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FAST GROWING FOOD SAFETY TESTING FIRM CURTIS ANALYTICS RELOCATES TO DISCOVERY PARK
Sandwich, Kent, February 15 2021 – Fast-growing food safety testing firm Curtis
Analytics has relocated to Discovery Park, the Life Sciences Opportunity Zone for
ambitious and growing life sciences companies, taking advantage of its grow-on
space and high specification facilities. The company is a leader in the automated
detection of asparagine, a precursor of the potentially carcinogenic (cancer
causing) chemical acrylamide, in foods. Curtis Analytics’ four staff occupy 1,400 sq ft
of laboratory and office space, with additional staff expected in due course.
Dr Curtis is an expert in acrylamide formation in foodstuffs, having been a researcher
in this area for over a decade with much of the foundational work supported by the
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). This work has
included collaborations with household name food brands and input into European
Commission regulations for benchmark levels of acrylamide in food. The company
was formed as a spin-out of Rothamsted Research in 2017.
Funding from Innovate UK has also been awarded previously to Curtis Analytics for the
development of ASNInsta Test, a rapid test for asparagine in flour, as well as for an
ongoing project to drive food acrylamide policy in the UK and elsewhere. Curtis
Analytics is able to process a market-leading 26,000 tests per year, helping food
manufacturers ensure their products meet safety guidelines.
Acrylamide is formed from precursors like asparagine when foods such as potatoes,
beans and cereals are cooked at more than 120˚C, for example during baking or
roasting. These reactions also give the foods their flavour, colour and smell.
Dr Tanya Curtis, Director, Curtis Analytics, said ‘The team is delighted to be fully
operational in our new premises at Discovery Park. With our high specification
laboratories and space to expand, Curtis Analytics is ready for its next stage of
development. I’m also looking forward to developing other business ideas, such as
biodegradeable packaging for fertilisers, alongside the innovative community here.’
Mayer Schreiber, CEO of Discovery Park, said, ‘Exciting, fast-growing companies like
Curtis Analytics are the life blood of Discovery Park, and we are delighted that it has
relocated here. With its plans to expand and entrepreneurial spirit, the company is a
great asset to the Park.’
--ENDS--
For more information about Discovery Park please contact:
Discovery Park
Emma Palmer Foster, Communications
+44 (0)7880 787185
[email protected]
Editor’s Notes
ABOUT DISCOVERY PARK (WWW.DISCOVERY-PARK.CO.UK)
Discovery Park is a thriving part of the South East’s life science community. The site
offers high quality laboratory, office and manufacturing facilities, the space and
support to expand, access to local finance, and a strong local scientific talent pool.
It was named recently one of six prestigious UK Life Sciences Opportunity Zones by the
UK Government, and is developing its vision for a Manufacturing Village.
The growing tenant community includes Pfizer, which built the site’s reputation as a
centre for drug discovery and discovered some of the most famous drugs in the world
here. Other tenants include Algaecytes, Canterbury Christ Church University, Concept
Life Sciences, eXroid, Firza, Genea Biomedx, LGC, Viatris, Psyros Diagnostics, Salvensis,
VisusNano and Wren Healthcare.
Discovery Park is home to 160+ companies
employing 3,500 employees in total. With easy connections to London, Europe and
the world Discovery Park is a great place to build and grow your biotech, medtech or
pharma business. Discover more via our website: www.discovery-park.co.uk email:
[email protected] or call: 01304 614060. You can also follow us on social
media.
@Discovery Park_ Discovery Park – Sandwich, Kent
ABOUT CURTIS ANALYTICS
The main objective of Curtis Analytics is to help the food industry mitigate the
acrylamide problem in food. Curtis Analytics is the fastest asparagine testing service
company in the UK and hold contracts with five major bread and breakfast cereal
producers, farmers and crisp producers. Curtis Analytics was established by Dr Tanya
Curtis at the end of July 2017. For more information please go to
https://curtisanalytics.co.uk/
Analytics has relocated to Discovery Park, the Life Sciences Opportunity Zone for
ambitious and growing life sciences companies, taking advantage of its grow-on
space and high specification facilities. The company is a leader in the automated
detection of asparagine, a precursor of the potentially carcinogenic (cancer
causing) chemical acrylamide, in foods. Curtis Analytics’ four staff occupy 1,400 sq ft
of laboratory and office space, with additional staff expected in due course.
Dr Curtis is an expert in acrylamide formation in foodstuffs, having been a researcher
in this area for over a decade with much of the foundational work supported by the
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). This work has
included collaborations with household name food brands and input into European
Commission regulations for benchmark levels of acrylamide in food. The company
was formed as a spin-out of Rothamsted Research in 2017.
Funding from Innovate UK has also been awarded previously to Curtis Analytics for the
development of ASNInsta Test, a rapid test for asparagine in flour, as well as for an
ongoing project to drive food acrylamide policy in the UK and elsewhere. Curtis
Analytics is able to process a market-leading 26,000 tests per year, helping food
manufacturers ensure their products meet safety guidelines.
Acrylamide is formed from precursors like asparagine when foods such as potatoes,
beans and cereals are cooked at more than 120˚C, for example during baking or
roasting. These reactions also give the foods their flavour, colour and smell.
Dr Tanya Curtis, Director, Curtis Analytics, said ‘The team is delighted to be fully
operational in our new premises at Discovery Park. With our high specification
laboratories and space to expand, Curtis Analytics is ready for its next stage of
development. I’m also looking forward to developing other business ideas, such as
biodegradeable packaging for fertilisers, alongside the innovative community here.’
Mayer Schreiber, CEO of Discovery Park, said, ‘Exciting, fast-growing companies like
Curtis Analytics are the life blood of Discovery Park, and we are delighted that it has
relocated here. With its plans to expand and entrepreneurial spirit, the company is a
great asset to the Park.’
--ENDS--
For more information about Discovery Park please contact:
Discovery Park
Emma Palmer Foster, Communications
+44 (0)7880 787185
[email protected]
Editor’s Notes
ABOUT DISCOVERY PARK (WWW.DISCOVERY-PARK.CO.UK)
Discovery Park is a thriving part of the South East’s life science community. The site
offers high quality laboratory, office and manufacturing facilities, the space and
support to expand, access to local finance, and a strong local scientific talent pool.
It was named recently one of six prestigious UK Life Sciences Opportunity Zones by the
UK Government, and is developing its vision for a Manufacturing Village.
The growing tenant community includes Pfizer, which built the site’s reputation as a
centre for drug discovery and discovered some of the most famous drugs in the world
here. Other tenants include Algaecytes, Canterbury Christ Church University, Concept
Life Sciences, eXroid, Firza, Genea Biomedx, LGC, Viatris, Psyros Diagnostics, Salvensis,
VisusNano and Wren Healthcare.
Discovery Park is home to 160+ companies
employing 3,500 employees in total. With easy connections to London, Europe and
the world Discovery Park is a great place to build and grow your biotech, medtech or
pharma business. Discover more via our website: www.discovery-park.co.uk email:
[email protected] or call: 01304 614060. You can also follow us on social
media.
@Discovery Park_ Discovery Park – Sandwich, Kent
ABOUT CURTIS ANALYTICS
The main objective of Curtis Analytics is to help the food industry mitigate the
acrylamide problem in food. Curtis Analytics is the fastest asparagine testing service
company in the UK and hold contracts with five major bread and breakfast cereal
producers, farmers and crisp producers. Curtis Analytics was established by Dr Tanya
Curtis at the end of July 2017. For more information please go to
https://curtisanalytics.co.uk/