be followed up over six months to determine whether they have witnessed (or experienced) an overdose. Those that have will be asked to take part in an interview with a researcher to ask them to provide more details about the overdose event. 

The position will involve assisting with every aspect of this study including:

liaising with countries to ensure recruitment of country sites and participants and adherence to protocol, ensuring countries have the training and resources they need; management and reporting of serious adverse events and assisting with data analysis and report writing, maintaining up to date study files and data bases, and undertaking research interviews over the telephone and data entry for participants recruited in London.

There may be opportunities to get involved in other related naloxone research. 

This post will be offered on a  fixed-term contract for 2 years 

This is a full-time  post.

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearance.

Key responsibilities

• To support the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators to deliver the study
• To liaise with clinical staff at participating sites (in participating countries) to ensure adherence to protocol and maximum rate of recruitment and completion of data collection and follow-up interviews
• To liaise with research staff at participating counties to ensure completion of data collection
• To ensure compliance with protocol guidelines and research governance
• To assist with Redcap database, data monitoring, data cleaning, data analysis and report writing
• To assist with the monitoring and reporting of any serious and non-serious adverse drug reactions
• To undertake telephone research interviews with study participants from London sites To enter research data from London sites into Redcap database
• To undertake “admin” tasks related to the project, including making study research packs and filing/archiving
• Any other duties appropriate to the grade as directed by your line manager
• To work as part of the NaLPORS research team

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1.       Relevant undergraduate degree and PhD (Psychology/Neuroscience or equivalent)

2.       Experience of undertaking research with people with substance misuse problems

3.       Experience of working with clinical addiction teams

4.       Understanding of the issues involved in working with drug clinic staff and service users

5.       Excellent organisational skills with the ability to organise time appropriately

6.       The ability to undertake schedule of work on his/her own initiative

7.       Computer literate with advanced Word, Excel and SPSS/STATA skills

8.       Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

9.       Ability to maintain study deadlines

10.   Administrative skills essential for careful record keeping

Desirable criteria

1.       Experience of working on research on naloxone

2.       Knowledge of opioid overdose and the role of naloxone

3.       Experience of working on clinical trials

4.       Experience of working with countries outside the UK

Further information

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.