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Caroline Addey

    • About Me:

      I live in Middlesex, close to the Grand Union Canal. In addition to working and volunteering I like to go walking, and practice yoga (a forever beginner) and mindfulness. I am crazy about owls🦉

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      Walking is a great way to meet people and I have been on walking holidays in many different countries. I love to see how the culture, scenery and nature changes in different places. I used to cycle a lot and once went on an epic charity ride in Turkey from Gallipoli to Ephesus to raise money to improve the health of women and babies.

    • My pronouns are:

      My pronouns are she/her

    • My Work:

      I work for the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), helping to shape policies and bring people together to make medicines safe and improve public health. My a previous career in scientific and medical research helps to inform the work I do.

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      I am proud to be part of the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), where I work in the Partnerships Group as a Principal Policy Specialist.

      MHRA keeps medicines, medical devices (from pacemakers to plasters!), and patients safe and had a key role in making the first Covid-19 vaccines available during the pandemic.

      I love working with people,  from different scientific and educational backgrounds, and being a part of making improvements and positive change through building relationships with different health and life science partners across the UK and worldwide.

    • My Typical Day:

      No day is exactly the same, but I usually have a short walk before starting work at 8am. Things can change quite fast, but I may be involved in arranging meetings, bringing different experts together, writing reports and communications, training, helping others to develop in their role.

      I always take a break at lunchtime and like to do at least 1 puzzle a day (codeword or sudoku). Although I don’t work in a lab anymore, being a good problem solver and and being able to analyse complex issues are the strengths I bring to my job.

       

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      Most days, I will check the different projects running, which include updating laws to improve safety, building our relationships worldwide and working on many policies including net zero,  better access to medicines, clinical trials, and being prepared for pandemics of the future. I will work with others to look at any problems with different projects and  how we can overcome them.

       

      All the different workstreams  support making the MHRA even better, protecting public health through excellence in regulation and science and delivering the right outcomes for patients.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I would like to use it to make people more aware of the many STEM roles in the government sector – there are so many awesome ways to make a difference, which I don’t think many people know about.

    • My curriculum links

    My CV

    • Education:

      School – Fairfield Grammar school, Bristol

       

    • Qualifications:

      O Levels – Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, English, English Language, History, Latin

      A levels –  Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Pure Maths

      University of Liverpool – BSc. Biochemistry

      University of Glasgow PhD (1998) – Immunological analysis of chromosomal proteins

      NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health & safety – London 2014

      Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring (ILM) – London 2018

       

    • Work History:

      1987-96 Research Scientist – Mammary Gland Biology – Hannah Research Institute Ayr, Scotland

      1996-97 Non-Clinical Scientist MRC Collaborative Centre, Mill Hill London

      1977-2007 Research Associate / Investigator Scientist – MRC Clinical Sciences centre, Hammersmith Hospital, London

      2007-2012 – Research Fellow – Imperial College

      2012-2014 – Divisional Resources Manager – National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC),  Potters Bar, Herts.

      2014 – 22 – Corporate Affairs Manager (incl. secondment as lead H&S Advisor – 2019/20) –  NIBSC / MHRA

       

       

    • Current Job:

      Principal Policy Specialist, Business Management  –  Partnerships Group MHRA London

    • Employer:

      Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), London

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Mindful scientific trouble-shooter

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        I wanted to work with DNA or be an author

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        Dreaming / looking out of the window

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        Psychologist

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Bob Dylan

        What's your favourite food?

        Fresh tuna

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        I wish I had lovely hair, had a garden of my own and the energy to make it beautiful

        Tell us a joke.

        What type of books do owls like to read? Hooo-dunnits!

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