General Summary

The mission of the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) is to strengthen health systems in Africa with emphasis on infectious diseases through research and capacity development. IDI has five operational areas through which it works to achieve its mission: Prevention, Care and Treatment; Training, Research; and Laboratory and Outreach programs.

Project Background:

The meningitis research team aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of various forms of meningitis in adults. Currently, there are 3 studies running in Kampala:

• COAST – an observational cohort study investigating etiologies and outcomes amongst adults presenting with meningitis.
• PLATFORM-CM- Platform Trial For Cryptococcal Meningitis.
• BPaLMZ - A Phase 2 Novel Antimicrobial Combination Therapy to Treat Tuberculous Meningitis

To strengthen support to these core areas of operation, IDI-Meningitis team seeks to recruit a full-time medical officer with the key responsibilities involves providing comprehensive clinical care to participants in a clinical research study by recruiting, screening, enrolling, assessing, and managing patients in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Responsibilities include obtaining informed consent, performing study-related clinical procedures, monitoring and managing adverse events, maintaining accurate study documentation, completing case report forms, and ensuring compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines. The position also requires collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, participating in patient rounds and study meetings, supporting community outreach activities, and contributing to high-quality patient care while ensuring adherence to research protocols.

Key Responsibilities

Patient care

• Will play an essential role in the recruitment, screening and enrollment of new participants to the above study. Study participants generally require a high level of care, and generally include lumbar punctures, obtaining informed consent in collaboration with the study nurses, ordering lab tests and prescribing medications as appropriate.
• Will be responsible for assessing and providing care for all study patients and providing the necessary documentation according to the protocol. Documentation of research includes a mixture of electronic medical records and paper files.
• Will provide clinical care in the outpatient clinic at IDI during the study follow-up period.
• Ensure very sick patients are properly managed at the various in-patient hospitals and get referred as the need arises.
• Will be responsible for identifying, reporting, and summarizing all severe adverse events in a timely manner.
• Manage patients with AE/SAE and will be required to review the inpatient at least once to get patient updates.
• Carry out outreach/ community sensitization whenever the need arises.
• Any other duties assigned.

Documentation

• Shall be responsible for completing daily and reviewing case record forms (CRFs) to ensure completeness of data entry.
• Responsible for completing and submitting CRFs for data entry.
• Responsible for responding to error queries from the data management team.
• Complete and maintain current training in Good Clinical Practices
• Maintain and update a summary of inpatient participants
• Ensure the inpatient rounding sheet is up to date.

Team Work/Collaboration

• Will attend all study meetings to discuss patient care and other team-related activities
• Inpatient care is generally collaborative with team members and consists of daily rounds together with other study staff as well as international collaborators.

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in medicine and Surgery

Person Specification

• Licensed medical doctor with a current practicing license( individuals with proof of completing an internship and expect to get a license at least before the start of the contract, encouraged to apply). Experience working/volunteering in a clinical trial is an added advantage.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• High level of energy is desirable for effective performance in the hospital setting
• Knowledge of software programs such as Excel, Microsoft Word, reference management software, and Google Calendar/Drive, or a willingness to learn
• An ability to work independently and with minimal supervision while functioning as a good team player.

• Play an essential role in the recruitment, screening and enrollment of new participants to the above study.
• Assess and provide care for all study patients and provide the necessary documentation according to the protocol.
• Provide clinical care in the outpatient clinic at IDI during the study follow-up period.
• Ensure very sick patients are properly managed at the various in-patient hospitals and get referred as the need arises.
• Identify, report, and summarize all severe adverse events in a timely manner.
• Manage patients with AE/SAE and review the inpatient at least once to get patient updates.
• Carry out outreach/ community sensitization whenever the need arises.
• Complete daily and review case record forms (CRFs) to ensure completeness of data entry.
• Complete and submit CRFs for data entry.
• Respond to error queries from the data management team.
• Maintain and update a summary of inpatient participants.
• Ensure the inpatient rounding sheet is up to date.
• Attend all study meetings to discuss patient care and other team-related activities.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• High level of energy
• Knowledge of software programs such as Excel, Microsoft Word, reference management software, and Google Calendar/Drive, or a willingness to learn
• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision while functioning as a good team player.

• Licensed medical doctor with a current practicing license
• Proof of completing an internship and expecting to get a license at least before the start of the contract
• Experience working/volunteering in a clinical trial is an added advantage.
• Current training in Good Clinical Practices