iMATCH: Innovate Manchester Advanced Therapy Centre Hub

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.

The 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.

Our Team

A person with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a white cardigan over a patterned top, poses against a plain white background. They are smiling and looking at the camera.

Dr Fiona Thistlethwaite

Director iMATCH

Vicky Willams

Network Activities Programme Manager

Colette Mann

Programme Manager – iMATCH

Claire Howard

Project Manager iMATCH

Leanna Goodwin

Project Manager iMATCH

Portrait of a person with short, curly dark hair and a beard, wearing a light green shirt. The background is plain white.

Kiran Parayil

Administrator – iMATCH

A person with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a white cardigan over a patterned top, poses against a plain white background. They are smiling and looking at the camera.

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.

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Vicky Willams

Network Activities Programme Manager

Colette Mann

Programme Manager – iMATCH

Claire Howard

Project Manager iMATCH

Leanna Goodwin

Project Manager iMATCH

Portrait of a person with short, curly dark hair and a beard, wearing a light green shirt. The background is plain white.

Kiran Parayil

Administrator – iMATCH