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Teaching Fellow

BSc(Hons)(Cant), PhD(Otago)Professor Anitra Carr

Email anitra.carr@otago.ac.nz

Biography

Anitra obtained her PhD from the University of Otago, Christchurch (UOC), followed by an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship at Oregon State University, USA, culminating in promotion to Assistant Professor. After returning to the University of Otago, Christchurch, Anitra was awarded a four-year Health Research Council Fellowship (2016) to undertake research into the role of vitamin C in severe infection. She subsequently established the Nutrition in Medicine Research Group and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and Research Professor in 2024.

Research interests

Renowned for her expertise around the roles of vitamin C in human health and disease, Anitra’s translational research has spanned the impact and mechanisms of action of oral and intravenous vitamin C within diverse health conditions such as infection/sepsis, obesity/diabetes, cancer, and subjective mood. Working closely with healthcare professionals, Anitra has conducted a variety of studies, including observational, pharmacokinetic, and randomised controlled trials. She has produced high impact publications that have informed international guidelines around recommended dietary intakes for vitamin C.

Teaching experience

Anitra has experience in postgraduate course development, convening and lecturing, having established the online Nursing Science Pre-Course and NURS443 paper within the Master of Nursing Science (MNSc) programme (2015-2018). Passionate about knowledge dissemination, Anitra has established an online Continuing Medical Education course for healthcare professionals. She has recently taken up a new postgraduate education role at UOC, establishing online courses for the continuing education of healthcare professionals.

Awards and distinctions

  • 2024: Ranked #1 vitamin C scholar worldwide (ScholarGPS, >50,450 scholars); ‘Vitamin C and Immune Function’ paper ranked #1 most cited vitamin C paper worldwide (past 5 years)
  • 2021: Gold Medal for Sustained Research Excellence (University of Otago, Christchurch)
  • 2018: PBRF Quality Category ‘A’ (Performance Based Research Fund, New Zealand)
  • 2015: Early Career Award for Distinction in Research (University of Otago, Dunedin)

Publications

Al-Busaidi, I. S., Carr, A. C., Harris, C., Mangin, D., & Hudson, B. (2026). Mapping the service models and outcomes from general practitioners with special interests/extended roles in Aotearoa New Zealand: A scoping review. Journal of Primary Health Care. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1071/HC25174 Journal - Research Other

Wilson, R. B., Liang, Y., Kaushal, D., & Carr, A. (2026). Relationship between hypovitaminosis C, obesity, and features of metabolic syndrome: A narrative review. Nutrition Reviews. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaf230 Journal - Research Article

Carr, A. C. (2025). Intravenous vitamin C as a primary cause of renal failure is not supported by the evidence base. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 138(1627), 141-143. doi: 10.26635/6965.7264 Journal - Research Other

Crequer, N., McCall, C., Swanson, A., Vlasiuk, E., Chambers, S. T., & Carr, A. C. (2025). Clustering of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalised adults in the Christchurch Region: association with socio-economic deprivation. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 138(1617), 85-99. doi: 10.26635/6965.6905 Journal - Research Article

Carr, A. C., Frampton, C., & Lunt, H. (2025). Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased vitamin C requirements in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Nutrition Research, 141(3), 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2025.07.003 Journal - Research Article

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