Sarah Harrop

Freelance science writer and editor

United Kingdom

I'm a freelance science writer and editor with two decades’ experience of communicating about science. My recent clients have included universities, publicly funded research organisations and biotech companies.

Before taking the plunge into freelancing, I worked in the University sector and - for nearly a decade - at the UK Medical Research Council (UKRI) where I edited the MRC's magazine, and contributed to its publications, podcast, blog and website. I've also worked in industry, within the drug information team at Thomson Reuters, and I've dabbled in travel writing, winning the Guardian Young Travel Writer of the Year award.

I have a BSc in biological sciences from Sheffield University and a journalism qualification from University of London Birkbeck College.

Here is a small selection of my work from over the years. Send me an email if you have a writing or editing project I can help with.

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Portfolio
Schmidt Science Fellows
09/24/2025
Life-Improving Drug Delivery and Missions to Mars

2021 Schmidt Science Fellow Vivian Feig aspires to make it easier for everyone to access cutting-edge medical technology that is seamlessly integrated into our lives. That includes people living in the most remote corners of the Earth, or maybe even on future space missions to Mars.

British Heart Foundation - Data Science Centre
09/20/2024
COVID vaccines safe for mums-to-be and prevent COVID dangers in pregnancy

COVID vaccines are safe for both pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy, two large studies of population-wide health data from England and Wales have shown. Vaccination reduces risk of premature birth, having a smaller-than-average baby and pregnancy-related health problems like high blood pressure.

Rhodes Scholar Magazine 2024
08/01/2024
Humans versus habitats

Wild animals need a lot of space, and we are taking that away from them. How do they navigate a world where human disturbances are everywhere and natural habitats are shrinking?

Taylor & Francis Newsroom
03/13/2023
Trust in Cancer Information Declined Among Black Americans During the Pandemic

Trust in information given out by the government on cancer fell sharply among the Black population during the COVID-19 pandemic, findings of a national US study have shown. Experts are warning the vital need to monitor if this mistrust has persisted beyond the pandemic and whether it could potentially cause an upsurge [...]

UCL Research Impact Hub
04/27/2022
Big data insights on heart disease help millions to live longer, healthier lives

Harnessing the unique power of large-scale patient data, Professor Harry Hemingway (UCL Institute of Health Informatics) has gained important new insights into some of the world's biggest causes of death worldwide: high blood pressure, coronary disease, atrial fibrillation and heart attack.

Medical Research Council - Network magazine
06/29/2017
Secrets of our first seven days

What exactly is gene editing? Why is it important in medical research? Last year, developmental biologist Dr Kathy Niakan got the first ever licence to carry out gene editing in very early human embryos using a new technique called CRISPR-Cas9. She explains all.

Medical Research Council Insight blog
03/30/2017
Working life: Surgeon and researcher Damian Mole

Damian Mole combines surgery with research. He has just been awarded a prestigious MRC Senior Clinical Fellowship to find out why people who’ve had acute pancreatitis have a shortened lifespan, even after they seem to have fully recovered. Here he tells us about the buzz of surgery, the importance of mentors and relaxing with his jazz band.

Nationalarchives
09/23/2015
Behind the picture: Sir John Sulston’s worm cell drawings

Sir John Sulston is best known for the leading role he played in the Human Genome Project. But earlier in his career, he studied the development of the nematode worm. Sarah Harrop tells the story behind a lab notebook entry which contributed to a Nobel Prize-winning breakthrough.