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| New series of The Oxford Colloquy now available |
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The Oxford Vaccine Group is celebrating 30 years of life-saving vaccine development with the release of a new podcast series of conversations called Trusting the Science. This is the second series of The Oxford Colloquy - discourses hosted by Professor Sir Andrew Pollard who has been Director of the group for over 20 years - and each episode delves into the crucial role that science plays in our understanding of health and immunity.
Throughout the series, Professor Pollard interviews leading global experts – starting with Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Scientific Advisor to seven US Presidents – on their scientific journey, the discoveries they have made, and their thoughts on how we can build and maintain the public’s trust in scientific knowledge at a time of misinformation and cynicism.
The first episode was aired last Thursday 19th September, and is available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, as well as a video version on YouTube. It also available via Oxford University Podcasts. New episodes will be released on the last Thursday of every month starting on 26th September 2024 with Dame Sally Davies.
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| Government urged to address low vaccination rates |
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Professor Sir Andrew Pollard has called on ministers to urgently address low childhood vaccination rates by investing in frontline services after new data revealed an “extremely worrying” decline in uptake. Speaking to the Financial Times, Professor Pollard, who is chair of the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said the government needed to increase funding, especially for frontline nurses and health visitors with local knowledge.
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| New footage of ground-breaking research |
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New footage has been released showing ground-breaking research aimed at revolutionising vaccine design, particularly for those most vulnerable to diseases like flu and COVID-19. The video features work by Associate Professor Katrina Pollock, MRC Clinician Scientist in Vaccinology at OVG, as she discusses the LEGACY trial (Lymph nodE single-cell Genomics AnCestrY and ageing) - a research effort particularly focused on understanding why older adults, especially those over 65, often have weaker immune responses to vaccines which is a challenge that could have significant implications for global public health. |
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| New online ethics application system |
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The phased launch of the University’s new online Research Ethics System (Worktribe Ethics), which will enable research ethics applications to be submitted to one of the University’s Research Ethics Committees is continuing as planned. This workflow-based system replaces offline methods, simplifying the preparation, submission and administration of applications. Applications are submitted and reviewed within the platform.
The system is being made available to all departments from Tuesday 1 October. From Thursday 7 November all ethics applications for review by University Ethics Committees must be submitted via Worktribe. |
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| Vacancy for EDI lead in Medical Education |
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| Applications are invited for the part-time role of Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Medical Education in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. This is a role with a broad remit that requires the development of strong working relationships and a collaborative approach. It is envisaged that the post holder will be a senior academic or clinician working part time (1 session per week, 0.1 FTE). Applications in the form of a curriculum vitae with a covering statement detailing the applicant’s suitability and including the names of two referees should be submitted to Mrs Kirstie Vreede: kirstie.vreede@medsci.ox.ac.uk. Deadline for applications is 12 noon on Monday 4 November. |
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Sign up for your free flu vaccination
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As part of our commitment to staff well-being, the Department of Paediatrics is offering staff a free seasonal flu vaccination at sites across the Old Road Campus and the JR Hospital from 07 until 17 October 2024. This offer is intended to complement existing opportunities to get vaccinated against flu. Many staff members will already be eligible via OUH for those with a clinical contract or through the NHS if you are over 65, have specific health conditions or are pregnant (more information is available on the NHS website). Staff members who are pregnant or anyone over 65 should make use of the NHS offer rather than booking this occupational health service.
As per last year, we have commissioned an external supplier (Flu Xpress) to provide this service. Dates, times and locations for the flu vaccination clinics are available to book via this link. Slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and bookings will close 8 days before each clinic date, to ensure that sufficient vaccine doses are dispatched. You are able to book a slot at any site, even if not your primary place of work. Please take up the offer and make sure to book a slot. |
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10 days of professional development training
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The Department of Paediatrics is committed to supporting and developing its staff and as part of this commitment, it offers ten days (pro rated) of training for professional development to all. This could take the form or a training course, study leave or similar. The deadline for applications is 1 November. Please email the HR team with the completed application form or click on the link below for more information and to download the policy. |
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| Enhancing Research Practice Programme
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Research Services is coordinating a programme of work to support research practice as part of the University’s strategy to advance research culture. The aim of this programme, which builds on the results of the Oxford Research Practice Survey (2024), is to:
- increase researchers' awareness of available support services.
