Lead Research Nurse; Brain Health

Lead Research Nurse (Brain Health)

Final date to receive applications: 11 January 2026

Department: Imaging

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: Cheadle

Reporting To: Programme Manager

Compensation: £51,885 / year

At UK Biobank, we are developing an ambitious new Brain Health Study to better understand neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s. As our participants have aged, this study will allow us to explore disease progression in greater depth, combining advanced imaging with in-person, dementia-aware assessments. Designed in collaboration with global experts and informed by participant involvement, the study represents an exciting moment for our research.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a large-scale project that will help shape the blueprint for future dementia research. As an organisation that is both inclusive and innovative, we’re committed to delivering a study that supports participants respectfully and enhances national research capability.

Working closely with our Imaging Programme Manager and wider teams, you will be the Lead Research Nurse across the Brain Health Study, playing a central role in ensuring a high-quality, dementia-aware participant experience.

You will guide dementia-related clinical practice within the study, ensuring approaches are ethical, person-centred, and aligned with regulatory expectations. You’ll contribute to designing participant-friendly workflows, refine assessment processes, and ensure continual improvement as the study evolves.

This role also involves coordinating teams at multiple sites, delivering training, and maintaining safe, supportive clinical environments for participants and study partners.

You will be responsible for:

• Providing expert guidance on dementia care and ensuring compliance with ethical and regulatory standards. Ensuring initiatives are applied across the Brain Health Study and other participant facing projects within UK Biobank.
• Contributing to the design of participant-friendly protocols using dementia-aware and person-centred approaches.
• Developing and refining operational work-flows for participant assessments. Ensuring continuous improvement of processes and protocols.
• Delivering relevant training to implement the brain health protocols. Enhancing the dementia-related knowledge and skills of the clinical staffing team, Participant Contact Centre and broader project team. This may include training related to neurodegenerative disease assessment tools, capacity assessment, and communication with participants and study partners.
• Coordinating and supporting clinical teams across all study sites, ensuring high standards in consent, phlebotomy, and data collection.

To be successful, you will have:

• Extensive clinical or research experience with individuals living with dementia or neurodegenerative conditions.
• Proven ability to apply ethical dementia care practices within a research setting, including person-centred approaches and dementia-friendly communication.
• Skills in both qualitative and quantitative dementia assessment methods.
• Experience of developing and implementing study protocols and SOP’s
• Strong background in training and simplifying and communicating complex information for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to manage participant safety, including safeguarding, consent and capacity assessments, adverse event procedures.

Working hours are 35-hours per week, Monday to Friday with some flexibility, located in Greater Manchester (initially based in Stockport with a move to Manchester Science Park mid to late 2026). Travel will be required across all UK study sites.

Our passion for diversity and equality means creating a work environment for all employees that is welcoming, respectful, engaging, and enriched with opportunities for personal and professional development.

We’re proud to offer a benefits package that supports your health, financial security, and work-life balance - right from day one. Here’s what you can look forward to as part of our team:

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  26 Days’ Annual Leave - Plus Bank Holidays, increasing with length of service.
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