Research Assistant/Associate - Circulating Ghrelin as a Dementia Biomarker

Vacancy Reference Number
8083
Closing Date
13 Jun 2021
Salary
£28,331 to £34,804 per annum.
Address
Newcastle University
Duration
20 months

Job Details

This position with Dr Alison Yarnall and Dr Paul Donaghy is suitable for a motivated and ambitious individual who wishes to work as part of leading team in dementia research. You will be part of the Brain and Movement Research Group at a world leading research centre.

Cognitive decline and dementia are common in Parkinson's disease (PD), with over 80% of PD patients progressing to dementia (PDD) and is more pronounced in subjects with weight loss compared to those with stable weights. Currently, there is no single biomarker for diagnosing dementia or predicting progression to dementia. Production of the stomach hormone, ghrelin, which stimulates appetite and protects against weight loss, may be impaired in PDD. This study will take forwards previous work and examine the role of ghrelin in participants with PD, PDD, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB, which is closely related to PDD), Alzheimer's dementia and healthy controls, in collaboration with a team from Swansea University.

The purpose of the role will be in the effective delivery of this study, recruitment and review of participants. Simple processing of blood samples will also be required.

Person Criteria

  • Strong background in clinical studies work including clinical study co-ordination
  • Database and management skills
  • Experience of research governance
  • High levels of organisational ability
  • Ability to communicate complex information with clarity, both verbally and in writing
  • Aware of the ethical issues involved in their research work, particularly in participants with cognitive impairment
  • Enthusiastic; team player
  • A good honours degree (or equivalent) with some subject knowledge in Neuroscience, Psychology or a related subject is required (Research Assistant)
  • A PhD in Neuroscience, Psychology or a related subject is required (Research Associate)
  • A DBS check will be required
  • Pre-placement health checks will be required
  • An NHS Research Passport will be required

How to Apply

https://jobs.ncl.ac.uk/job/Newcastle-Research-AssistantAssociate-Circulating-ghrelin-as-a-dementia-biomarker/675356901/?locale=en_GB&utm_campaign=jobsacuk&utm_source=jobsacuk&applySourceOverride=Jobs.ac.uk

Contact Details

For informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Dr Alison Yarnall alison.yarnall@ncl.ac.uk.