Blog posts

Monthly update from the Institute of Global Health Innovation

News and events

The impact of conflict in healthcare

IGHI’s May Forum gathered to discussed how healthcare is impacted by conflict.

Call for applicants for an early careers med tech workshop in China

Apply for an all expenses paid trip to China for a workshop on mental health technologies organised by the Hamlyn Centre.

Register now – Health Technology Assessment Toolkit consultation

Registration is open to join the International Decision Support Initiative’s Health Technology Assessment Toolkit consultation process.

IGHI Podcast

Healthcare amongst conflict

In this month’s podcast from the Institute of Global Health Innovation, we speak to Dr Esmita Charani, Senior Lead Pharmacist, Faculty of Medicine and Dr Emily Mayhew, Visiting Researcher and Imperial’s lead on the Paediatric Blast Injury Partnership.

Upcoming events

Register now – International Robotics Showcase in Liverpool

Registration now open for International Robotics Showcase in Liverpool. One-day showcase and speaker programme to highlight latest robotics innovation, to be held during International Business Festival. (more…)

Horizon 2020 coordination opportunites

There are currently many opportunities (from 2018 to 2020) for Imperial academics to coordinate large-scale collaborative research consortia through the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme. Horizon 2020 supports, through various calls for proposals in areas such as Health, Climate, Energy and others, the delivery of high-quality research with clear societal impact. You can access the Commission’s Participants Portal to obtain more information on how Horizon 2020 works.

Imperial’s Programme Management Office from the Enterprise Division is able to provide expert advice and project management support to academics that are planning on coordinating Horizon 2020 projects. If you would like to know more about the individual funding areas, see the following links:

Academic teams interested in submitting a proposal and coordinating a Horizon 2020 project should contact Dr Radu Rautiu from the PMO for further information.

CATO Research Symposium: Call for Abstracts

Submit an abstract

For the CATO Research Symposium research symposium taking on 27 June we are delighted that we will be joined by Professor Eric Alton, Chair of Respiratory Medicine and Gene Therapy at Imperial. He will be talking about his pioneering research which has evolved from understanding the basic pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis, through mice models into human gene therapy: an exquisite clinical academic research career for you all to emulate!

The research symposium is a key part of your clinical academic training/research career development – exposing you to a wider range of research than in your day-to-day work, giving you an opportunity to think of novel collaborations, techniques, and research questions, and see how you can develop a clinical academic career. You should attend if you are an Academic Foundation Doctor, ACF, in a clinical research training fellowship/PhD, CL or other post-doctoral researcher, or a non-medical clinical academic. The afternoon will include research presentations, the keynote presentation, posters and networking opportunities with colleagues and the CATO team.

We encourage you all to submit a research abstract, and there will be PRIZES for the best oral presentations and for the best research poster. This year we encourage you to think about your use of plain English when presenting your research for a non-clinical, non-scientific audience, and of course lay explanations are now needed on all grant and fellowship applications, so the practice is invaluable.

Abstracts must be submitted on the following template.

All submitted abstracts must include a plain English summary (125 words max, see guidance sheet) and we will offer an ADDITIONAL PRIZE for the very best.

Send your abstracts using the attached template to cato@imperial.ac.uk. We will advise you if you have been selected to give an oral presentation or to display a poster by early June. We are open for abstract submissions until 10.00hrs on Tuesday 29 May 2018.

Attend the CATO Research Symposium

Wednesday 27 June 2018, 13.00-18.30, W12 Conference Centre, Hammersmith Hospital

Please book a place ASAP for the symposium using the online booking form.

Advertisement for academic leadership position – Head of Assessment and Feedback – BSc in Medical Biosciences

Sadly for us, Gabby Da Silva will be leaving us and I’m sure you’d like to join me in thanking her for her support of our students, particularly in her leadership roles of Exams Lead and Senior Tutor for Medical Biosciences, and in wishing her well in the future. We are now seeking a replacement for Gabby as Head of Assessment and Feedback for the BSc in Medical Biosciences which commenced last October.

