ECMC Paediatric Oncology and/or Haematology Drug Development Clinical Fellowship
The ECMC Paediatric Network is seeking applicants for the Paediatric Oncology and/or Haematology Drug Development Clinical Fellowship. This is an exciting opportunity for doctors in training who are committed to becoming paediatric haematologists or oncologists in the UK, with a strong interest in further extending their expertise in drug development.
Contact and submission of applications
ECMC Programme Office – talia.macauleykelly@cancer.org.uk
How to Apply
Please send a two-page CV and a letter of intent why you would like to undertake this fellowship to the above email address.
Informal Enquiries
For generic enquiries and oncology, please contact Dr. Lynley Marshall.
For haematology-related enquiries, please contact Dr. Donna Lancaster.
Deadline for Application
The deadline for applications is 12 January 2026.
About the Fellowship
The ECMC Paediatric Network brings together clinicians and translational scientists to run early phase clinical trials for children and young people with cancer across the UK. Formed of 12 paediatric phase I/II centres (including 1 centre in Scotland (Glasgow) and 1 centre in Wales (Cardiff)), the network functions as a single virtual centre to improve patient recruitment and expand geographical access to novel anticancer agents.
The paediatric ECMC network were successful in renewing their funding for another 5 years in 2023. The funding for the paediatric network is 6.6 Mio GBP and is provided through the partnership of CRUK, NIHR and the Scottish government, match-funded by the Little Princess Trust and Health and Care Research Wales (https://www.ecmcnetwork.org.uk/news/announcement/funding-boost-experimental-treatments-cancer).
One core element of the renewed funding is the sponsoring of several 12 months Paediatric Oncology/ Haematology Drug Development fellowships.
The aim of the Fellowship is to provide the candidate with the opportunity to work in one or more of the ECMC paediatric centres within the oncology and haematology drug development team to gain exposure to children undergoing participation in early phase trials. Alongside this clinical exposure the candidate will have the opportunity to follow a specific site prepared educational package specific to the unique site set up/ collaboration partners. The package will include aspects of drug discovery, preclinical testing, genomics and personalized medicine, biomarkers, pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamics/ pharmacogenetic concepts, trial designs, protocol development, regulatory and ethical aspects. The anticipated duration of the clinical training will be 12 months. The fellow will be expected to participate in the ECMC-JING: training the next generation workshop (https://www.ecmcnetwork.org.uk/jing-tng) and will have the opportunity to participate in the regular paediatric ECMC meetings.
Training will be expected to deliver experience in early phase trials for solid, CNS and haematological malignancies. Fellows will have the opportunity to further develop an area of interest in one of these sub-categories.
The training centres will be responsible for all contractual and employment arrangements with the fellow. Candidates will have a choice of ECMC centres which have put themselves forward to host a fellow (see full job description below for the list of centres). The ECMC will provide an educational grant to support the fellowship but will hold no legal responsibility for the employment of the fellows.
The fellowship is intended for doctors in training who are committed to becoming paediatric haematologists / oncologists in the UK and want to further extend their expertise in drug development. The candidates should be undertaking their paediatric haematology/oncology training, i.e. have a solid understanding of the core principles of paediatric oncology/haematology when embarking on this role.
One fellowship will be available to start in September 2026 although earlier start dates may be possible. Depending on flexibility and mobility of the candidates a split experience between two centres is possible – please see the full job description below for further information on centres which have put themselves forward to host a fellow in this round.
Timeline
- Deadline for application 12 January 2026.
- Shortlisted candidates will be informed by late January 2026, with online interviews arranged shortly after.
- Selection made no later than beginning of March 2026.
Funding
The total funding available per 12 months Fellowship is:- Salary scale will be as per the NHS resident doctor salary scale at the chosen centre/region and depending on individual's level of experience (the expected range in the most expensive region is £68,000-£77,000)