- determine the best way to organise and deliver expertise and support.
- develop a coordinated approach to Research Practice to effectively support members of the research community to identify and apply appropriate practices at the point of need.
During MT2024 Focus, the University's continuous improvement and change team, will be engaging with colleagues in divisions, departments and professional services to better understand the current support landscape, and to gather views and ideas from across the research community. Your input is vital in shaping a more effective system for supporting research practice. Keep an eye out for upcoming invitations on how you can join the conversation. |
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| Science Together: Call for researchers and facilitators
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Join our 2024/25 programme connecting Oxford researchers with local organisations. Tackle real-world challenges, gain new perspectives, and make a lasting impact in Oxfordshire. We’re looking for researchers and facilitators – open to researchers from all disciplines and career stages, faculty and professional services staff. Training and support are provided – just bring enthusiasm and a curious mind. Deadline: submit your Expression of Interest by Monday, 7 October
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LGBTQ+ inclusion in STEM Climate Survey
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| This survey is open to all but we are particularly looking for participants who identify as either one or more of the following: LGBTQ+, Woman or Person of Colour. Participation involves completing an anonymous online survey about barriers and enablers to inclusion in STEM careers and workplaces. There are also questions about inclusion, belonging and discrimination at work. If you feel that these topics would be upsetting for you to answer you do not have to take part. It will take about 20 minutes to complete. |
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Register for Michelmas careers fair
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| The Oxford University Careers Service have opened registrations for their six in-person careers fairs in Michaelmas term. At the fairs, you will have the chance to meet representatives from a variety of recruiting organisations, explore the jobs and internships available, chat to careers advisers, and find out more about different career options. |
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Personal and Career Development Review
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| The Department of Paediatrics continues to focus internal efforts on increasing the uptake of PDRs (Personal Development Reviews) and CDRs (Career Development Reviews), and this year the two have been combined into one PCDR (Personal Career Development Review).
The conversation is designed to help staff identify career goals and training objectives, agreeing a schedule and process with their line manager for the coming year, and establishing specific goals and a timeline for completion. All staff are strongly encouraged to undertake their PCDR in September and October and the HR Team will be touring all research groups to showcase why the review is important and how to conduct it. The team will also give some advice and guidance on using Simitive (the program used to record PCDRs).
Below are links to some useful resources:
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| Come and join colleagues from across the Churchill site for fun, free, fitness sessions with Jim's Fitness every Wednesday at 12pm. Designed to push you to your limits in a friendly and encouraging environment, the sessions last one hour and are tailored for all fitness levels: from athletes keeping fit and mixing-up their training, to those who wish to start or returning to exercise. Jim uses equipment such as tyres, sand bags, cargo nets and more. Meeting point is outside the IDRM reception at midday. |
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24 to 26 September 2024 | In person | Trinity College Oxford
The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre (OHC) Symposium is the UK’s leading academic-industry rare disease conference, bringing together in-person delegates from both areas as well as key stakeholders in rare disease therapeutics development. Over three days, from 24-26 September 2024, presentations and panel discussions will be delivered by international leaders in the field.
The Symposium’s theme, Therapeutics Development for Rare Diseases, will explore how pioneering research, innovative treatment approaches, and collaborative efforts across biotech, pharma, academic institutions, funders, patient organisations, and regulators can enhance and accelerate the delivery of effective therapies for rare diseases. Limited spaces are available.
View the full programme. |
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| Why are so many of us burnt out, and what we can do about it? |
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26 September 2024 | Online only | Seminar 11-12; Workshop 13.30 to 15.00
Why do ever more of us find it so hard to find a good balance between life and work? The dramatic rise of work-related suffering is clearly not the problem of just a handful of people who are bad at time management.
This seminar will explore some of the deeper cultural reasons for why we are all so burnt out and offer some practical, actionable advice on what we can do about our exhaustion and how we can re-learn how to thrive.