Reporting to the Head of Programme, the post holder will play a key role in ensuring the reliability and validity of assessments and in supporting staff to develop and continuously improve assessment and feedback. The appointee will be an experienced teacher with in-depth knowledge of undergraduate biomedical science education. S/he will have enthusiasm and passion for the teaching and assessment of undergraduates in addition to the ability to develop strong working relationships

The job description and person specification can be found at https://bb.imperial.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/xid-3781226_1

Applications should take the form of a CV and covering letter outlining the skills and experience you would bring to the role and should be sent to me, s.english@imperial.ac.uk, by 12 noon on Friday 25th May. All application received will be acknowledged.

Susan English
Director of Education Management

Currently recruiting: eModule Content Writers – deadline for applications 8am 11 May 2018

BSc Medical Biosciences

The BSc Medical Biosciences (BMB) launched in October 2017 using blended teaching methodologies, sometimes referred to as flipped learning. This involves individual on-line learning using eModules and face-to-face sessions where most learning activities are carried out in group. We are currently developing the learning assets for Year 2 and wish to appoint subject matter experts to develop bespoke eModules.

Successful candidates

This opportunity is open to both internal and external candidates.

We are looking to appoint content writers to assist with the development of 55 online eModules across eight subject areas, namely:

  • Genetics & Genomics (GEN)
  • Stem Cells & reproductive Biology (SCRB)
  • Pharmacology (PHAR)
  • Microbiome in Health & Disease (MHD)
  • Cancer Biology (CBIO)
  • Immunology & Inflammation (IMI)
  • Neurobiology (NEURO)
  • Cardiovascular and Thoracic Biology (CTB)

Successful candidates will have a proven record and be very knowledgeable in at least one of the areas listed above. The role is likely to suit teaching fellows or postdocs but we welcome enquiries from other similarly qualified individuals.

Content Writer responsibilities include:

  • Gathering appropriate resources (e.g. videos, images etc.)
  • Writing engaging course content including knowledge checks and audio scripts
  • Editing content in response to feedback
  • Collaborating with Module leadership to ensure consistency across Module content
  • Ensuring content is aligned to session and module learning outcomes
  • Meeting all agreed-upon turnaround times for deliverables and deliverable reviews

Time commitment

Each subject area requires a different number of eModules to be developed; with between 4 and 10 eModules in each subject area. Each eModule will take roughly a week to draft the content for storyboarding and up to 2 days to finalise the review of developed eModules.

We anticipate that the content for Term 1 eModules will be completed by mid-June and the content for Term 2 eModules will be completed by end-July; with review following in August onwards.

Please contact the Instructional Designers to discuss the exact timings for each eModule and how they can provide support if applicants have not had any previous experience in writing eModules.

Payment

You will be paid £750 per eModule developed and can apply for as many eModules as your time allows.

Successful applicants will be responsible for managing their time to meet the agreed deadlines. Internal applicants should discuss with their line manager before applying. The table below shows the number of eModules per subject area.

TERM 1 Modules No of eModules Content Writing deadline Review period
Genetics and Genomics 6 Mid-June Aug/Sep
Stem Cells and Reproductive Biology 6 Mid-June Aug/Sep
Pharmacology and Toxicology 8 Mid-June Aug/Sep
Microbiome in Health and Disease 6 Mid-June Aug/Sep
TERM 2 Modules
Cancer Biology 9 End-July Oct/Nov
Immunology and Inflammation 10 End-July Oct/Nov
Neuroscience 6 End-July Oct/Nov
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Biology 4 End-July Oct/Nov

 

How to apply

If you are interested and would like to discuss this further, please contact Agata Sadza (a.sadza@imperial.ac.uk) or Emma Blyth (e.blyth@imperial.ac.uk)

To formally apply, please send your CV and information about the eModule that you’re interested in working on to bmb.development@ic.ac.uk.

Closing date is Friday 11 May at 8am.

Faculty Education Office staff fundraising for charity supported through new MBBS module

A team from Medicine’s Faculty Education Office are raising money for the charity Days for Girls, supporting a team of MBBS students heading out to rural Nepal in May.

In 2016, the School of Medicine collaborated with the ICSM Students’ Union and charity Community Action Nepal, to produce ‘Imperial College Enables’, giving students the opportunity to experience healthcare systems entirely different to that of the UK.

