Nessa Carey

Nessa Carey is a British biologist working in the field of molecular biology and biotechnology. She is International Director of the technology transfer organization PraxisUnico and a visiting professor at Imperial College London.

With expertise in the field of epigenetics and in technology transfer, she promotes the movement of scientists between academia and industry, lecturing often to students and early career scientists. Carey writes books and articles for a scientifically interested general audience. She is the author of The Epigenetics Revolution and Junk DNA: A Journey Through the Dark Matter of the Genome which explore advances in the field of epigenetics and their implications for medicine. She edited Epigenetics for Drug Discovery for the Royal Society of Chemistry's Drug Discovery Series.

Education and career Carey attended state schools. She first attended the University of Edinburgh to study veterinary medicine. Having limited aptitude for the course and reacting badly to animal fur she left veterinary studies. "This didn't last because I was allergic to fur, unable to think in 3D (not good for anatomy), quite bored and really rubbish at the course." — Nessa Carey In 2001 she left academia to work in industry although since 2013 she has been a visiting professor in the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London in conjunction with her professional career.

Carey was director of molecular biology at Vernalis from 2001 until 2004. She then held positions as Head of Biology at TopoTarget from 2004 to 2006 She has been International Director at PraxisUnico since July 2014. from 2011 to 2015; a Member of the Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board of the Medical Research Council (MRC) from 2011 to 2015

Carey's expertise has expanded from biology to include communication and training. She is a Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP). Her achievements include delivering training at Imperial College School of Medicine and the Royal College of Surgeons (UK and Ireland).

Publications Carey's books and lectures explain developments in epigenetics to a scientifically interested general audience. Carey has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers on epigenetics and other aspects of biology. She also writes in the popular press examining popular culture and media from a scientific viewpoint.

The Epigenetics Revolution: How Modern Biology Is Rewriting Our Understanding of Genetics, Disease, and Inheritance Carey suggests that Audrey Hepburn's slight figure may be the product of epigenetic changes from wartime deprivation. Her first book, The Epigenetics Revolution,

She used the example of Audrey Hepburn's slight figure to explain the possible impacts of epigenetics.

Peter Forbes of The Guardian wrote that while the book does not simplify scientific terminology for the general reader, it "is the first to set out the epigenetics stall for the general reader, and anyone seriously interested in who we are and how we function should read this book". Other reviewers also found the book "a bit jargon heavy", while some felt this was "not so much her fault as the nature of biology". Alexander Badyaev writes that "you cannot help but admire the author who is so fluent in such a great diversity of topics".

Junk DNA: A Journey Through the Dark Matter of the Genome Carey's second book, Junk DNA: A Journey Through the Dark Matter of the Genome,

The book uses analogy to explain molecular phenomena. Although there is some criticism that the book's coverage is "too comprehensive for the general reader" and "lacks an overarching, compelling narrative to carry readers through", reviewer Linda Geddes called it "a cutting-edge, exhaustive guide to the rapidly changing, ever-more mysterious genome." It is recommended for "any nonspecialist who would like a captivating, thorough, and up-to-date introduction...[to] the bigger picture of our wonderful and messy genome."

Carey describes the controversy and politics around this field: "At one extreme we have scientists claiming experimental proof is lacking to support sometimes sweeping claims. At the other are those who feel there is a whole generation of scientists (if not more) trapped in an outdated model and unable to see or understand the new order."

Epigenetics for Drug Discovery Edited by Carey, Epigenetics for Drug Discovery, This book examines the field of epigenetics, its possible applications to medicine and the challenges in using the research safely and efficaciously. It includes for example: a chapter by Karl P. Nightingale which defines epigenetics and explains why it matters; a chapter by Tom D. Heightman and Michael McCullar which focuses "on the biochemical mechanisms controlling DNA methylation, consequences of aberrant DNA methylation in complex chronic diseases, existing modulators of DNA methylation used in the clinic, and opportunities for new drugs targeting this central epigenetic mechanism" and a chapter titled "Progress in Targeting Epigenetic Readers" by Chun-Wa Chung.

This book is part of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Drug Discovery Series