Post-Doctoral Research Fellow: Clinical Trial Methods, RareKids-CAN

The Enhancing Research Impact in Child Health (EnRICH) lab in Child Health and Evaluative Sciences at the Hospital for Sick Children is seeking a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow. The work of the EnRICH Research Group and Network aims to enhance child health through the discovery and implementation of innovative methods that transform the way we design, conduct, and report child health clinical research. The successful candidate possesses and applies highly advanced scientific knowledge of innovative research principles, pediatric clinical trials, theories, and concepts in the field of rare disease clinical trial methodology and outcome measurement. They will be supervised by Dr. Martin Offringa, a paediatric clinical epidemiologist. The EnRICH lab plays a key role in RareKids-CAN: Pediatric Rare Disease Clinical Trials and Treatment Network, a new platform dedicated to building an infrastructure to advance clinical trials and access to treatment for children with rare diseases in Canada. RareKids-CAN is a coalition of diverse national and international experts, researchers, industry partners, research networks, patient-partners, and patient partner organizations pooling their collective knowledge and experience in the pediatric rare disease community. The Network is grant funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for 5 years with the intention to build a self-sustaining network beyond the grant funding.

The Post-Doctoral Research Fellow will primarily work on methods projects as part of the RareKids-CAN consortium and will contribute to cutting-edge research projects focused on advancing methodologies for the design, implementation, and analysis of clinical trials in pediatrics with a specific focus on rare diseases.

Here’s What You’ll Get To Do:

  • Conduct a systematic scoping review of modern rare disease trial methods literature and existing web-based rare disease research platforms and networks from other jurisdictions.
  • Conduct focus groups/individual interviews with international research network methodologists in this field.
  • Establish a central trial methods hub for clinical trial developers in Canadian for pediatric rare diseases.
  • Evaluate meaningful, valid, and reliable primary clinical outcome assessment (COA) and outcome measurement instruments in partnership with rare disease patient organizations and patient/family partners.
  • Conduct consultations with study teams both in academia and industry using the appropriate application of innovative study designs such as platform trials, basket trial master protocols (i.e., different diseases being treated with similar agents, e.g., use of the same gene transfer vector with standardized evaluation of adverse events), adaptive designs, individual step-wedge designs, N-of-1 designs.
  • Keep abreast of emerging trends and advancements in clinical trial methodology and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge through publications, presentations, and workshops.
  • Mentor graduate students and junior team members, as well as collaborate with other researchers and stakeholders within and outside the organization.
  • Apply scientific creativity and knowledge of innovative research principles, theories, and concepts, notably around child health clinical (drug) trials designs for rare diseases, including the development, testing, and implementation of measurement instruments for child health outcomes and N-of-1 trial methodology.
  • Review and prepare peer reviewed scientific manuscripts and grant proposals.
  • Assist the PI in preparing reviews of others’ grant application and manuscripts as appropriate.

Here’s What You’ll Need: 

  • PhD in Epidemiology, Biostatistics or related field with relevant experience in trial outcome clinimetrics; candidates who have obtained their PhD within the last two years are preferred
  • Strong theoretical foundation in biostatistics and clinical trial design, with experience applying statistical methods to real-world data.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively
  • Demonstrated strong competency in written and verbal communications
  • Previous experience with grant and manuscript writing
  • Experience in patient engagement and/or integrated knowledge translation is an asset
  • Experience with clinical trial outcome selection and/or evaluating outcome measurement instruments using standardized methods, such as COSMIN or OMERACT, is an asset
  • Experience in child health clinical epidemiology would be an asset

Employment Type: Temporary, Full-Time (1 year contract) with modified benefits (i.e., health & dental). 

Apply here