Research Coordinator for Community Cervical Cancer Prevention Projects

Req Number: 42231BR

Job Title: Coordinator Analyst

Job Code and Payroll Title: 7236 ANALYST III

Location: Mission Bay

Department Name: Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences

Work Days: Monday - Friday, 40 hours

Shift: Days

Shift Length: 8 Hours


Job Summary

We are looking for an SF-based Research Analyst to coordinate research operations related to international cervical cancer screening and prevention projects led by Dr. Megan Huchko.  Current projects include the community cervical cancer prevention (CCCP) projects and affiliated operational research related to cervical cancer prevention and reproductive health at the Family AIDS Care and Education Services (FACES) program in Western Kenya and at the Infectious Disease Institute in Uganda.   All of the research work takes place in East Africa, so this job will involve a significant amount of time coordinating a team through emails, phone calls and several trips each year.  While this is a 40-hour/wk position, phone calls with the team in Kenya or Uganda often take in early mornings or late at night.

FACES-CCCP Project (Kenya, R01; 80%)

Project Description:

Our formative work in western Kenya, a country with a high cervical cancer burden, uncovered tangible barriers and facilitators to these key steps in the “cervical cancer prevention cascade” and has led to a strategy that will increase women’s uptake of cervical cancer prevention activities.  Based on this work, we have developed the following hypotheses: (1) cervical cancer screening with self-collected human papillomavirus (HPV) specimens will reach more women when offered through community health campaigns versus government clinics; and (2) community-developed strategies will successfully link more women to treatment than the current standard of care (i.e., referral to treatment sites). To test these hypotheses, we propose a two-phase cluster-randomized trial of implementation strategies for a Ministry of Health and WHO-recommended cervical cancer prevention protocol in western Kenya.  During Phase 1, communities will be randomized to HPV-testing in either community-health campaigns or in clinics, with standard referral for treatment of HPV+ women to government facilities.  We will use the RE-AIM framework, a framework used to evaluate implementation strategies, (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation consistency and costs, and Maintenance) to assess the key outcomes; we will then work in partnership with the community to develop a strategy for enhanced linkage to care. In Phase 2, all communities will offer community-based testing with enhanced linkage to care. Conducting this cluster-randomized trial will enable us to assess the proportion of women in each community who get cervical cancer screening, the gain in treatment access with enhanced linkage to care, and the cost-effectiveness of the two interventions.  The RE-AIM framework will allow us to measure and refine the context-specific dimensions of the project to produce a “toolkit” for scale-up within this region and implementation into similar settings.

Working directly with the PI for this NIH-funded five-year cluster-randomized trial, this person will also assist with coordination of the research programs including hiring the Kenyan research team, maintaining communication with overseas investigators and staff; protocol development and modifications; writing the manual of operations; ethical review committee application and renewal management for both the UCSF and KEMRI committees; study monitoring and evaluation; data management and analysis; progress report and manuscript writing; coordination of supply needs between Kenya and San Francisco; and budget oversight. Two to three short (two-week) trips to Kenya will be required, with possible opportunities for further travel as desired or needed. In addition to these functions, he/she will be responsible for coordination of study data collection tools for CCSP, and data quality assurance measures.

All of this will be done in collaboration with the CCCP team, including Megan Huchko, PI, UCSF based co-investigators (Starley Shade, Jim G Kahn, Craig Cohen, and Bob Hiatt), UNC-based co-investigator Jennifer Smith, and the Kenyan team (site-PI: Elizabeth Bukusi, research coordinator TBH, data manager TBH and costing director TBH). 

IDI-CCSP Project (Uganda; U54; 20%)

Project Description:

Similar to Dr. Huchko’s R01, this is a community-based cervical cancer prevention project based in western Uganda, which is part of a larger NIH-funded program grant to use community-based methods to prevent HIV-related malignancies.  The goals of this prospective cohort study are to measure the factors associated with the successful uptake and completion of self-collected HPV testing as part of an entire cervical cancer screening cascade, and to look at prevalence of high-risk HPV and cervical dysplasia in this setting.  In order to accomplish this, we will work with a local media company to create context specific outreach and educational materials, carry out community campaigns using village health workers and screen approximately 3000 women over a two year period.  This work will be done in collaboration with the co-PI in Kampala, Uganda, Miriam Nakalembe, and the overall program leader, Jeff Martin.  In addition to the operational research goals, this grant will help build the capacity of Ugandan research scientists to carry out large, independent research projects.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

