Two Pioneering Biotech Startups Join Cluster at Discovery Park
Sandwich, UK – 26 August 2025: Discovery Park, Kent’s leading hub for science and technology, today announced the arrival of two pioneering biotech companies to its innovation campus. iLoF (Intelligent Lab on Fiber), a digital health company and MilaK, a precision fermentation protein business, have now moved into their new laboratory space in Sandwich, Kent.
iLoF is on a mission to accelerate personalised drug development, by optimising clinical and pre-clinical drug development, beginning with a key focus on Alzheimer’s Disease. This impressive digital health company is leveraging advanced artificial intelligence, combined with a cutting edge, proprietary optical technology to build a robust library of unique optical fingerprints. This allows for easy and non-invasive screening and stratification, allowing patients to receive treatments tailored for their needs, while making personalised therapies and drug discovery for complex diseases far more attainable. Founded in 2019 and backed by investors including Microsoft Ventures and Hamamatsu Ventures Japan, the promising company has already received over $10 million in funding since inception.
iLoF has an expert team of 30 scientists, entrepreneurs and investors, spread across the UK and Europe. They were referred to Discovery Park by an investor, who recommended the Sandwich campus as it met their needs for flexible space with an easy connection to London, along with partnerships with local Universities. The facilities at Discovery Park will help to build culture amongst the previously hybrid team and allow for growth in the future. iLoF has plans to hire five new team members to be based in Sandwich by the end of 2025, with job roles in science and engineering.
MilaK uses precision fermentation to develop next-generation, animal-free whey proteins. Their platform technology is initially focused on protein for sport nutrition, but the team see future applications in infant formula and medical nutrition. Recently founded and already backed by Innovate UK, MilaK is in their R&D phase, with the expert team aiming to deliver their first nutrition supplement prototype within the next few months.
The MilaK team visited a number of science parks across the country in their search for their home, but “fell in love” with the facilities at Discovery Park, citing the collaborative environment and availability of specialist lab space. MilaK also appreciated the Barclays Eagle Lab at Discovery Park, which offered an inspiring environment to host meetings and opportunities to grow through networking. Rapidly scaling up to a team of seven in a matter of months, the team have just hired two scientists based at Discovery Park.
Both companies have taken up residence in Discovery Park’s CoLab, a collaborative co-working lab space run in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University. The CoLab space is designed with growing start-ups in mind, offering access to specialist lab equipment and a wider innovation ecosystem. The CoLab is an affordable and flexible option for starting and scaling companies, helping businesses to go further by spending less on rent, and more on talent, equipment and research.
Mehak Mumtaz, Chief Operating Officer at iLoF, commented:
“Our optical technology platform is accelerating medicine towards a new, personalised era, where clinical trials and treatments can be easily matched to the patient. We are growing rapidly, making Discovery Park the perfect fit as our new home, offering flexibility for our next stage of growth. We’re already exploring synergies with other Discovery Park tenants, demonstrating the benefits of being part of this exciting ecosystem.”
MilaK founder, Milena Hutchings, said:
“MilaK is building a platform for functional nutrition to support human health, whilst also being better for the environment. Our new R&D base at Discovery Park gives access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and opportunities to collaborate with other UK biotech innovators. This allows the team to accelerate our early-stage research timelines. We’ve been truly impressed by the facilities and ethos at Discovery Park and the support we have received through CoLab, together with Canterbury Christ Church University.”
Chris Broom, Head Of Business Development at Discovery Park, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome both iLoF and MilaK to CoLab at Discovery Park. These companies represent exactly the kind of innovative, science-led businesses that thrive in our collaborative ecosystem. MilaK’s sustainable approach to protein production and iLoF’s AI-driven personalised medicine platform both address critical global challenges in health and sustainability. Their presence here strengthens Kent’s position as a leading destination for biotech companies developing technologies to shape our future.”
These two latest additions bring Discovery Park’s tenant community to over 180 companies, spanning biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing. The park provides state-of-the-art laboratory and office facilities, along with amenities focused on work/life balance, including gyms, restaurants and a tenant-led community garden.
Both companies will benefit from Discovery Park’s comprehensive support ecosystem, with networking opportunities with established pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The park has strong connections to the wider South East England life sciences cluster, with a thriving network of researchers, service providers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
- MilaK: Pictured left to right: Milena Hutchings – MilaK Founder, Monam Mishra – Food and Formulation Scientist, Saba Khan – Technical Lead and Sarfaraz Alam – Protein Scientist
- iLoF: Sara Rocha – Head of Strategy & Partnerships
About iLoF
iLoF is a deep tech digital health company pioneering Optomics®: a breakthrough Al-platform designed to accelerate the future of personalised medicine, ingesting massive amounts of data to build a comprehensive digital library of biomarkers and biological profiles.
Recognised by CB Insights as one of the top Digital Health companies in the world, and by the Financial Times as a Transformational Business in Healthcare, iLoF is supported by leading investors like Microsoft Ventures, Lunar Ventures, and Faber.
Learn more: www.ilof.tech
About MilaK
MilaK is a pioneering biotech startup founded by entrepreneur Milena Hutchings, redefining the future of nutrition through precision fermentation. Positioned at the intersection of science, sustainability, and wellness, MilaK develops next-generation, animal-free whey proteins designed to support not only muscle growth but faster recovery, immune function, and cellular health – without compromising on ethics or the environment.
Backed by Innovate UK funding and collaborations with global experts in microbial fermentation, MilaK boasts a robust multidisciplinary team led by technical lead Saba Khan, alongside medical research scientists from Cambridge University. Together, they are developing a proprietary formulation combining human-identical proteins with bioactive components to support recovery, resilience, and longevity.
Learn more: milak.uk
About Discovery Park
Discovery Park is one of the UK’s leading science and innovation campuses, providing a dynamic base for life science companies ranging from early-stage start-ups to global corporations. Located in Kent, with excellent connectivity to London and Europe, Discovery Park offers an ideal environment for businesses to start, scale and succeed.
With more than 180 companies on site including Pfizer, Asymchem, Viatris, Concept Life Sciences, Resolian, Psyros Diagnostics, York Bio, and VisusNano, Discovery Park is home to a thriving ecosystem of innovators. The 220-acre site offers cutting-edge laboratories, flexible office and manufacturing space, and a highly supportive infrastructure tailored to the needs of science and technology businesses.
As part of its commitment to nurturing innovation, Discovery Park is home to CoLab, a shared laboratory facility developed in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University, offering flexible bench space and technical support to early-stage companies. In addition, the Discovery Spark programme equips science and tech founders with the commercial skills, strategic insights, and investor-readiness needed to grow sustainably.
Recognised as a Life Science Opportunity Zone, Discovery Park benefits from a robust utilities infrastructure, 100% renewable electricity, and a strong pipeline of local STEM talent, underpinned by partnerships with leading academic institutions. With its strategic location, vibrant community, and access to finance through its own fund, Discovery Park Ventures, the campus plays a central role in Kent’s flourishing science and technology cluster and is an extension of the UK’s prestigious Golden Triangle.
Discover more: www.discovery-park.co.uk
E: info@discovery-park.co.uk, T: 01304 614060.
For further information, please contact:
Kirsty Budden, Head of Marketing, Discovery Park
E: kirsty.budden@discovery-park.co.uk, T: +44 (0) 7730 618514