The project grew in 2017, and from the work the students did on their visit to Nepal came a relationship with the charity Days for Girls, which supports young women around the world by distributing female hygiene kits and education materials about menstruation.

Many women in rural Nepal struggle to manage their periods, some using rags and many forced to stay indoors for the duration, and the level of education about menstruation is low.

During the students’ visit, word spread quickly between the rural communities, and many women walked many miles to a health post to collect a hygiene kit. The students soon ran out of the kits, which are colourful bags containing washable sanitary pads and underwear.

Each kit can last up to three years, and costs just £5.14 to produce. The kits are also sewn and put together in Nepal, offering the extra benefit of employment for local people.

In May 2018, students will return to the Nepalese health posts previously visited, as part of a new second-year MBBS module, Clinical Research and Innovation. The aim is to prepare these students with 1033 hygiene kits – the number of female students currently in the School of Medicine.

The FEO team spearheading the fundraising initiative alongside Head of MBBS Years 1 and 2, Professor Mary Morrell, are Jo Williams and Margaret Rodger, Programme Officers for MBBS Years 1 and 2; Hannah Pietruszewska, Education and Finance Officer; Labbie Farrell, Programme Assistant for MBBS Years 1 and 2; Emma Blyth, Instructional Designer; and Agata Sadza, Blended Learning Specialist. (more…)

Monthly update from the Institute of Global Health Innovation

News

Innovative finger prick test could improve maternal healthcare across the globe

A social enterprise, Momoby, founded by Ana Luisa Neves of the Centre for Health Policy and Andrea Rodriguez-Martinez from the Department of Surgery & Cancer that aims to bring vital prenatal care to isolated regions has won the Venture Catalyst Challenge.

Read the full article

Events

The Global Response to AMR and Future Directions for Antimicrobial Stewardship

Join us on 23 April for a webinar with Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England, hosted by the Centre for Health Policy’s Leading Health Systems Network.

Full details on event

Hamlyn Symposium on Medical Robotics

The Hamlyn Symposium celebrated its 10th year in 2017. The 2018 event will be held from Sunday 24th – Wednesday 27th June 2018, lasting over four days to include workshops on various clinical and technical topics as well as a two-day main conference with the participation of invited/keynote speakers, paper authors and delegates from leading medical, science and technology institutions. (more…)

Events from the Clinical Academic Training Office (CATO)

Where to start if you’ve been thinking about research!

Have you ever thought about doing some research because you want to make improvements for your patients or how you do your job?

Well, the Imperial Clinical Academic Training Office (CATO) has a session for you…

This informal and exploratory session could be just the start you need. This FREE event is open to all Imperial College Healthcare Trust/Imperial College/Royal Brompton and Royal Marsden Hospital’s non-medical healthcare professionals. Please see below details about the event and to book your place now.

Date: Thursday 3 May 2018

Time: 16:00-18:00

Venue: Wolfson Building, Hammersmith Hospital.

Secure your place

CATO Masterclass: Improving use of genomic information including accessing the 100,000 Genomes project, 8 May

Tuesday 8 May 2018,  17.30-19.30,  W12 Conference Centre, Hammersmith Hospital

This Masterclass will explore the cutting-edge use of genomic information both in clinical practice and clinical academic research, and will give an update on the 100,000 Genomes project and how clinical academics can use/access 100,000 Genomes. Whatever your research interests this will be of enormous interest, given the rapidly changing field,  and might allow you to better think how to access available data/materials.

Secure your place (more…)

Focus on Research Strategy

Faculty of Medicine Research Strategy Team
The Faculty of Medicine Research Strategy team supports the work of the Dean and Vice Dean (Research) in developing and implementing strategies and policies to grow the Faculty’s research funding portfolio. We are a busy team of three with a broad array of research management and administration experience: Dr Des Walsh (Director of Research Strategy), Dr Sarah Wagstaffe (Head of Research Strategy) and Dr Kimberley Trim (Research Strategy Coordinator).

Responding to a continuously changing research landscape, we work with research groups to help develop collaborative, multidisciplinary research activity and facilitate the development of institutional relationships with major biomedical research funders. We also strive to ensure the Faculty of Medicine is central to research developments within College but also to exert influence on research strategy at national and international level.