%

of time

  

Key Responsibilities

 

20

Administration: Under general supervision, oversee all aspects of the research programs, including development of standard operating protocols, manual of operations, management of human subjects approval at UCSF and in Kenya/Uganda (including modifications and renewals), preparation of reports for grant funders

10

Budget management:  Work with the PI and post-awards team to amend and manage budgets for grants and subcontracts.  Work with the Kenya teams in Kisumu and Nairobi to manage study expenditures at research sites.  This will be done on a smaller scale with the Uganda team.  Ensure timely coordination of supply ordering in collaboration with site-study coordinator

15

Team Development and Leadership: Under general supervision, assist with the hiring and training of the Kenyan study team, lead weekly team calls, troubleshoot problems with on-the-ground.  May also work with residents and students who are involved in short and longterm research projects.

15

Data management and Analysis: With the assistance of the UCSF and Kenyan data teams, work to ensure timely and accurate data collection and management through the development and administration of data collection tools, cleaning programs and preparation of reports.  Assist the data team in Kenya with the piloting of data collection and storage systems.  Troubleshoot operational issues throughout the study period.

10

Grant Writing: Preparation of grants related to the work done through these awards

20

Costing: Work with MH and JGK to develop the costing tools & SOPs and oversee cost data collection by the Kenya-based costing research associate (CRA).  Oversight will involve in-person training, weekly check-in calls, emails, review of draft data collection, data cleaning with the CRA, preparation of progress and technical reports, and contribution to cost-effectiveness analysis modeling and dissemination (abstracts, manuscripts),

10

Dissemination of results: through data analysis and production of abstracts, manuscripts, powerpoint presentations.

100%

 

  

 

Qualifications, Licenses and Certifications

Required Qualifications:

  • Masters in Public Health or Global Health Sciences
  • Health-related research or program coordination experience, ideally in women’s health (3-5 years)
  • Possess technical knowledge in the areas of health research, regulatory and ethical review board guidelines, program management, health program costing and grant proposal writing experience.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, able to interface with domestic and international investigators and project management staff who are available only via e-mail and conference calling.
  • Good understanding of the international context and ability to adapt program and research operations accordingly
  • Experience with community-based participatory research, and preferably with qualitative research
  •  Experience working internationally
  • Willingness to travel to East Africa for 2 weeks, up to three times/year
  •  High proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.  Proficiency with Microsoft Access; Familiarity with a biostatistical program (preferably stata)

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience working in East Africa or with programs based in East Africa
  • Experience with research administration within UCSF, including CHR submissions, work with contracts and grants, procurements and reimbursements
  • Demonstrated excellent organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail; have well-developed time management skills to prioritize and meet multiple deadlines and handle a variety of tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced, cross-cultural environment.
  • Experience managing multiple programs in a fast-paced environment and effectively prioritizing while meeting demanding timelines
  • Knowledge of reproductive health and/or cervical cancer screening
  • Experience leading a cost or cost-effectiveness analysis

 

Problem Solving

Common problems solved by the employee:

  • Communication with both UCSF and KEMRI (and the Ugandan) Human Subjects Committees needs to be maintained simultaneously to ensure ongoing approval for protocols and protocol modifications.
  • Funds for the program and research come from multiple sources, and on-the-ground spending in Kenya needs to be accounted for and reconciled appropriately with accounting at UCSF and KEMRI in Kisumu and Nairobi.
  • Manage the timelines and various requirements of both IRBs while keeping protocols up-to-date and accurate at both institutions.
  • Ensure that recruitment targets are being me.
  • Supervise the timely and sufficient supply procurement within Kenya

Less frequent and more complex problems solved by the employee:

  • Ensure timely transport of study specimens within Kenya; track lost specimens or results.  Ensure that the study team has the results and can provide them to the participants in a timely manner.
  • Work with the study team and PI to adapt the protocol according to the structured feedback and study progress; communicate changes in the protocol to the human subjects boards and study team in a timely manner
  • Address adverse events related to the study to the community, study team and human subjects boards in Kenya and UCSF

  

Problems/situations that are referred to this employee's supervisor:

  • Staffing or HR issues, including disciplinary issues and salary requests
  • Need for scientific or procedural changes to the study protocol.

  • Clinical questions that may arise from study-related activities

Qualified candidates should apply through the UCSF careers website at http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/careers/ using requisition #42231BR.