Episode 70: Anitra Carr

Anitra Carr, PhD is an Associate Professor and Director of the Nutrition in Medicine Research Group in the Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science at the University of Otago Christchurch Medical School, New Zealand. Anitra will describe the vitamin-like activity of vitamin C - many of which are newly discovered. Anitra is a wonderful guide in this topic and a good friend and colleague.

Associate Professor Anitra Carr is Director of the Nutrition in Medicine Research Group in the Department of Pathology & Biomedical Science, at the University of Otago Christchurch Medical School, New Zealand. Dr Carr is considered an international key opinion leader on the role of vitamin C in human health and disease. Following a PhD at the University of Otago, Christchurch, Dr Carr was awarded an American Heart Association Post-doctoral Fellowship to carry out research into vitamin C and cardiovascular disease at the Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, USA. Whilst there she produced a number of high impact publications, one of which was used by the US Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine as a basis for their increase of the recommended dietary intake for vitamin C. After returning to the University of Otago, Christchurch, Dr Carr managed human intervention studies investigating the bioavailability and health effects of vitamin C and was awarded a Health Research Council of New Zealand Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship to investigate the role of vitamin C in severe infection, specifically pneumonia and sepsis. She is currently carrying out translational ‘bench to bedside’ research into the role of vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic diseases such as infection, cancer and diabetes.