KSS SPF Programme Hepatology

Academic Foundation Programme Job Description 

Programme 5 – Hepatology – based at BSMS/RSCH 

Reference:  2024BSMS/05 

Type of programme:  Research – Hepatology and Gastroenterology, overseen by Professor Sumita Verma 
Employing trust:  University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust 
Academic placement based at:  Royal Sussex County Hospital 
 
Brief outline of department  

Brighton and Sussex University Hospital (UHS) and Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) has an active research programme in Hepatology, headed by Professor Sumita Verma, Professor of Hepatology. 
 Over the last four years Professor Verma (as PI) has been awarded four grants (~900K) including funding from the NIHR and Dunhill Medical Trust ), which enabled the appointment of two Fellows (2015-2018) (both registered for a PhD) and a research nurse. We are looking to appoint another research fellow for two years (2019-2-12).  We have also successfully appointed our first Academic Clinical Fellow (ACF) (2015-2018). Till date we have had six academic F2.  

UHS has a dedicated and fully staffed Clinical Investigation and Research Unit as well as a Clinical Trials Unit (CTU). In 2014/15 UHS was designated a Regional Hepatitis C Centre/Operator Delivery Network to deliver the new oral HCV drugs.  The Academic F2 will therefore be working in an academic environment with highly motivated research orientated individuals. Additionally, there are well-established academic activities including a weekly liver MDM and histology meeting and a four weekly journal club and GI academic Afternoons. Prof Verma’s award winning research interests focus on:  

1. Developing novel community models of care for early chronic liver disease amongst vulnerable adults (people who inject drugs and the homeless) 

2. Develop novel non-invasive techniques to image neutrophil migration in the liver as a diagnostic tool for severe alcoholic hepatitis 

3. Non-viral liver disease burden in HIV positive individuals (which will be the academic F2 project) 

4. Improve symptom burden in advanced cirrhosis- (funder NIHR RfPB) a RCT comparing long-term abdominal drains vs. repeated drainage in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites 
Academic Lead:  Professor Sumita Verma Professor of Hepatology s.verma@bsms.ac.uk https://www.bsms.ac.uk/about/contact-us/staff/dr-sumitaverma.aspx