Research Project Coordinator Jobs

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Profile

Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 4

Job Title

Research Project Coordinator

Department

Mackenzie Laboratory Neurology | Department of Medicine | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range

$4,558.75 - $5,354.67 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date

July 25, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

Mar 31, 2024

Job Summary

Autopsies performed on patients enrolled in dementia research studies are crucial to confirm the neuropathological diagnosis and to obtain post-mortem tissue samples that are banked for future research projects. The primary roles for the Research Project Coordinator 1 are (i) to oversee and manage the autopsy and neuropathology components of a multi-centred national dementia research autopsy and brain banking network, known as CABIN which is based at UBC, and (ii) to facilitate and coordinate diagnostic autopsies on local UBC research participants.

The successful applicant will assist the CABIN Principal Investigators in updating dementia research autopsy and brain banking consent forms and protocols, and obtain and periodically amend the necessary research ethics board (REB) approvals. They will maintain a national registry of research subjects who have consented to autopsy and brain banking for CABIN. They will work with the participating dementia clinics across Canada to support local coordinators, educate research subjects and their families, and to obtain informed consent for research autopsies. They will also assist in coordinating research autopsy and tissue banking activities with the participating CABIN pathology departments and will facilitate the transport of these biospecimens from the local pathology departments to the central tissue banking facility in Montreal. In addition, they will assist the UBC dementia clinic staff in consenting local clinic patients for diagnostic and research autopsies. They will regularly update the administrative staff of the clinical arm of the research study regarding activity and progress of CABIN.

Organizational Status

The Coordinator will report directly to the study Principal Investigators and will communicate regularly with the clinical arm of the study’s central administrative staff. They will support and provide assistance to the study coordinators at each of the dementia clinics and pathology departments participating in the study. They will also work closely with other members of the UBC dementia clinic research team including other research coordinators and assistants, genetic counsellors, booking clerks, database personnel, and affiliated collaborators, as well as the UBC Clinical Ethics Board, UBC office of Research Services and the study sponsors.

Work Performed

• Maintains registry of consented CABIN research subjects across sites, including periodic update of consent and contact information, and ensures that study databases are kept up-to-date by local research coordinators.
• Maintains and updates dementia research autopsy and brain banking consent forms, protocols, and information packages.
• Monitors research budget compliance; escalates to Research Coordinator when identifying issues.
• Additional activities may include: inventories tissue samples in local brain bank, pulls and prepares samples for shipment, presents on progress of CABIN at study meetings and events.
• Interacts closely with the UBC Ethics Board and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority Research Institute (VCHRI), and the VCHRI Privacy Office to ensure all regulatory requirements are met.
• Works with participating CABIN research dementia clinics and pathology departments to facilitate and coordinate local autopsy and tissue banking activities, including; communicating with family, nursing home or care facility in a timely and sensitive manner, coordinating body transport to local pathology department, informing local neuropathologist and research technician.
• Coordinates hospital service and fee approval for research studies.
• Designs workflow, processes, and systems across multiple sites; assists research coordinators at other CABIN sites in obtaining research autopsy and tissue banking consent, Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) and in providing educational material for subjects.
• Ensures follow up of autopsy results by clinicians with family.
• Oversees project timelines. Advises PI if milestones are at risk. Makes recommendations on revising project timelines, if necessary. Ensures systems and processes are followed according to project and funding terms.
• Supports all study sites in maintaining REB approval for consents and protocols and submits annual amendments for UBC REB certificates.
• Facilitates the eventual shipping of research tissue specimens and materials from the local pathology department to the central repository.
• Creates progress reports for sponsors. Ensures reporting timelines are met and that the report meets the funding requirements for progress.
• Manages neuropathology reports and study database.
• Develops SOPs for use across all study sites to ensure consistency and integrity of research project data. Manages and coordinates study systems and processes; creates systems and processes if none exist, ensuring alignment with study protocols, funding guidelines, and research best practices.
• Obtains informed consent and when applicable, assent, for research autopsies, diagnostic autopsies and tissue banking of UBC research study subjects and dementia clinic patients
• Keeps track of CABIN study budget and uses Workday to facilitate proper reimbursement per study protocol, budget and contracts.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The quality, ethics, integrity and accuracy of the research conducted and managed by this position are critical. Studies may be jeopardized if not conducted according to ethical requirements as laid out by the University and other regulatory authorities. Study files must be kept secured to ensure that patient confidentially is not compromised. An error within the realm of a research study may result in biased or incomplete data and skewed study results. Lack of careful attention to regulatory guidelines and approvals can lead to suspension of funding for the investigator as well as the University.

Failure to ensure accurate completion and tracking of consent forms may result in: a) uninformed consent, b) barriers to research participation or clinical autopsies, c) unsolicited contact of patients, d) limited participants for research studies.

Inappropriate interactions with clinic patients/participants and family members may result in: a) disinterest/refusal to participate in research endeavours, b) complaints to the Clinic Director/Manager.

Supervision Received

• Reports directly to the Principal Investigators.
• The Principal Investigators will oversee performance and results of the study.

Supervision Given

None given

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Completion of a university degree in a relevant discipline or technical program and a minimum four years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Some positions may require a graduate degree.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to be self-directed and work independently to meet deliverables and deadlines.
• Basic to intermediate proficiency in French an asset.
• Experience with subject recruitment and data collection for research protocols including experience with consent and assent procedures.
• Knowledge of research ethics application processes.
• Familiarity with word processing, Zoom, spreadsheets, and databases, including ability to use MS Word and Excel (or other clinical databases) at an advanced level.
• Must be detailed-oriented and work effectively under time pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to approach individuals and groups with compassion, empathy, and intercultural competency.
• Ability to take initiative and see through work and tasks to completion.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• A good understanding of dementia is a definite asset.