Overview

Study Coordinator – Strand, London, WC2R 2LS

About Us

The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) is the largest academic community in Europe devoted to the study and prevention of mental illness and brain disease. The IoPPN pioneers research into new and improved ways of understanding and treating mental ill health ( http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/). The research role is based in the Psychology Department, one of the world’s largest academic groupings of clinical and health psychologists. It is one of four departments in the School of Mental Health & Psychological Sciences. ( https://www.kcl.ac.uk/psychology)
 
AVATAR therapy involves the use of a digital simulation (avatar) of the entity the person believes is the source of the voice in a three-way discussion between participant, avatar and therapist, focussing initially on managing anxiety and helping the participant to stand up to the avatar (phase 1) followed by a realistic enactment of the ascribed character of the voice, targeting processes that are specific to an individualised formulation (phase 2). The first multi-centre RCT showed that both brief and extended forms of the therapy show significant reductions in voice-related distress, with wider effects on wellbeing (Garety et al, 2024). In March 2024 AVATAR therapy received a NICE-Early Value Assessment recommendation for deployment in the NHS for the purpose of real-world evidence generation. Our long-term vision is that AVATAR therapy is optimised for delivery in clinical settings, with the impact that a novel effective treatment for distressing voices is readily adopted in UK and international clinical settings. The current role is within a Wellcome funded study which involves real-world pilots of AVATAR therapy in frontline NHS services (AVATAR-RW).

About the role

Working as part of the KCL-based lead team alongside Dr Tom Ward (Co-PI), Dr Clem Edwards (Co-PI) and Dr Amy Hardy (Co-Applicant) the core role purpose is to support the successful delivery of the AVATAR-RW project against the following aims:
  1. To optimise AVATAR therapy software for real-world deployment. The Avatar Therapy System as delivered in the recent AVATAR2 trial is a Class 1 medical device registered by Avatar Therapy Ltd (Technology Partner). Stakeholder engagement with those with lived experience, NHS collaborators and AVATAR therapists will support optimization of the platform for real-world deployment and harness the experience gained through previous work in NHS settings during the AVATAR2 trial.**
  2. To establish effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in routine care. We will train frontline clinicians across 4 NHS Trusts to deliver AVATAR therapy within NHS care pathways. In line with NICE-EVA recommendations, the proposal is a prospective controlled cohort study with 12-month follow-up, delivering real-world evidence on clinical and cost-effectiveness across diverse routine care settings.
  3. To establish a reliable and sustainable method for real-world outcome monitoring. Gathering data on outcomes in routine clinical care is a challenge. We will therefore co-produce accessible, reliable and reportable measures of outcomes that can be embedded within the AVATAR therapy software and delivered as part of a routine therapy session.
  4. To conduct a process evaluation of AVATAR therapy implementation. A logic model will be developed at the start of the project to support implementation. A mixed-method process evaluation will be co-produced with front-line clinicians and patients to understand routine care implementation of AVATAR therapy across diverse service users and identify barriers and enablers.
  5. To deliver a strategy to support spread and sustainment. A summary of the evidence generated will be submitted as part of the NICE-EVA review process with a view to a future submission for a full NICE recommendation. The data on real-world effectiveness and cost-effectiveness is identified as the crucial next step in an agreed commercialization strategy designed to deliver widespread adoption in the NHS.
This is a full time post (35 hours per week) and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 2 years, with the possibility to extend until the 30th of April 2029.

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