Research Programme Manager – Haematology Data Science Initiative

Job overview

Applications are invited for a Programme Manager to join the fast-growing Haematology Data Science Initiative (HDScI), which comprises two major research projects Haem-Match ( and BloodCounts (

The primary purpose of the role is to provide administrative and strategic support for the Haem-Match feasibility study of genomically informed, algorithmically driven blood matching in sickle cell disorder and to prepare for a subsequent multicentre study in roles such as grant writing, grant application and programme management. A separate clinical trials practitioner/research nurse will also be appointed.

Candidates should have a degree or equivalent experience or qualification in healthcare fields, maths, science, computing or informatics at Bachelor level. They should also have experience of administrative or project management in science or healthcare having worked with research governance including submissions, written scientific reports and conveying complex issues in an easily understood way.

Having worked in research studies or clinical trials with a knowledge and understanding of good clinical practice framework would be an advantage.

Main duties of the job

The HDScI project, coordinated through UCLH BRC, NHS Blood and Transplant and University of Cambridge, and part of a larger international collaboration, and is based in the UCLH BRC. The postholder will be a member of the multidisciplinary HDScI team, which includes clinical bioinformaticians, experts in statistical genomics, blood cell immunogenicity and randomised controlled trials, clinical haematologists caring for patients with inherited anaemias, and researchers in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI&ML). The main projects are Haem-Match and BloodCounts!

Haem-Match aims to provide blood for transfusion that is more precisely matched to patients’ blood groups, known as extended (red cell antigen) matching, using genetics to determine blood groups and using an algorithm to allocate units of blood and maintain blood stocks. The initial feasibility study aims to demonstrate this in people with sickle cell disorder (SCD) with scope to expand to other transfusion dependent anaemias. The post holder will:

o Take responsibility for the management of the infrastructural and administrative aspects of specific research projects, including overarching responsibly for information governance, support grant and ethics applications and site set up, recruitment of patients and coordination between study sites.
o Develop and implement policies and procedures and advise project leaders.
o Be responsible for oversight of data import, aggregation and analysis for the HDScI project.

Working for our organisation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals

University College Hospital Grafton Way Building

Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.