Always available to discuss your ideas, we can work with you to explore potential funding opportunities and to ensure you develop the strongest possible application with the best chance of success. Whether you are trying to find potential collaborators, looking for insight into major funder strategies, exploring routes to research translation or are looking to develop a cross-disciplinary research theme to address a major global challenge – we are here to help you. (more…)

Monthly update from the Institute of Global Health Innovation

News

Plug-and-play prostheses wins IGHI Student Challenges Competition

Artificial limbs that patients can fit and maintain themselves won both the top prize of £5,000 and an additional Audience Choice Award of £1,000 at this year’s Student Challenges Competition hosted by the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI).

Exploring Data-based and AI approaches to Healthcare

This month IGHI collaborated with the EPSRC Centre for Mathematics of Precision Healthcare to discuss and learn about the latest advances in data-based and AI approaches in healthcare.

Read the article.

Former Special Adviser to UN Dr David Nabarro appointed Global Health Chair

Former Special Advisor to the UN and nominee for the WHO Director General, Dr David Nabarro has been appointed as Professor within Imperial’s Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI).

Visit our website to read more.

Global Health Forum: Healthy cities

IGHI host forum to discuss the current research on air pollution and health cities.

Visit our website to read more.

The impacts of Ukraine’s hike in tobacco tax

In the latest instalment of Imperial’s Global Health and Development lecture series, Dr Laura Webber (Director of Public Health Modelling at the UK Health Forum and Honorary Assistant Professor at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) presented evidence that predicted the avoidance of 127,000 new cases of smoking-related diseases by 2035 as a result of tobacco excise tax increases in Ukraine.

Visit our website to read more.

Patient Safety Translational Research Centre host patient safety Committee

Imperial NIHR Patient Safety Translational Research Centre within IGHI hosted 3rd & final NASEM Committee on Improving Quality of Healthcare Globally.

Visit our website to read more. (more…)

IMPLEMnT: Teaching, technology and community

What is IMPLEMnT?

Last year James Moss and I (Katie Stripe) of the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) and Alexandra ‘Chippy’ Compton, medical student and ICU president, received a grant from the Excellence Fund in Learning and Teaching Innovation to develop a tool that will help educators navigate their way through today’s technology-saturated world in order to more effectively use digital methods in their teaching. Ultimately we hope to create a tool that will help anyone in a teaching role, be that a lecturer, a doctor teaching at the bedside, a lab demonstrator, or any one of the huge variety of educators we have in the faculty and across college, to make informed decisions about which technologies are most appropriate for the type of teaching they are providing. There are many sites listing the myriad technologies that can be used in learning but none, so far, that have combined that information with teaching methodology to give practical advice on what to use and when.

Embarking on this project we rather naively thought it would be simple to curate a list of technologies and teaching methodologies then join them together. We were wrong, very wrong! Once we began looking at the technology used in teaching it became clear that there an overwhelming number so we hope to make this into a college-wide community project by asking colleagues and student partners which technologies they use and how. We can then build a bank of technologies that grows dynamically as technology develops but is also relevant to our teaching community.

We have already constructed a framework at implemntproject.com where we have so far compiled a small number of technologies, however, we have a list of over 300 more unfinished plus the thousands that we have not yet encountered. Since IMPLEMnT aims to be a tool that works for people from across college it seems fitting that those teachers should be able to contribute. If you have ideas or suggestions you can contact us through the site, via twitter @implemntproject or you can join us for a mass online co-authoring session on 25 April at 12pm. This event will have two face-to-face sessions running at the South Kensington campus where staff can come together and contribute technologies, methodologies and case studies via post-it notes, marker pens and other more traditional means, and running alongside this there will be several online rooms which you can drop in and out of depending on experience and interest: (more…)

The Francis Crick Institute: Opportunities open for application

The Crick and its partner universities are launching two initiatives for staff from all departments:

  • The call for the 2018 round of attachments is now open with a deadline of 10 April 2018. The programme of attachments offers Imperial staff the opportunity for their research group to be seconded to the Crick, to establish a satellite group in a Crick lab or to spend up to a year with the Crick on sabbatical. Find out more and apply.
  • The new Networking Fund call for applications has a rolling deadline, the first of which is 23 February 2018. The Fund supports staff to develop connections across disciplinary boundaries with researchers in related fields and other world-leading biomedical scientists at the Crick. Find out more and apply.

