It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of Karen Lillycrop, Professor of Epigenetics within the School of Biological Sciences. Karen was a chemist and biochemist by training, receiving her BSc from Imperial College London in 1984, before moving to the University of Leicester to undertake her PhD in the group of Professor Brammar studying “Tissue-specific Regulation of Mouse Renin Gene Expression.”
Following her PhD, Karen moved to University College London in 1987 to pursue a post-doctoral fellowship investigating the regulation of gene expression. In 1995 she joined the School of Biological Sciences as a Lecturer, before being promoted to Professor of Epigenetics in 2014. During this time Karen established an international reputation and she was a highly sought after collaborator for research groups ranging from The Gambia to India and North America.
Karen provided the first experimental evidence linking variations in the protein content of the mother’s diet during pregnancy with lasting changes in DNA methylation in the offspring, providing compelling evidence that such epigenetic changes resulted in lifelong alterations in cardiovascular and metabolic control. Much cited papers and beautifully delivered plenary lectures won over a field that was highly sceptical at the time. For her research in this area she was awarded the Rank Research Prize (2006), the Nick Hales Prize (2007) and the Boyd Orr Medal (2018).
In the latter part of her all too short but brilliant career, Karen unravelled how epigenetic processes contributed to muscle ageing in older people. This has provided the foundation for new treatments to support healthy ageing through better functioning of the mitochondria generating energy in our muscles. Reflecting Karen’s expertise in the field, she was an editor for Epigenetics in Obesity and Diabetes, and Associate Editor for Frontiers in Epigenomics and the Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease.
Karen was an inspiration to junior and senior colleagues alike. Her excitement and visionary thinking motivated many students to embark on a research career in the field of epigenetics. As a lecturer she will be fondly remembered by generations of undergraduates whose knowledge and passion for the field was stimulated by Karen’s wonderful lectures.
Within the School of Biological Sciences, Karen played an important role in developing the educational and research programmes. Despite these valuable contributions to the School, Karen worked with many researchers across the University, and her passion for research and the support that she offered to those around her will be missed by many.
A service of remembrance will be held at Chichester Crematorium Wednesday 25 September from 14:30 to 15:30.