Director of ScienceRecruitment Pack 2019

Letter from Robin and AlisonDear Candidates

We are excited to be advertising two new posts at NPIMR (Northwick Park Institute of Medical Research). NPIMR is currently undergoing a change management programme which will enable us to the have the best team to implement an exciting new business plan. Within this there is the ability for a Director of Science to take forward our Scientific portfolio, work with the Academic Review Panel to set a research strategy and to create a unique research platform moving forward.

In addition, NPIMR has provided high fidelity training involving live animals for over 20 years. Initially this was only in microvascular surgery but more recently has included endovascular procedures. In 2018 the Home Office extended this to include live animal training in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery. The Director of Science will provide strategy and direction so that we become the go to centre for live animal and innovative training in the UK and as a real alternative to Europe.

We wish you success in your application.

Professor Robin Kennedy, Chair

Alison Rosen, Interim CEO

Who We AreFounded in 1994, NPIMR is today one of the UK’s leading charity-based independent Medical Research Institutes working to translate ground-breaking pre-clinical Medical Research rapidly into patient care. By maintaining our own top-rate research facilities and providing excellence in surgical training, we ensure the highest standard of science for translation into the clinic. We have recently undertaken a significant refurbishment, thanks to the generosity of our major benefactor John Griffin and we are now undertaking a change management programme to ensure that we are fit for purpose and commercially viable for the next 25 years. We hope the planned changes will allow us to continue the transformation into a leading institute for surgical training, as well as expanding our clinical research.

As part of the above we will be rebranding the charity into the Griffin Institute at Northwick Park (Centre of Excellence in Biomedicine and Training). This is an exciting opportunity to relaunch, attract new partners and reconnect to existing stakeholders.

The Board are preparing for the departure of Professor Paul Sibbons early in the Spring and to replace him we will be recruiting two new, senior positions in surgical training and research. Paul has made a tremendous contribution to NPIMR and the ground-breaking scientific research in which he has been involved. His skills as an experimental surgeon are unique in the UK. One of Paul’s greatest legacies, though, will be the award by the Home Office of the licence for high fidelity surgical training and we aim to grow the training in 2018/19 to become the go to live animal training centre for Doctor’s and surgeon’s in the UK.

A new Director of Science will oversee our research programme and expansion. We will continue to work on our key priorities in our home grown research.

We and a business development post will ensure that we are offering our contract and training services to as wide a community as possible and we will continue to provide unparalleled expertise to those wishing to test medical devices in our pre-clinical facilities.

As well as our key team we are building a skilled Trustee Board as outlined in this pack.

All of our activities will take place within our refurbished facilities at Northwick Park. However, some of the refurbishment is remaining and we aim to fundraise £2m to complete the rebuild with a state of the art training centre on the second floor with two new theatres.

Following the rebrand we will increase our PR and impact on the wider community including a regular series of newsletters, increased presence at conferences etc. We also need to fundraise significantly for our home-grown research and to maintain the centre. We will put together a fundraising committee to organise events and also work with our Trust Officer to obtain research grants where possible.

We will continue to work towards our vision of transforming and restoring patient quality of life.

Our VisionTo transform & restore patient quality of life/health

Our Mission StatementWe aim to achieve our vision by:Creating innovative clinical solutions underpinned by compelling scienceandTraining the next generation of medical professionals with novel and translational treatments.

Vision, Mission and Objectives

We aim to deliver this mission byDelivering the following research using a tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approach: -• Developing a novel wound healing portfolio• Creating functional tissues/organs to address: - liver

disease and transplantation shortage• Improve quality of life for sufferers of gut disorders

and• Creating a research hub and centre of excellence

which delivers: • A pre-clinical facility and scientific surgical expertise• Customised in vitro analysis to compliment pre-

clinical live experimentation • Creative collaborations between Academics, NHS

Trusts, SME and commercial partnersand • Expanding accredited courses for advanced surgical/

medical training (as regulated by the Home Office). This includes bespoke cadaveric and live training courses

Our Values As we strive to achieve the three objectives (listed on the previous page), we will lead by example in demonstrating the same values in everything we do and deliver.

We will have the following work practices: -

Collaborative Working• We will collaborate both internally and externally. • We will work as a single NPIMR team.• We will communicate with each other

EthicalNPIMR will maintain an ethical approach to research including taking into account the principles called the 3Rs of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. You can carry out a procedure only if there are no scientifically suitable alternatives available that can: • Replace the use of animals; • Reduce the number of animals needed; or • Refine the procedures to cause less suffering.

Delivery of ExcellenceOur training, education, contract delivery and research will all be excellent.

HonestyWe will work in a culture that is honest and transparent.