Imperial Clinician Researcher Fellowship scheme

Imperial AHSC Support for Clinical PhD/MD(Res) Fellows

Over the coming months the Clinical Academic Training Office (CATO) will be introducing a programme of support for clinical PhD fellows across the Faculty of Medicine and wider AHSC partnership.  The aim of the work is to gain a clearer picture of the range of clinical PhD fellows, even-out and improve their experience (complimenting the support provided already by each department/Trust), establish a visible central liaison hub for supporting clinicians as they undertake PhD programmes, and support them to progress their clinical academic careers into intermediate fellowships and beyond.

The CATO programme will include collecting enhanced feedback from clinical PhD training fellows, a series of Masterclasses covering researcher development and career development topics, fact sheets on common problems/issues, delivering individualised career guidance and enhanced working with the Imperial College London Postdoc and Fellows Development Centre.   Currently there are 2 Masterclasses that PhD/MD(Res) fellows can book on to, details below:

Wednesday 28 February 2018: Improving use of genomic information, including accessing the 100,000 Genomes project

5:30 – 7.30 pm, W12 Conference Centre, Hammersmith Hospital. This Masterclass will explore the cutting-edge use of genomic information both in clinical practice and clinical academic research, and will give an update on the 100,000 Genomes project and how clinical academics can use/access 100,000 Genomes. To book a place please complete this online booking form.

Monday 26 March 2018:  Advancing your academic career with an Intermediate Fellowship: how to win one!

5:30 – 7.30 pm, Paul Wood Lecture Theatre at the Royal Brompton Hospital Campus. The content is most suitable for late-stage PhD training fellows, Clinical Lecturers and other Post-Doctoral Fellows, but anyone interested in furthering their clinical academic career after a PhD is welcome. To reserve a place please complete this online booking form.

Further details about the CATO programme will be posted on the CATO website in due course, queries can be directed to: cato@imperial.ac.uk

News from the Centre for Engagement and Simulation Science (ICCESS)

Using Simulation to Understand your Business

In November 2017 the ICCESS team delivered a Sequential Simulation to a group of delegates from the UAE government undertaking a Public Sector Innovation Diploma with Imperial College Business School’s Executive Education Centre.

The simulation featured a re-enactment of a patient journey through the UK healthcare system. After watching the workshop, participants were encouraged to suggest improvements and draw parallels with their own work environments.

A fascinating video of the simulation has been released and can be viewed on YouTube:

Simulation for Learning: Faculti videos

Centre Director, Prof Roger Kneebone, was interviewed for a series of short videos for the Faculti.net website talking about ICCESS’ work in developing and using simulation for a variety of purposes, including surgical education. The videos can be viewed here: https://faculti.net/learning-simulated-environment/

Royal Academy Schools Guest Lecture

Professor Roger Kneebone recently gave a guest lecture at the Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House. Prof Kneebone’s talk, part of the Royal Academy Schools lecture programme, focused on his interest in exploring the parallels between surgery and creative disciplines such as craft and performance.

Prof Roger Kneebone with present (and past?) members of the Royal Academy Schools team

Monthly update from the Institute of Global Health Innovation

News

Global project to reduce health inequalities in cities around the world

A major new research partnership has been launched to explore ways of reducing health inequalities in cities around the world.

Visit our website to read more.

Food monitoring system being developed could help vulnerable, say researchers

A new project to research the underlying technology – funded by a $US 1.5 million grant the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – will see researchers from the Hamlyn Centre at Imperial College London developing wearable and wall mounted sensors and AI technology to monitor how households consume food.

Visit our website to read more.

Events

IGHI Student Challenges Competition: Enter the Dragon’s Den

Join us on Monday 19th March for our interactive Dragon’s Den style event to find the winner of our annual Student Challenges Competition.
The competition provides a platform for students based in the UK to showcase their global health research idea and win up to £5000 to develop it further. Runners-up and audience choice prizes will also be awarded.

Visit our website to register. (more…)

Why media matters – what Imperial’s press office can do for you


If last year is anything to go by, 2018 is set to be packed with more ground-breaking research from the Faculty of Medicine.

