Brittany Carr

Brittany Carr is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences within the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Calgary and leads a research laboratory focused on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of inherited and age-related blindness, primarily using genetically modified Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog) as a model organism. Her lab is located in the Katz Building (7-030) and is actively engaged in cutting-edge research in retinal development and degeneration.

Her primary research interests include:

• Inherited retinal degenerations and age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
• Metabolism of retinal waste products and identification of early disease biomarkers
• Photoreceptor outer segment morphogenesis and its role in disease
• The retinal circuitry involved in emmetropization and myopia (nearsightedness)
• Drug development for the therapeutic inhibition of myopia

Dr. Carr employs a multidisciplinary approach in her research, with core methodologies spanning genetic modification (CRISPR-Cas9 and transgenesis), advanced imaging (confocal fluorescence microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, optical coherence tomography, and color fundus photography), and molecular biology (PCR, Western blotting, cloning). Her recent publications, including a 2024 journal cover feature in the Journal of Cell Science, demonstrate a consistent focus on gene function in retinal structure and disease, particularly the role of genes like prominin-1 in photoreceptor development and degeneration. Her work has significant implications for identifying novel therapeutic targets for blindness.

Her scientific achievements have been recognized through competitive funding, including a BrightFocus Macular Degeneration Research grant. She is also an active member of the vision science community, participating in national and international conferences and engaging in science communication.

Dr. Carr mentors the next generation of scientists, currently supervising graduate students Mahnoor Shoukat and Isaac Cantine, and a lab technician, Susanne Lingrell. Her lab is part of a larger research ecosystem at the University of Alberta dedicated to advancing knowledge in vision science and developing treatments for blinding diseases. She is also involved in educational initiatives, including contributing to the online textbook Webvision.