Scientific Advisory Panel Member

Pharmacy Research UK (PRUK) is a small charity that funds pharmacy research in the UK. We fund research to help pharmacy professionals do research projects that can improve the public services and patient health. Our research funding helps:

• Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians develop research skills that will improve patient care in the future;
• Find out how we can deliver services better and make sure that pharmacy works well for patients;
• Enter into partnerships to increase the value and impact of pharmacy research;
• Promoting research to highlight the important role of pharmacy and pharmacy professionals in healthcare.

We are working with other key organisations to increase research funding opportunities for pharmacy professionals, including Diabetes UK, Kidney Research UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

The Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) advises the Board of Trustees about grant funding, as well as the areas which need more research. The panel also makes sure that the research we fund is fairly assessed and will improve care for patients and their families.

We are seeking to initially appoint two scientific members to the Scientific Advisory Panel. Successful applicants would be invited to serve a three year term, with an option to renew for a further three years.

We are looking for scientific members with expertise in a range of methodological or healthcare disciplines. We especially welcome applications from those experienced in the use of qualitative research methods or those who are from disciplines outside of pharmacy practice, including digital health.

As we look to raise our profile as the principal funder of early-career research pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy researchers, this is an exciting time to get involved with us.

The responsibilities of the scientific post-holders include:

• Providing advice and input where necessary on PRUK’s research priorities, developments in the research landscape and best practice in our research policies and procedures;
• Contributing to discussions on the research strategy and approach taken to increase the scope of opportunity for pharmacists to engage in research;
• Advising and supporting the PRUK staff team in monitoring our portfolio of projects;
• Supporting the development of clear guidelines to establish measurable reporting procedures for research;
• Supporting the application review process by undertaking peer review of applications and assisting in sourcing peer reviewers.

We encourage applications from experienced researchers against the following criteria:

• Experienced researcher with substantive grant income and a good publication track record commensurate to stage of career;
• Experienced in peer reviewing proposals for grant funding;
• Educated as a health services researcher to post-doctoral level, working in a relevant healthcare discipline with strong methodological expertise (expertise in qualitative methods are preferred) or with relevant cross-disciplinary experience in pharmacy research;
• Experience of working with other research funding panels (desirable).

We also want to ensure that our board is representative of the community we serve and so encourage applications from those with culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds. We also welcome applications across the UK, particularly Wales.

The panel currently meets twice a year online. There is the potential to meet in-person when needed (in London). There will be some preparatory work in the lead-up to the meetings, such as reviewing applications for funding. Therefore, members need to plan for work prior to the meetings and all members should be available, via email, outside of the meeting to receive relevant paperwork.