Sign up for the Seminar here: https://forms.office.com/e/0cyFgdacJp
The workshop is now full but please email iris.hofmann@idrm.ox.ac.uk if you would like to join the waiting list. |
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| Industry Insights Seminar with Janssen Pharmaceuticals |
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10 October 2024 | In Person | 12.30pm lunch and 1pm start
Speaker: Dr Thomas Freeman (Sr. Scientific Director, Translational Pathway Immunology)
Speaker profile: Prior to joining Janssen Immunology in June 2020, Tom Freeman had a long academic career working in different areas of innate functional genomics, immunity and computational biology. He held the chair of Systems Immunology at the University of Edinburgh and before this led Gene Expression Group at the Sanger Institute (1994-2000) before joining the MRC HGMP-Resource Centre (2000-2005), also on the Hinxton Campus, where he headed up the UK National Microarray Programme. His interest in data analysis and generating expression atlases led to him to develop a number of well-known network analysis tools and approaches. He has founded two companies in the data analytics space and authored over 160 peer-reviewed articles. Tom is now a Senior Director at Janssen Immunology where he heads the Translational Pathway Immunology Group who are focused on delivering portfolio-facing computation analyses in support of patient stratification, biomarker identification, analysis of clinical trials data and delivering precision medicine. |
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| Reflecting on who we are in the research environment |
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| 16 October 2024 | Hybrid | Seminar 11-12pm; Workshop 13.30 to 15.00
Inclusion, Intersectionality and Impact Specialist Dr Arun Verma, will be sharing his story and experiences as a queer person of colour, who has moved between and beyond categories and characteristics. He will be hosting both a seminar and a workshop at the IDRM on 16 October.
The Seminar will:
- Build confidence with what intersectionality is and how it applies to your everyday work
- Understand how equality issues are interconnected
- Develop small acts of kindness that can transform daily interactions
The workshop will explore intersectionality in more depth and focus on the following:
- Reflecting on where intersectionality comes from and why it matters
- Space to explore your own characteristics and stories
- Co-creating the big picture of an optimal research culture
We have 15 spaces available and registration is open now. There will also be a networking lunch in the IDRM Cafe after the seminar to which all are invited. Please reserve your place at lunch here. |
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| Staff Scientist Network Social |
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23 October 2024 | In Person | 12pm
The Department of Paediatrics is pleased to support Staff Scientists (anyone interested in staying in academia without aiming to become a ‘Head of Lab’) through the recent formation of the Staff Scientist Network. The Network aims to provide networking opportunities, peer-to-peer support and to hear your voice on how the Department can better support you. Please join us for lunch and networking if you feel you fall into this role, you are considering whether you might want to follow this career route, or you are interested in hearing more.
For further details please contact luke.baxter@paediatrics.ox.ac.uk |
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Can you help these trials?
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| Oxford Vaccine Group would like to invite you to take part in a study investigating how two common respiratory germs alter the environment in your nose and impact human health. The knowledge gathered in this project could be used to help develop new interventions such as anti-virus agents and drugs targeting the host body response. If you are 18 to 55 years old, you may be eligible to take part. We will provide reimbursement for your time, inconvenience and travel. The study duration is approximately 10 weeks. If you would like to find out more, please read the Participant Information Sheet. If you are interested in joining the study, please visit the Pre-screening Questionnaire via the link below. |
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| We need volunteers for a new vaccine against Marburg virus |
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| If you are aged 18 to 55 years old and in good health, then you may be eligible to take part in a study investigating a new vaccine against Marburg virus. All participants will be reimbursed up to £1470 for their time, inconvenience, and travel. For further information please click on the link below. Here is a link to pre-screening questionnaire: Pre-screening Questionnaire or contact Oxford Vaccine Group with any questions: Email: info@ovg.ox.ac.uk Tel: 01865611400. |
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| Oxford Vaccine Group would like to invite you to take part in a study in a challenge study to find a vaccine against malaria. The total study participation time is 18 months. If you would like any further information regarding the study please contact info@ovg.ox.ac.uk, or call 01865 611400 |
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| Oxford Vaccine Group is looking for volunteers to help us understand how our immune systems respond to repeated infection with malaria. By taking part in this challenge study, you could help the research aimed at preventing hundreds of thousands of child deaths. If you are aged 18 to 45 years old, in good health and live in the Thames Valley, then you may be eligible to take part in the BIO-004 study. All participants will be reimbursed for their time, inconvenience and travel up to £9,100. |
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