About The Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies (RW-ILS)

Revolutionising Liver Disease Research and Care

The RW-ILS is at the forefront of delivering world-leading discovery science and translating it into impactful solutions for patients with liver disease. By working closely with local public and patient groups throughout the research journey, we ensure our innovations are relevant, transformative, and centred around patient needs.

A Unique Partnership for Breakthroughs

As a pioneering collaboration between the Foundation for Liver Research (FLR), King’s College London (KCL) and King’s College Hospital (KCH), we bridge the gap between cutting-edge science and real-world patient outcomes. Our approach integrates clinical expertise with advanced research to tackle liver disease from every angle.

Driving Excellence Across Five Research Themes:

1. Transplantation, Advanced Therapies & Regenerative Medicine
2. Steatotic Liver Diseases
3. Cirrhosis & Gut-Liver Axis
4. Hepatobiliary Cancer
5. Paediatric Hepatology & Rare Diseases

Shaping the Future with Policy Impact and Global Collaboration

Our mission extends beyond research. We actively engage in policy development to shape healthcare practices and improve patient access to innovative treatments. We are outward-looking, fostering dynamic collaborations with leading researchers, industry partners, and policymakers across the UK and internationally.

Training Tomorrow's Leaders

We are committed to training the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals to work seamlessly together, tackling complex liver problems with interdisciplinary expertise. Our educational initiatives ensure that future leaders are equipped to address the evolving challenges of liver disease.

World-Class Facilities and Leadership

Under the scientific leadership of Director Professor Philip Newsome and Deputy Director Professor Alberto Sanchez-Fueyo, the RW-ILS encompasses over 15 scientific groups with more than 100 staff and students. Our state-of-the-art facilities are located on the Denmark Hill campus of King’s College London, including:

• The 3-storey Roger Williams Building (RWB) with advanced laboratory capabilities
• Wet laboratory facilities at the King’s College London James Black Centre
• The Alex Mowat Paediatric Research Laboratories at King’s College Hospital
• An extensive footprint supporting clinical and academic staff at King’s College Hospital

Together, We Are Shaping the Future of Liver Disease Management

Through patient-centred research, groundbreaking science, and policy influence, RW-ILS is pioneering breakthroughs that change lives. Join us on our mission to transform liver disease care worldwide.

About the Pre-Doctoral Clinical Research Fellowship Scheme

Individuals will be based at the Roger Williams Building and will be encouraged to develop collaborations with laboratories across King’s College London as well as partner institutions across King’s Health Partners, under the guidance and supervision of a primary RW-ILS Principal Investigator and their research group. Their clinical activities will be undertaken in the Liver Unit at King’s College Hospital and will involve defined clinical sessions that align with the research theme and project being developed and associated administration/MDTs.

Candidates can apply to work with a supervisor and a project that is aligned to the key clinical services within the Liver Unit, including but not limited to liver intensive care, liver/HPB surgery, liver medicine/hepatology and paediatric liver medicine/hepatology. Participation in an on-call rota (if appropriate to the aligned clinical service) will not be mandated and may be optional depending on degree of clinical experience.

Successful applicants will be funded for up to two years by the Foundation for Liver Research (FLR). The candidate will use their research time to conduct high-impact research, generate preliminary data and develop a strong proposal for competitive external grant funding. They will be provided with a consumable budget to support this of up to £10k for each 12-month period, totalling up to £20k for the two-year fellowship. Eligible candidates will apply and formally register for the KCL MD(Res).

Mentorship will be provided by the supervising Principal Investigator and more widely to prepare for pre-doctoral fellowship applications to external grant funders, such as the MRC and other research councils or medical charities, targeting specific and suitable predoctoral schemes provided by these funders. Should they not secure external funding, the candidate is expected to complete the MD(Res) at the end of their two-year fellowship and return to clinical training. Prospective candidates are expected to demonstrate an objective interest in the research theme that they want to develop their project within.

Supervisory Arrangements at KCL and Scientific Advisory Board

Each candidate will be allocated a primary supervisor who is within the RW-ILS who provides day-to-day supervision of their research. Additional supervisors can be selected from within KCL, or externally, depending on the requirements of the project and student. All students have access to an internal mentor, as well as vibrant mentoring programmes led by KCL and the Student Union.

The thesis committee, which consists of the supervisors, selected thesis experts and the Thesis Chair, primarily serves as a scientific advisory board for the student throughout their studies. Its function is to offer comments, advice and support to the student to ensure that the thesis can be completed in an appropriate time frame and with the best possible output. In addition to the student’s own research group, the thesis committee provides an independent forum for scientific discussion. This committee, and particularly the Thesis Chair, offer independent pastoral support and would provide evaluations during the 6 month progress meetings and reports. Students are expected to complete their research and submit their thesis within the 2-year time frame of the award.

Scientific and Academic Training Opportunities at KCL

KCL offers a large number of training and skills development opportunities. Participation in the annual Postgraduate Research Symposium is compulsory for all students and provides an opportunity to improve science communication and presentation skills; students are also encouraged to volunteer and join the committee to plan & organise the Symposium.

There is a weekly RW-ILS Seminar Series on site which all students are expected to attend and will present at. Students can meet and have informal discussions over lunch with speakers in the Seminar Series. In addition, relevant seminar programmes within the University are widely advertised, and students are encouraged to attend.

All students will present their work regularly to their group. In addition, students are encouraged to present their work at both national and international scientific meetings, allowing for networking and communication skills development. Students are encouraged to engage with access the resources, training opportunities and support available through the King's Clinical Academic Training Office (KCATO).

In addition, those students who receive additional external grant funding and go on to the PhD programme are expected to attend training courses in transferable and general research skills through King’s Doctoral College. This comprehensive programme of support pinpoints and tackles the training and development needs of PhD students, setting them up for success in their future career.  All activities are arranged into eight key doctoral development themes.

To apply, you must:

• Demonstrate evidence of research output such as accepted abstract submissions, posters and oral presentations at scientific meetings and acknowledged contributions to peer-reviewed primary data manuscripts or review articles.
• Have a formal training number at Speciality Registrar (StR) level, up to ST8, within the specialities of liver intensive care, liver/HPB surgery, liver medicine/hepatology or paediatric liver medicine/hepatology.
• Be eligible for “Home fees” (in accordance with the KCL and UK Government criteria).

• Meet the English language requirements at Language Band D. You do not have to fulfil this requirement before submitting your application. However, if you are offered a place on our programme, you will need to fulfil this requirement before you can be accepted and registered.
• Offers will be subject to securing an Out-of-Programme Research period from your clinical training. Confirmation from the Training Programme Directors will be required.

*Recruitment for the 2027 cohort will open in October 2026*

For the 2027 intake, recruitment will run via King's Health Partners Centre for Translational Medicine (CTM). Successful applicants to the CTM's 1-year fellowship, who propose a liver research project that aligns with our Five Research Themes and is supervised by a Principal Investigator based within the RW-ILS, will be eligible for a second year of funding via the Foundation for Liver Research, subject to satisfactory progress. Further guidance will become available when applications open. 

For further information on applying for RW-ILS funding, please contact the programme lead Dr Vishal Patel vishal.patel@kcl.ac.uk (with grants@researchinliver.org.uk in CC).