The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is Europe's largest comprehensive cancer centre, internationally renowned for excellence in cancer care, research, education, and innovation. In partnership with the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), we are recognised globally as one of the top five centres for the impact of cancer research, and form the only National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre for Cancer.
We deliver one of the largest portfolios of interventional cancer clinical trials in Europe, recruiting the most patients to early-phase trials of any UK organisation. We have over 900 clinical research studies open at any one time (including 575 early phase and translational studies), of which 40% are led from The Royal Marsden. This covers the full spectrum of diagnosis, treatment, and care - including cancer vaccine trials, cellular therapy, radiotherapy, AI and imaging, and surgery. We have an international track-record of successfully delivering trials of new cancer drugs from First-in-Human, Phase I through to Phase II, and onwards to Phase III, regularly achieving first patient recruited to trials nationally and globally. We have the largest portfolio of cancer clinical trials in the country, we recruit more patients to early phase clinical trials than any other NHS Trust.
The post holder will lead a project to enable trial participation for our private patients; specifically for our insured and embassy-funded patients (but not self-pay due to the ethical challenges). This will involve an initial discovery phase, talking to trial sponsors, private patient payors (Private Medical Insurers and Embassies) and R&D leads to understand the full range of barriers to enrolling private patients in our trials. It will also involve learning from international centres who have managed to successfully implement systems of private patient enrolment, such as the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute. It will then require the development of appropriate solutions for the RM context and a clear roadmap for implementing these.
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals – one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey – as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.
At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:
To comprehensively map the current range of barriers to Private Patients enrolling in clinical trials at the Royal Marsden, seeking input from Private Medical Insurers, Embassies, R&D leads, Private Care Division leads, and patients and their families.
Understand how these issues have been addressed successfully in other centres, assessing the appropriateness of these solutions to the Royal Marsden's context.
Engage with trial sponsors to understand their views and preferences, exploring in particular how the large number of international patients treated at RM could add valuable demographic diversity.
Discuss with trial sponsors and embassies the options for ensuring international patients can continue to adhere to trial protocols even through follow-up.
Create a clear benefits case for the inclusion of Private Patients in RM trials, from the perspective of the trust, trial sponsors, payors and patients.
Lead conversations, alongside colleagues from the Private Care Division, with Private Medical Insurers and Embassies around how private patients could be supported to enter trials – focusing on the financial, logistical, and any other key implications.