The Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies (RW-ILS) Pre-Doctoral Clinical Research Fellowship Scheme

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The Pre-Doctoral Clinical Research Fellowship Scheme seeks to support outstanding clinical trainees with a research interest in liver disease. Successful candidates will be funded for up to 24 months whilst they undertake an MD(Res) and will be strongly encouraged to work towards securing external grant funding to complete a PhD.

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 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. Participation in the liver GI bleed and hepatology on-call rota will not be mandated and may be optional depending on degree of endoscopy and hepatology experience.

Successful applicants will be funded for up to two years by the Foundation for Liver Research (FLR) and King’s College Hospital, conducting defined clinical sessions and associated administration/MDTs. Candidates who have undertaken up to 12 months funded research elsewhere are also eligible to apply to this scheme.

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 £10k for each 12 month period, up to a maximum of £20k. Eligible candidates will apply for and undertake 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. If already able to propose a potential project, this would be desirable but is not required.

Supervisory Arrangements at KCL and Scientific Advisory Board

Each candidate will be allocated a primary supervisor from 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 and selected thesis experts, 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. 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.

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 for Gastroenterology specialty training at StR4 level or above.
• 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.

Please refer to page 7 for an outline of essential and desirable attributes.

To apply, please send a single pdf attachment including the following to grants@researchinliver.org.uk:

• Cover letter (up to 2 full pages) which should detail:

1. Your area of interest, a high-level overview of your proposed fellowship application and your motivation to work at King’s.
2. Your contribution to scientific knowledge detailing your role(s) in up to 3 key publications.

• Curriculum vitae (max 6 pages) – see pages 5-6 for guidance on structuring this.
• Optional: outline of the proposed research programme if you have developed one (max. 2 pages), including:

1. Background and scientific aims
2. Research plans and experimental approaches
3. Which Principal Investigator you will work with and proposed collaborations
4. Career development plans during the Fellowship
5. Details of internal and/or external funding secured to date
6. What external fellowship schemes you plan to apply for to leverage external funding to pursue a PhD
7. Research costs and justification (1 page) – please outline with sufficient detail how you will manage the consumable budget of £10k per annum.

Timeframe and Deadlines

• Application deadline: 1700hrs on Monday 12^th January 2026
  • Application address: grants@researchinliver.org.uk
• Short-listing completed by Friday 16^th January 2026
• Interview dates w/c 26th January
• Interview outcomes confirmed by Friday 6^th February 2025

For further information, please contact the programme lead Dr Vishal Patel vishal.patel@researchinliver.org.uk (with grants@researchinliver.org.uk in CC).

Curriculum Vitae Structure

1. Header and Professional Summary (½ page maximum):

• Name
• GMC number
• Training number
• Current post