Currently, approximately 40-60% of drugs prescribed to children are off-label. Their efficacy and safety have not been adequately studied. This leaves children at an increased risk of therapy failure or drug toxicity. One of the main roadblocks to adequately studying drugs in children, is lacking infrastructure to perform both industry and investigator-initiated trials. This leads to delayed or even cancelled trials, thereby not contributing to more effective and safe therapy, and resulting in wasted resources. To address this lack of successful pediatric trials, the Innovative Medicines Initiative provides funding to build a European-wide pediatric trial network.

As part of these activities a Dutch Pediatric Trial Network (PEDMED) will be built. The EU network will be tested by performing 6-8 multi-national multi-center pediatric drug trials, in which the Dutch network aims to participate. This project aims to develop a sustainable Dutch Pediatric Clinical Trial Network, aimed to facilitating industry and investigator-driven pediatric clinical trials in university and general hospitals across The Netherlands. In this project, Radboudumc will coordinate these Dutch activities, in collaboration with EU academic and industry partners

We expect the project manager to build upon existing pediatric trial and research network infrastructure, working with relevant stakeholders including pediatricians and their existing networks, trial offices/ coordinators, the Dutch Clinical Research Foundation, hospital administration, research funders, government and the EU network. The initial network metrics will be success of IMI trial acquisition and trial recruitment in The Netherlands. Long-term metrics will be sustainability to support both industry and investigator-trials. This position presents an unique opportunity to be part of the largest European pediatric research infrastructure project (130 million euros, 6 years) to date and ultimately contribute to effective and safe drug therapy for children.

You should be a pro-active and enthusiastic research project manager, research coordinator or similar, with an MSc (or BSc with proven experience at Master level) in Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy or Nursing, with a clear interest in clinical trial management and network building. Good communication skills (Dutch and English), expertise/experience in (international) multi-center clinical trials are essential. You are able to make a plan and organize activities to achieve goals.

Experience with pediatric trials and network building is a pre. Willingness and flexibility to regularly travel nationally and incidentally in Europe is a prerequisite. The project manager is expected to work in collaboration with the two other project managers and secretariat for all ongoing European pediatric research infrastructure activities at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.

You recognize yourself in the Radboud way of working.

Project funding is available for 6 years. This position is for one year. Your performance will be evaluated after 1 year. The contract can be extended dependending on performance, including a permanent contract. Read more about the Radboudumc employment conditions and what our International Office can do for you when moving to the Netherlands.

Upon commencement of employment we require a certificate of conduct (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) and there will be a screening based on the provided CV. Radboud university medical center's HR Department will apply for this certificate on your behalf.

Radboudumc

The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology will host the Dutch Pediatric Trial Network as part of this IMI project, which will also include a EU-wide one-stop shop for pediatric scientific advice. The Department also represents The Netherlands in two other European pediatric research infrastructure projects (PEDCRIN as part of ECRIN and EPTRI). These projects will also resort under the Amalia Children's Hospital umbrella and will collaborate strongly with the Radboud Pediatric Drug Research Center, which is part of Radboud Technology Center Clinical Studies.

The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology aims to improve effective and safe drug therapy by preclinical and clinical research, with a focus on drug transport, vascular pharmacology, medication safety and perinatal/pediatric pharmacology.

Radboudumc
Radboudumc strives to be a leading developer of sustainable, innovative and affordable healthcare to improve the health and wellbeing of people and society in the Netherlands and beyond. This is the core of our mission: To have a significant impact on healthcare. To get a better picture of what this entails, check out our strategy film.

Read more about what it means to work at Radboudumc and how you can do your part.