But with all of the work put into securing funding, recruiting for trials, collecting data, lengthy analysis – let alone the back-and-forth of the peer-review process – it can be hard to find the time to publicise your work outside of your peers. However, it really is worth making that investment.

When the time is right, the College press office is here to help you get the word out about your research. The team includes former journalists and public relations experts with strong scientific backgrounds, a wealth of communications expertise, and most of all, an understanding of the news cycle and how the media works.

Beyond the initial recognition, publicising your research can bring other benefits, including leading to new speaking engagements as well as being able to show the impact of your work outside the lab or clinic when applying for funding. (more…)

Medical Education Research Unit launches 2018 programme

The Faculty of Medicine Medical Education Research Unit (MERU) launches its 2018 programme of events today, and all are invited to the launch event this evening to find out more about MERU’s work and to network with current members.

Medical Education Research Unit event

Now entering its fourth year, MERU conducts and supports innovative educational research activity to evaluate and enhance Imperial’s teaching and curriculum.

It aims to build a community, including both staff and students, uniting them through an interest in medical education research. Made up of a multidisciplinary group of staff from Imperial, its NHS partners and sister unit at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Singapore, the Unit also recruits and encourages interested students to become involved in existing research projects and to consider conducting their own research.

The Unit also supports members by offering financial support to those attending medical education conferences, and advises on ways to develop research questions into feasible studies that yield publishable data, as well as guidance on ethics applications.

Over the past three years, MERU has funded more than a dozen original research projects, made 64 travel awards allowing members to attend conferences, and delivered monthly meetings and workshops to small groups of interested staff. The Unit also offers one-to-one support to any members requiring it, and brings together those with similar research interests to allow them to assist and advise one another in their various projects. (more…)

Monthly update from the Institute of Global Health Innovation

News and events:

Student Challenges Competition

Do you have an innovative idea to improve global health? The Institute of Global Health Innovation’s annual Student Challenges Competition could help transform that idea into reality.

Our Student Challenges Competition is now open for entries to all university students based in the UK and offers the opportunity to win funding towards the implementation of a global health innovation. Applications close on 8 February 2018.

Visit our website to find out more.

Innovation in Healthcare summit

Around 200 people attended or watched the live stream of our Innovation in Healthcare summit, hosted on Monday 11 December 2017 at the RHS Lindley Hall in London. The event was hosted in partnership with the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), Imperial College Health Partners and Imperial College’s Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI).

Visit our website to find out more. (more…)

Mr Chris Lattimer receives Award of Excellence at the Congress of Phlebology 2017

We wish to congratulate Mr Christopher Lattimer, Honorary Consultant from the West London Vascular and Interventional Centre, for his lecture on discord outcomes on the anterior accessory saphenous vein 5-year results at the 15th Romanian Congress of Phlebology 2017 held in Timisoara. The photograph is of him receiving the certificate of excellence (right) from Professor Sorin Olariu (left), who is the head of the department at ”Victor Babeș” Timișoara, Romania. Mr Lattimer from the Josef Pflug Vascular Laboratory, Ealing Hospital & Imperial College, recommended in his presentation that the discord outcome analysis (DOA) should become part of the reporting standard of all randomised clinical trials on superficial venous intervention. Currently, only successful outcomes are reported in isolation which may give misleading information. Highlighting the discrepancies when one outcome is in disagreement with another outcome will provide transparency. This is an outcome currently lacking from all RCTs on superficial venous intervention.

TOAST SURVEY 2018

The College’s ‘Original Academic Staff Time’ (TOAST) survey is currently in progress for 2017/18. So far, the Faculty of Medicine has achieved a response rate of 76% compared to 85% for the College. All Lecturers, Senior Lecturers, Readers and Professors will be sent a total of three survey invitations throughout the year with guidance and a link to the online survey. Your participation in this anonymous survey is essential for the College to fulfil its responsibilities to demonstrate a transparent approach to costing.

Find out more

Imperial medical students recognised in GMC professionalism teaching resource competition

Two final-year Imperial medical students have been acknowledged jointly by the General Medical Council and the Medical Schools Council for their design of a teaching session on professionalism.

