Project Manager - Community-based ear and hearing care research project

Part time up to 0.6 FTE. Requests for flexible working options will be considered (subject to business need).

Applications are invited for the post of Project Manager in the department of Global Health and Infection at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) on the NIHR funded research project entitled 'Community-based ear and hearing care'. See website for more information: Global Health and Infection - BSMS
The Project Manager will work supporting the Principal Investigator to deliver this externally funded research project with key stakeholders to develop and monitor a project plan, including scope, resource plans and costs of an implementation project based on the outcomes from an initial feasibility project.
About the Community-based ear and hearing care research project :
Ear disease and hearing loss are common and under-recognised disorders, with 80% of the 1.6 billion with hearing loss living in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Hearing loss affects individuals, society and the economy, through effects on health, education, employment, and community. Recent advances in developing a low-cost high-performance hearing aid could help many, but will fail to support two of the most disadvantaged groups: those with persistent or recurrent ear discharge due to a hole in the ear drum (a disorder called chronic suppurative otitis media, CSOM) and those who are born deaf.
CSOM affects predominantly those in LMICs, and it is thought 250 million are affected. In CSOM a hole in the ear drum leads not only to hearing loss, but also intermittent or continuous discharge of pus that is stigmatising and precludes use of a conventional hearing aid. For those born deaf, hearing aids cannot help as the loss is too severe. In many LMIC communities these children are erroneously assumed to lack intelligence, so denied access to education or means of communication.
The research team has pioneered and undertaken feasibility studies for three novel solutions that enable community-led self-care for ear and hearing disorders in LMICs:
1. Iodine antiseptic washout for active ear discharge in children and adults with CSOM. Iodine has potential to treat infection, is widely available in LMICs, and not toxic to the ear,
2. Low-cost bone-conduction aids for hearing loss in children and adults with CSOM. Bone conduction sends sound through vibration of the skull and so circumvents the diseased ear drum.
3. Web and app-based digital sign-language dictionaries to connect deaf children, their parents and communities, and empower the Deaf community. This software has been developed and optimised over the past 8 years for Pakistani Sign Language by project partner Deaf Reach, and could be adapted to sign languages in other countries
Almost all existing research partnerships in ear and hearing care are based in high income countries, despite the large burden of disease in LMICs. This four-year NIHR funded project will develop an international team to instigate and support these and other future trials in the field of ear and hearing care in LMICs, partnering with local clinical teams and universities. We will develop capacity in research in ear and hearing care in three low income countries: Zambia, Cambodia and Malawi.
Our project is focused on developing community-based solutions, so has and will continue to include community members in developing and steering the project. Our solutions we hope will enable people to stop their ear discharge and/or recover functional hearing, leading to improvements in self-confidence, socialisation, education and employability, with advantages to community and society as well as individuals., The University is committed to equality and valuing diversity, and applications are particularly welcomed from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine, and Mathematics (STEMM) at Sussex.
The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Please note: The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed from the UK.

Starting at £37,099 to £44,263 per annum, pro rata if part time, The benefits that you will receive from day one: Generous pension scheme, Purchase additional Annual Leave through our Scheme for a great home and work life balance, Discounts of public transport, Cycle to work Scheme, and special rates in hotels in Brighton and the Sussex region, Discounts on high-street shops through our Rewards partner, along with a Cash back Health Plan, Considerable discount on our on-site Gym Facilities because we care about our employees' Health and Wellbeing.