Last updated: 7th October 2015
University of Manchester
2015 entry at ST2* or ST3
* Please note this year will be spent in CMT CT2
Background
The Integrated Academic Training Programme in Dermatology for Health Education North West (North Western) is led by Dr Richard Warren and the clinical research opportunities are arguably second-to-none with world leading dermatology researches including Professors Griffiths, Paus and Rhodes. The Greater Manchester Dermatology Centre with 27 Consultant Dermatologists based at the "Hub" - Salford Royal Hospital is responsible for clinical dermatology services for the (3 million) population of Greater Manchester. This provides ready access to large patient cohorts crucial for our translational approach to research.
The Centre for Dermatology Research (http://www.manchester.ac.uk/medicine/dermatological), located within the Institute of Inflammation & Repair, concerns inflammatory and environmental disorders of the skin, with emphasis on the immunological mechanisms underlying these conditions. Work has focused on the inflammatory skin condition psoriasis (and therapeutics) the environmental disorders skin ageing, carcinogenesis, photosensitivity disorders, hair follicle disorders and epidemiology of skin cancer. Research into their immunological mechanisms includes study of Langerhans’ cell activity, soluble factors and innate immune response genes. A particular strength is our exploration of the interplay of external factors, notably ultraviolet radiation, and psychological parameters, on the immune-mediation of these disorders. Enhanced understanding of these processes has led us to develop novel immunomodulatory approaches to treatment, including psychological intervention and "the biologics" for the treatment of psoriasis, application of dietary omega-3 fatty acids as skin cancer preventive agents and of photodynamic therapy in skin cancer treatment. Treatment studies range from mechanistic to clinical trials assessing efficacy through quantitative measures in addition to applying modern technologies to stratify new and existing therapies.
Health service outcomes are an important part of our work; we assess the epidemiological, quality of life and psychological impact of inflammatory and environmental skin disorders, the influence of treatment on these outcomes, and perform systematic reviews. We focus on translational research, studying whole humans, with follow through to the laboratory. The research mission of the Centre for Dermatology Research is to use modern research techniques to answer questions arising directly from clinical care. Thus, most research output is directly relevant to the practising physician.
Over the past decade the group have had >1000 peer reviewed publications in clinical and scientific journals including, New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Nature Genetics, Journal of Experimental Medicine and Carcinogenesis and 25 in the top ranked Dermatology journal - Journal of Investigative Dermatology; and attracted >£26 million in research income. The particular research infrastructure strengths of the department are: a fully staffed dermatology clinical trials unit, comprehensive expertise in psoriasis research; dermatopharmacology; immunodermatology; and the regional photobiology service and its associated equipment and expertise. The Centre for Dermatology Research’s basic science laboratories - PCR, immunohistochemistry and tissue culture - are based at the University of Manchester in the Stopford Building. There are strong collaborations with the Faculty of Life Sciences, Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, Arthritis Research UK - Epidemiology Unit, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Wellcome Trust Cell Matrix Group and the Manchester Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (WTCRF). Furthermore, Manchester is the host centre for: (i) the British Association of Dermatologists’ Biologic Intervention Registry (BADBDIR - http://www.badbir.org) – a national (151 Dermatology Centres) pharmacovigilance registry recruiting patients with psoriasis starting on biologic or conventional systemic therapies ; (ii) a recently funded MRC / Industry Stratified Medicine Consortium Psoriasis Stratification to Optimise Relevant Therapy (PSORT - http://www.psort.org.uk) aimed at understanding predictors of response to biologic therapies for psoriasis; a 5 year NIHR funded programme - Identification and Management of Psoriasis Associated Comorbidity (IMPACT) a multidisciplinary programme assessing the link between psoriasis and comorbid conditions such as depression and cardiovascular disease; and The Ageing Research Programme, funded by industry, investigating extracellular and immune mechanisms underlying skin ageing. All these large scale national studies provide numerous translational research opportunities and bring together many of the strengths of the Dermatology unit.
Clinical Training
The clinical dermatology training programme in Health Education North West (North West), currently consists of 15 specialist registrars and is one of the largest and most prestigious in the United Kingdom. We have been ranked consistently as the top preference for dermatology trainee applicants outside of London (data available 2008-2012), with very positive feedback from the 2014 GMC National Trainee Survey, scoring in the top percentiles for teaching and workload. The cohesive four year clinical programme provides excellent training guided by the JRCPTB Dermatology Curriculum requirements, with exposure to a number of subspecialist areas under the tutelage of world-leading experts in their fields. The Dermatology Centre is one of the few remaining programmes with a dedicated dermatology ward, providing high calibre training in acute and severe dermatoses with a valuable on-call experience in a safe and supervised environment. The range and depth of clinical experience is outstanding, with emphasis on critical thinking and evidence-base.
Excellence in education is at the heart of the Dermatology Centre, and the supportive training environment promotes development of communication, teamwork and leadership skills, which ultimately drives forward standards of patient care.
The North Western training programme in Dermatology is comprehensive in that all sub-specialty training is based in the region; trainees do not have to travel beyond the region to complete curriculum requirements. Following award of MRCP, entry to the programme is by competitive interview. CCT is awarded at 4 years if annual assessments have been satisfactory. Flexible training is accommodated in the programme - particularly as currently 73% of trainees in dermatology are female. We benefit from an unusually large number of ACFs in programme (currently four of 15 trainees) thus can provide a high level of support and opportunity. The Clinical and Academic Training Programme Directors work seamlessly to maximise opportunities allowing trainees to successfully meet both clinical and research challenges.
Academic Lead(s) – Richard Warren, Christopher Griffiths
Clinical Programme Lead – Tamara Griffiths
Recruitment Helpdesk: Helpdesk.Recruitment@pat.nhs.uk or 0161 604 5553
Applicants wishing to find out more about the relevant clinical training programme(s), should go to the Specialties Schools page and click on the link(s) for the relevant clinical training programme(s).
< Click here to return to the ACF At A Glance page