Sixth-year MBBS students, Luke Reader and Sam Easdon, created a lesson plan which aims to ‘introduce students to a discussion on honesty and integrity in interactions with peers, colleagues and patients’.

Initially shortlisted, the two were then awarded a runner-up position, claiming one of the top spots from the 97 overall entries to this year’s competition.

The lesson suggests beginning by asking students, ‘What is honesty and integrity to you?’, and facilitating a discussion encouraging students to reflect on their personal definitions of these themes. (more…)

Division of Infectious Diseases PhD Student Symposium

Scientific conferences are an essential mechanism for the communication of scientific findings, career networking and collaboration. However, there is no formal training for conferences and opportunities to attend such meetings are often strictly limited due to their high cost.

Therefore, to help students within the Division of Infectious Diseases (DID) acquire conference experience, a PhD Student Away Day was organised with funding support from the supplies company Qiagen. The event took place on 30 November 2017 at LT2 Wolfson Education Centre, Hammersmith Campus.

In total 85 students attended the day, including participants from each Section within DID based on four campuses. To create the atmosphere of a student-led conference, the only academics present were Professor Charles Bangham (Head, DID), Principle Investigators who voted for the best presentation and poster, and co-organisers Dr Sophie Helaine and Dr Nathalie MacDermott. This helped to ensure that students were able to ask questions and lead discussions, which can sometimes be dominated by senior academics at national or international conferences.   (more…)

Call for contributions: Commission on the Future of Surgery

Posted on behalf of the Royal College of Surgeons

The Royal College of Surgeons has just launched an independent Commission to explore the future of surgical care.

The purpose of the Commission on the Future of Surgery will be to set out a compelling and credible vision of the future advances in medicine and technology, and how those developments will affect the delivery of surgical care.

In the last 50 years, new findings and innovations have transformed surgery and the way clinical care is delivered. Innovations that were unthinkable only a few decades or years ago are now common practice.

To reduce surgical trauma on the patient, surgery has moved towards ever less invasive interventions, with fewer but more precise cuts and incisions. Surgery is thus shifting from traditionally seeing, feeling and manipulating organs and tissues through the surgeon’s own eyes and hands, to using an intelligent robotic medium to see and intervene inside the body. (more…)

New system for recording holiday and sick leave

The College will be implementing a new availability and absence management system, called TeamSeer. The system has been designed to record and manage staff availability such as holiday, sickness and other absence types required by the College. The system has been piloted across the College, and feedback has been gathered to ensure it meets the College requirements.

The go-live date for the new system will be in time for the new annual leave year on 1 February 2018.

The system is a user-friendly online planner, which will be accessible using your College username and password. When the system goes live, you will receive an email from TeamSeer with a link that will give you access to your account. In the meantime, if you would like to familiarise yourself with the system you can view video tutorials at the weblinks below: (more…)

Professor Clare Lloyd on being Vice Dean (Institutional Affairs)

Professor Clare LloydIn her research career, Professor Clare Lloyd is a lung immunologist, currently working to understand why some children wheeze with viral infection and others don’t, and how that impacts asthma. But last year she also took up the mantle of Vice Dean (Institutional Affairs) for Imperial’s Faculty of Medicine. Here, Professor Lloyd explains her role outside of the lab.

What is the Vice Dean (Institutional Affairs) responsible for?

The role covers all aspects of diversity and equality, particularly incorporating and coordinating our Athena SWAN programmes as well as career development across the Faculty.

I am looking at how we support our early career researchers, particularly newly appointed academics and also fellows. The funding climate is difficult, especially for those at the early stage of their career. We’re conscious that we need to make sure they get as much support as possible so that they can maximise their chances of success.

Athena SWAN is all about changing culture, and we want to make sure that everyone can expect the same opportunities and support, no matter where people are based. It’s important that staff feel supported to develop their careers at Imperial. We recognise that really talented people will have a number of doors open to them, and we want to ensure that we attract and retain the very best.

How has your previous experience prepared you for this role?

I was the NHLI Athena lead from 2009-2014 – leading on two Athena applications. We were the first medical department in the country to get a Silver Award, which was then renewed four years later. I want to use this practical experience of Athena successes to support all our departments. (more…)