Our Team

Patricia is an Analytical Toxicologist, responsible for the safety evaluation of products from both the food and pharmaceutical industries, with a key focus on the risk assessment of novel foods and ingredients.

She holds a BSc in Biochemistry and a MSc in Forensic and Clinical Analytical Toxicology, with over 10 years of hands-on laboratory experience and project management. Her current work supports evidence-based decision-making for novel food safety, bridging the gap between product safety and regulatory compliance.

As NFX UK Project Lead, she is committed to driving collaboration across the Novel Foods ecosystem, strengthening regulatory science, and positioning the UK as a global leader within the sector.

Daniela Moura O. Beltrame is Regulatory Affairs & Innovation Lead at the Pfeifer & Langen UK subsidiary.

Daniela holds an MSc and a PhD in Nutrition, with over 15 years of experience in Scientific and Regulatory Affairs. She supports companies in navigating complex requirements for Novel Foods, Food Supplements, Health Claims, GRAS status, and food labelling. Her earlier work includes leading food composition and sustainable development projects for the Food and Agriculture Organization in Brazil and the Caribbean, collaborating with stakeholders across diverse organisations and regions.

Rachel is a CIM-qualified Marketing Manager, she leads RSSL’s communications and marketing strategy.  

Her expertise in brand strategy was pivotal in the successful rebrand of RSSL. She has also led the development of the NFX UK brand and website. Rachel’s expertise is in B2B marketing, brand development, digital marketing, budget planning, content creation, and project leadership. Her strategic vision and hands-on experience enable businesses to navigate the marketing landscape and achieve sustainable growth. 

Dr Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Bioengineering at Imperial College London and the Director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and the Microbial Food Hub. He is an expert in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, leading one of the largest precision fermentation labs in Europe.

His research focuses on developing microbial systems to produce valuable compounds, such as food ingredients, from renewable sources, driving innovation in sustainable bioproduction and biotechnology.

Daniele is a Material Scientist holding a DPhil in Chemistry from Oxford University. He has a dynamic career spanning the fine chemical and energy sectors, where he has successfully launched new products and processes.

During his 8.5 years at RSSL, Daniele has leveraged his scientific expertise to enhance clients’ understanding of ingredients and processes. He plays a crucial role in evaluating the regulatory and technical feasibility of novel technologies, advising clients on the scientific requirements for novel food regulatory dossiers, and ultimately, bridging the gap between innovation and regulatory compliance. 

John Murphy is the Alternative Proteins Regulation and Scale Up Manager at the Imperial Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein. He brings expertise in understanding the key bottlenecks the industry faces and has a broad background spanning engineering, synthetic biology, policy, and consultancy.

His previous experience includes leading efforts at the Alternative Proteins Association, one of the largest associations of its kind, focusing on Novel Food regulatory reform and supporting the UK developing industry.

Alexander is the manager of scientific intangible assets at Supplant the Pfeifer & Langen UK subsidiary.

He has a background in synthetic chemistry. He leads responsibility for strategy and maintenance of a 100+ application-strong patent portfolio, using AI tools and database-design to facilitate delivery. Connected on first-name terms with leading IP law firms around the world

Professor Karen Polizzi is a leading figure in synthetic biology and bioprocessing at Imperial College London, where she is a Professor of Biotechnology within the Department of Chemical Engineering. Her research focuses on engineering mammalian and yeast cells for bioproduction.

Professor Polizzi’s interdisciplinary approach integrates molecular biology, cell engineering, and bioprocess optimization to address key challenges in the production of proteins and vaccines.  She is Vice Director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and co-Director of the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre.

Dr Tom Simmons is a Managing Director of the Pfeifer & Langen UK subsidiary.

A sugar and fiber biochemist by training, Tom was formerly a Borysiewycz Biomedical Fellow and a Royal Society of Edinburgh Enterprise Fellow at Cambridge. He is the author of 13 academic articles and 23 patents in the field.

Jane’s career started as a food technologist undertaking product development.  This built her expertise on ingredients, food processing and general food industry challenges.  Moving into Commercial, her technical knowledge helped ensure technical solutions provided met the industry needs.  She led the launch of RSSL’s regulatory services to the novel foods sector, understanding the challenges that this sector face in getting products approved and is now involved in seeking funding opportunities to accelerate the industry’s innovation. 

Jane’s knowledge of the novel foods sector and her industry network will be essential to ensure the success of NFX UK.