iMATCH (Innovate Manchester Advanced Therapy Centre Hub) is a Manchester-born consortium focused on establishing national forums for the roll out of clinical trial acceleration initiatives, with the aim of increasing the competitive advantage for the delivery of ATMPs in the UK.
Through funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and in close collaboration with NIHR infrastructure and its counterparts in the devolved administrations, the ATTC network aims to build upon its existing work, expand its reach, and integrate its initiatives into standard practice.
Our primary focus will be on rolling out clinical trial acceleration models across all UK ATMP delivery sites. By engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, iMATCH will then address the barriers to trial delivery by developing various tools that will transform, streamline and drive implementation of advanced therapy clinical trials within UK healthcare systems. These tools will include:
- ATMP-specific resources to support the NHS and industry to deliver ATMP clinical trials
- Master ATMP protocol guidance
- Standardised key trial documentation
By streamlining processes and implementing innovative methodologies, the iMATCH consortium aims to expedite the progression of ATMP clinical trials, ultimately bringing more innovative therapies to patients and strengthening the UK’s appeal to industry.
Dr Fiona Thistlethwaite
Director iMATCH
Dr Fiona Thistlethwaite is a Christie NHS Foundation Trust Consultant and iMATCH director with active clinical trials research portfolio of early phase trials in particular immunotherapy. Her research focuses on how the immune system can be harnessed against cancer, in particular using adoptive cell transfer of T-cells activated against cancer antigens.
Watch video
Vicky Willams
Network Activities Programme Manager
Colette Mann
Programme Manager – iMATCH
Claire Howard
Project Manager iMATCH
Leanna Goodwin
Project Manager iMATCH
Kiran Parayil
Administrator – iMATCH