Patient FocussedOur ultimate value is that everything we do enables progress for patients

Within the behaviours will aim to be flexible, innovative and entrepreneurial

GovernanceUnder the leadership of Professor Robin Kennedy, our new Chair, we have added new Trustees to the Board who will help take NPIMR to its next stages as follows: -

Professor Robin Kennedy, Chair

Professor Barry Fuller, UCL- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science

Professor George Hamilton, Royal Free PPU, Consultant Vascular Surgeon

Mr Kiran Patel, Chartered accountant in practice

Mr Bruce Mauleverer, retired barrister

Mr Keith Malkinson, Treasurer, chartered accountant

Dr Janet Allen, Director of Strategic Innovation at The Cystic Fibrosis Trust

Ms Bonella Ramsay, DLA Piper- Partner & Global Co-Chair, Life Sciences Sector

Professor Vivek Mudera, UCL, Vice Dean of Education at UCL and Director of Education, UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science

Ms Grace Tye, Fundraiser

The OrganisationAs part of the organisation change process we are recruiting to the structure below:

Director of Science• Oversee academic and contract research• Development and elaboration of surgical models of human

disease and conditions• Representation of NPIMR at Academic Board meetings (NP

& St Marks)• Designated GLP Operator• Authorising of SOPs• Collaborate & work with the CEO to develop a joint science

and business plan• Provide strategic leadership of research activities in the

institute• Set targets for both teams outputs; manage and lead teams• Draft budgets and applications for the potential projects

and grants• Create impact reports for funders and the academic

community• Lead liaison with division of surgical interventional sciences

at UCL• Lead liaison with Imperial College• Potential for pathology

PA/Office Manager• PA to CEO & general office duties• Provision of Trustee & Board support• HR admin under the guidance of CEO or HR consultant• Support & development of IT to meet business needs under

the guidance of the IT provider and senior team• Home office admin• Reception• H & S Admin

Theatre/Surgery• Theatre Scientific Lead/

Research Surgeon/ Trainee Study Director

• Theatre Technical Lead/ Research Surgeon/ Study Director

• Theatre Technical Lead/ Research Surgeon/ Study Director

• Research Surgeon

Cleaning StaffAnimal Welfare• NTCO/NACWO• Senior Animal Technician• Deputy Archivist

Technician

History/Haematology• Senior Histologist/Study

Director• Research Assistant

Fundraising• Securing grants and

funds, specifically for medical research

Director of Training• Leadership of training

and education• Course design• Research on new surgical

techniques/technology• Produce business plans

for Education and Training• Liaison key stakeholders• Deliver surgical training

programmes for undergraduate medical students and on a commercial contract basis

• Obtain new partnerships for training documents/protocols

HR Consultant• Provision of HR strategic

advice• Provision of operational

HR support and guidance• Provision of OD and

remuneration advice to chief exec and chair of trustees as required.

Finance Director• Ensure overall effective

financial management and reporting

• Produce the statutory accounts, management accounts & budgets

• Lead on the financial aspects of strategic projects aimed at achieving sustainability and growth of the organisation

• Oversee the activities and budgets for each department to ensure the appropriate procedures are adhered to

• Management and procurement of day to day legal advice implications

Business Development Manager• Lead efforts to establish

and retain business growth for contracts, education and training

Post-doc ScientistsFacility and Contract Research

Finance Officer

Head of Education & Training

CEO• Creation, communication and implementation of the organisation's purpose vision & strategy• Development of the overall business plan• Operational responsibility for the charity, relationships with the host trust and home office• Development of the strategy for income generation• Represent NPIMR in wider community & with key stakeholders• Carry out the role of Home Office establishment licence holder• Provide regular reports to the chair and trustees of the board

Facilities and Contract Research Manager• Management of the animal facility, including theatre and

laboratories• Set target and standards of performance for theatre,

laboratory and animal technicians• Work with the Science Director, Head of Research and

Head of Education and training, finalise the costing of research projects for clients

• Work with clients on the management of research projects• Produce budget and business plan for the contracts business

Homegrown ResearchNPIMR works hard to translate ground-breaking pre-clinical medical research rapidly into patient care. By maintaining our own exemplary research facilities and providing excellence in surgical training, we ensure the highest standard of science for translation into the clinic. Our two main aims are to support and progress the highest levels of innovation in research and over the last 20 years we have become experts in regenerative medicine, stem cell therapies, surgical techniques and the usage of biological/synthetic scaffolds for a wide range of potential patient impact.

Over the past 10 years, our work has delivered a number of genuine “firsts”. These include the first decellularised/recellularised Trachea implanted into human clinical case, fusion of laparoscopy and endoscopy for novel resection procedure for polyps and T1/T2 bowel cancer vastly improving patient outcomes from these procedures, pressure activated stoma continence control device which has been tested and delivered and a decellularised/recellularised larynx with pre-clinical phase complete making the possibility of human implantation a reality.

