Position

Study Doctor

Department

Tuberculosis

Location

This post is based at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Hanoi, Viet Nam. 

Hours of work

Full-time (37.5 hours per week Monday – Friday)

Tenure

Contract for one year on completion of 2-month probation with possibility for extension.

Reporting to

Head of Tuberculosis

Vacancy reference

JDHAN_1119_012

Background

The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) is a large-scale clinical and public health research unit based in Viet Nam. We are hosted by the Hospital of Tropical Diseases (HTD) in Ho Chi Minh City, and the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases (NHTD) in Hanoi. We also have sister units in Kathmandu, and Jakarta.  As a Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, we have received considerable support from the Wellcome Trust since our establishment in 1991.

Our ten-year vision is to have local, regional and global impact on health by leading a locally driven research programme on infectious diseases in Southeast Asia. This is being achieved via an integrated long-term research programme, contributions to training, the scientific literature, national and international meetings and membership of national and international committees. Priority is given to health issues important to the hospitals, and to Viet Nam as a whole. All work is intended not only to benefit the patients seen daily at our host hospitals but also to help improve patient care throughout Viet Nam and the region.

OUCRU employs approximately 320 people across Viet Nam and has an average annual budget of USD 12mil.

Please see more information on OUCRU Website: www.oucru.org.

Job summary

You will join a dynamic research group running a large clinical trial studying tuberculous meningitis in children. The trial is an interventional study comparing a shorter TB drug regimen (6 months)  to the current WHO recommendation of 12 months for TB meningitis. It will also study the potential benefit for adjuvant aspirin with the aim to improving outcomes in tuberculous meningitis. Children will be recruited from 2 sites, the National Lung Hospital in Hanoi and Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. The study doctor will have responsibilities at the National Lung Hospital in Hanoi and will also work closely with staff at the Children’s Hospital in Hanoi to recruit patients.

Key responsibilities and tasks

• Understand the study protocols, and work with hospital physicians to recruit and manage study patients
• Communicate with study participants about their illness and its management. Answer questions about the trial, and provide advice about seeking healthcare at study sites or non-study sites as appropriate.
• Collect, co-ordinate and oversee the collection of clinical data and research samples from participants both as inpatients and outpatients at study sites. This will include performing various clinical examinations and procedures, and assisting hospital doctors with lumbar punctures.
• Ensure that clinical case report forms are completed accurately by collaborating with hospital staff.
• Support to report serious advert events occurring in study patients to relevant ethics committees.
• Maintain good communication with research nurses and collaborating hospital staff at each site, to ensure participants’ wellbeing, compliance with study protocols and quality of clinical data.
• Help to develop good relationships with study sites and act as a liaison between OUCRU-VN in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and the site. 

Selection criteria

Essential:

• Medical degree
• >=2 years paediatric experience in a  government hospital
• Competence in basic medical procedures including lumbar puncture
• Excellent skills in communication and patient care
• Ability to work closely with other study staff and hospital collaborators
• Good attention to detail in following protocols and record keeping
• Interest in clinical and/or epidemiological research
• Excellent Vietnamese and good English language skills

Desired:

• Prior experience in clinical research
• Masters degree or at least level 1 subspecialty training
• Familiarity with computers, including Word and database programs
• Understanding of academia, research or not-for-profit working environment
• Able to work with a minimum of supervision

Benefits

• Contracted salary:  Negotiable (depending on actual experience and education).
• Optional insurance: In-patient and out-patient medical coverage; Personal accident insurance coverage
• Two months’ salary for annual bonus and clothes 
• Annual leave 18 days each year for the first year
• Other responsibilities and benefits are based on Viet Nam Labour Law.

How to apply

Interested qualified candidates are invited to send their detailed resume and cover letter in English, including copies of relevant degrees, certificates, either by email or by post to the following address:

Oxford University Clinical Research Unit

National Hospital for Tropical Diseases

78 Giai Phong, Dong Da, Hanoi

Tel: (024) 35714320

Email: [email protected]

* We thank all applicants for your interest but only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

Contact person

Mrs. Bui Huyen Trang

Deadline for submission

30 November 2019