Last updated: 12.10.2010
ACF Radiology Programme Details
The Academic Clinical Fellowship Programme is based on the collaboration between the North Western Deanery, and the Division of Imaging Science and Biomedical Engineering (ISBE) which is part of the School of Cancer studies and Imaging Science. Academic Radiology is a major component of ISBE which is an internationally recognised imaging research group (RAE 5/5*) with active research programmes ranging from the development of novel imaging and image analysis techniques through to clinical imaging based research. ISBE brings together a broad based range of multidisciplinary academics in clinical radiology, imaging physics, image analysis, statistics and medical computing and health informatics. Clinical research is conducted across a range of teaching hospital sites including the Christie Hospital, Salford Royal Foundation Trust (clinical neurosciences) and Manchester Royal Infirmary (musculoskeletal imaging). ISBE is one of the largest multi disciplinary imaging research units in the country and receives funding from MRC, EPSRC, CRUK, Wellcome Trust, NIH and the European Union. Current total research funding is in the region of £11 million. In addition ISBE was a major partner in the MRC infrastructural award the formation of the Institute of Functional and Molecular Imaging (circa £5 million). There are also strong industrial collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry, including a strategic alliance with Astra Zeneca, which underpin the research into the development of imaging based biomarkers for drug discovery.
Training and Academic Environment
The Fellowship Programme will combine excellent clinical training opportunities within the North West Training Programme and research training based within Academic Radiology.
Clinical Training
You will train within the Northwest Regional Radiology Training Scheme which is one of the largest in the UK with up to 96 trainees. This scheme runs in close partnership with Academic Radiology which supports a dedicated "taught" FRCR programme which is delivered in the University. Quality assurance for this course is provided in part by the Training Accreditation Committee of the Royal College of Radiologists. Clinical training is across 18 NHS Trusts in the North Western Deanery providing teaching and district general hospital experience. The scheme is instrumental in identifying potential academic trainees and there are currently 6 Research Training Fellows in Radiology who were recruited in this manner undertaking PhDs. In their first year academic trainees will participate in the normal six monthly rotation based on 18 participating NHS Trusts in the Greater Manchester area and will undertake the part 1 FRCR.
Research Training
2.5 sessions per week will be absolutely protected for academic training with some flexibility to suit the trainee. During these sessions you will meet with your research supervisor of choice to develop and plan their research studies and prepare applications for ethics approval. You will be released from clinical duties on a flexible basis, to suit your needs, for a total of 6 months in the first 24 months to undertake research.
Research Environment
Academic Radiology is part of the Division of Imaging Science and Biomedical Engineering, which currently hosts 7 professorial posts, 1 reader, 5.5 senior lecturers, 2 lecturers, 3 senior research fellows, 7 clinical research fellows, 18 research associates and 10 research assistants. There is a large number of PhD / MD students (38+ 7 clinical) and a dedicated MSc course in medical imaging (in addition to the clinical radiology training scheme). The size and quality of the group ensures that the programme provides a great depth as well as breadth of training in translational clinical science ranging from imaging physics and image analysis through development and validation of imaging biomarkers to implementation of imaging based clinical research.
Facilities for imaging research are of the highest international standard with research dedicated MRI facilities ( two whole body scanners at 1.5 Tesla and one 3T system), full cyclotron and radiochemistry facilities together with clinical PET CT and high resolution head PET cameras. There is also access to extensive preclinical expertise and imaging facilities.
Research Strengths
Comprehensive research training opportunities exist in several areas including:
Opportunities
There are extensive opportunities particularly in oncological and neurological research. The majority of research imaging activity focuses on advanced MRI and positron emission tomography. There is also very active research in the area of image analysis and interpretation.
Contact
Academic Lead: Alan Jackson
Training Programme Director: Gerard Murphy
Recruitment Helpdesk: Helpdesk.Recruitment@pat.nhs.uk or 0161 604 5553
Applicants wishing to find out more about the relevant clinical training programme(s), should go to the Specialties at a Glance page and click on the link(s) for the relevant clinical training programme(s).
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