We aim to carry out the best scientific research across the UK, and support our surgeons and researchers of the future through our work. Currently, we have a particular expertise and focus on tissue and organ engineering because the demand to replace old, injured or diseased tissue continues to increase, and the demand cannot be met through organ donation alone. An alternative approach is required and our tissue and organ engineering brings together the skills and expertise of cell biologists, bioengineers, material scientists and clinicians/surgeons with the goal of creating functional tissues and organs in the laboratory for patient benefit.

The basic components required for tissue engineered functional organs are two-fold; a scaffold or framework of the tissue or organ required, and cells (stem cells or differentiated cells), which must come together in a symbiotic relationship in order to create functional tissue. The team’s focus is developing and using innovative technologies in each of these two disciplines and to create lasting solutions which address defined clinical problems whilst adding to our basic understanding of regenerative medicine and its future potential.

NPIMR works with a spin out company that owns some of our IP called Videregen where we support their pre-clinical work and are also an investor. Initially focused on diseases of the trachea and bowel, Videregen aims to develop the world’s first commercially available organ replacements for these conditions, reducing healthcare costs and improving the quality of life for patients. Within NPIMR we also have a Tropical Diseases research arm-TPDU.

Contract ResearchOur research scientists have considerable expertise managing pre-clinical studies (both large and small animal models) from simple exploratory investigations for devices or devices to complex GLP audited projects. We have a team of experienced scientists, surgeons and theatre staff and can also compliment the pre-clinical studies with specialist histology and pathology.

HubWithin NPIMR we also host a number of hub companiesCurileum Discovery LtdCurileum Discovery Ltd was incorporated in 2013 and is an emerging regenerative medicine company in London that focusses on revealing the underlying causes of serious gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and disorders with major GI complications.

Parexel InternationalFor over 35 years, Parexel has proven to be a trusted partner for the complex development journey required of biopharmaceutical and medical device companies. They are also an astute guide, able to simplify that journey for their clients, so safe new products can reach patients more quickly. They strive to be the premier provider to the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries for the development and commercialization of new medical therapies worldwide.

PharmidexPharmidex is a contract research organisation (CRO) that provides translational solutions using its world renowned expertise in CNS/oncology/respiratory, DMPK, drug discovery and ADMET/pharmacokinetics. Founded in the UK in 2002, Pharmidex operates in state-of-the-art facilities in London and Stevenage to provide high-quality bespoke experimental data to support drug discovery and development.

Synexa Life SciencesFounded in 2003 as an early pioneer in the new field of biomarker services, Synexa Life Sciences has grown to offer a comprehensive range of analytical and advisory services to global biopharmaceutical companies focused on the identification, development, analysis and interpretation of biomarkers in clinical trials and diagnostic validation programs.

Our Scientific Research

NPIMR (Northwick Park Institute of Medical Research). is seeking to appoint a new Director of Science as part of its growth plans building on solid foundations of the Institute. This post will form part of a small executive team and reports to the Chief Executive.

The post holder will supervise both the Research & Development and contracts team; this includes post-doctoral scientists in the research team as well as a contracts manager who in turn supervises theatre staff, surgeons and animal technicians.

The current income for 2018/19 is £450,000 for contract research and £250,000 for Research & Development with contract research just breaking even and Research & Development costing in excess of £400,000 per annum. We are aiming for a £1m income portfolio for 2018/19 with a new business development officer in place building contract research clients and an increased focus for grant funding for Research & Development. The aim is to double this over three years so that Research & Development has full grant funding and the contracts team makes a significant contribution to the running of the facility.

We are looking for a post holder who can do the following: -• Review the home-grown research portfolio and make

recommendations on it value • Recommend a research strategy to the Academic

Review Panel and Trustees.• Improve grant funding of research work.• Look for new funded research projects which would

be well placed in NPIMR.• Grow the contract research significantly, assessing

our USP and building a business plan so this makes a significant contribution.

• Be able to personally add value to customers who want protocol oversight and scientific expertise.

The research portfolio is a mixed one, combining in-house research in the area of regenerative medicine and oversight of contract research that taps into the expertise in the Institute. In addition, the Institute hosts a number of biotechnology companies, in particular, spin-outs from Imperial College London. Together this creates a critical mass of scientists on the site located in a dynamic research ecosystem blending basic and commercial scientists. This ecosystem together with the

other activities of the Institute and its location within the Northwick Park Hospital/St Marks Hospital complex offers the potential for translational opportunities to ensure that cutting-edge scientific discoveries can drive improvements to patient health.

This is an opportunity for an entrepreneurial researcher whose interest lies at the interface between research and commercial sciences to make an impact and shape the future activity and success of the Institute. Over time, the Director of Science will work with the CEO and Director of Training to develop existing empty space within the NPIMR.

There are many opportunities to grow the institute activity through development of external grant-funded research in the area of Regenerative Medicine and through its growing reputation to attract additional revenues through contract-based research. In addition, the co-location of the research group alongside the small biotechnology companies offers identifying synergies and potential cross-talk between the two sectors.

The Director of Science Post

1. Overall purpose• Provide scientific vision and leadership.• Create an environment that promotes

entrepreneurial spirit at all levels.• Manage the contract and Research & Development

functions.

2. Accountabilities deliverables• Define and develop the 5 year scientific strategy

and plans for the Institute for approval by the Board ensuring that the research programme is focused on creative projects with ambitious objectives.

• Define and develop annual budgets for the departments (Research & Development and Contract research) for approval by the Board.

• Develop the potential of existing staff members and recruit and train an efficient team including PHD students.

• Develop and implement an engagement strategy for the institute, including constructive engagement with scientific, academic, medical and commercial bodies.

• Act as accountable officer for GLP.• Provide scientific input (act as PI) for significant

contract research where this is required and leading on protocol development.

• Oversee home office licensing, applying for new licenses when needed.

• Oversee decisions on the operational aspects of contract studies, training and Research & Development logistics.

• Inputting into funding applications and where appropriate leading on applications for funding.

3. Responsibilities• Ensure that the culture and processes of the Institute

are conducive to the achievement of its research, innovation and other objectives.

• Ensure that the process for appointment and review of the institute’s principal investigators, is rigorous, international and transparent; that there is in place a similar process for the appointment and review of more junior scientific staff; and in all cases ensure that the institute recruits and retains only researchers of truly outstanding potential.

• Develop a review process which is independent of the Institute, international, transparent and accountable to the Board of Trustees

• Represent and speak for the Institute, both in the UK and elsewhere.

• Maintain a regular dialogue with funders about the Institutes’ research strategy and related funding arrangements.

• Maintain good relationships with universities and other research organisations throughout the UK.

• Expediting the creation of scientific interest groups to promote collaboration and cross fertilisation between research groups.

• Ensuring that the Institute maintains a vigorous programme of other scientific activities to promote interaction between the Institute's scientists and the wider scientific community.

• Ensuring the Institute maintains a vigorous programme of engagement with the scientific community through conferences, workshops and seminar series.

4. Necessary skills, knowledge and qualifications• Doctorate (PhD or equivalent).• Entrepreneur with vision and strong leadership skills.• Proven track record of excellence in science and

research. • To be an experienced Senior Scientist with pre-

clinical experience (ideally with large animals).• To have managed teams of staff and researchers and

in particular PhD students.• Experience of GLP and if possible to have acted as

designated GLP operator.• To have held a Home Office licence for live animal

procedures and operated at Study Director/PI level (Desirable)

• To have experience with medical devices research (desirable).

• Excellent communicator and collaborator.• Management experience including overseeing

budgets.• Grant application experience.

5. Working relationships• The CEO• Director of Training• Academic review panel• Scientific communities• Research & Development department• Contact research department• NHS Trust

Job Description and Person Specification

Terms and Conditions

Recruitment TimetableClosing date for applications 06/03

Pre interview assessments 15 – 22/03

Interview day 01/04

To ApplyPlease send your CV and covering letter to recruitment@npimr.org

For an informal discussion with the panel chairs or for a tour of our facilities please contact Alison Rosen at a.rosen@npimr.org

Salary to be discussed (part time will be considered)

27 days per annum annual leave (plus 8 days bank holidays)

A Group Stakeholder pension that is administered by Scottish Widows with automatic membership upon joining NPIMR.

The following arrangement with UCL is in place and would apply: -

a. All NPIMR post-doctoral staff at Lecturer grade or above will be awarded honorary academic appointments in the UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Sciences. NPIMR will submit applications and the awards will be granted subject to appropriate UCL procedures being completed.

b. NPIMR staff with honorary staff appointments at UCL will be entitled to the normal rights, privileges and use of facilities, and will be subject to the same responsibilities, rules and regulations as other UCL staff.

c. NPIMR honorary staff will also be considered by the UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Sciences for recognition as teachers and supervisors, and considered for promotion to more senior honorary academic titles.

Phone: +44(0)20 8869 3830Email: info-RD@npimr.orgWebsite: www.npimr.org

NPIMRNorthwick Park and St Mark’s Hospital CAMPUS,Y Block, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ(access via St Mark’s Hospital main entrance at Car Park 4)

Northwick Park Institute of Medical Research (NPIMR) Company No 03445616. Charity No 112934