ABSTRACT
First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Journal of Cell Science, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Brittany Carr is first author on ‘ prominin-1-null Xenopus laevis develop subretinal drusenoid-like deposits, cone-rod dystrophy and RPE atrophy’, published in JCS. Brittany is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, where her lab investigates frog models of inherited and age-related blindness.
Brittany Carr
How would you explain the main findings of your paper in lay terms?
There are very few model organisms that help us study and understand inherited and age-related blindness, due to the cost and complexity of generating them. This paper is about a frog model of inherited blindness caused by variants in the PROM1 gene. This model also has hallmarks of dry retinal atrophy, which is the most common cause of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). There are no models that recapitulate dry AMD, so this is a significant and exciting advance.
Were there any specific challenges associated with this project? If so, how did you overcome them?
It takes a long time to generate and characterize a new animal model. Frogs are also more difficult to work with than more commonly used models like mice, due to the reduced availability of commercial research tools.
When doing the research, did you have a particular result or ‘eureka’ moment that has stuck with you?
The first time that I saw deposits of cellular debris in the retina of our frog disease model of AMD, I knew this model organism was special because this phenotype is very difficult to replicate in mammalian models. The existence of these deposits in frogs gave us a new animal model to investigate where these deposits might come from.
Why did you choose Journal of Cell Science for your paper?
Journal of Cell Science works hard to ensure that the review process is fair with a quick turnaround. Our institution has a Read & Publish agreement for Open Access, and I like that Journal of Cell Science plants a tree for every article published.
A frog retina with a prominin1-null mutation that results in dysmorphic outer segments and deposits of cellular debris. Magenta, wheat germ agglutinin (photoreceptor outer segments); green, calbindin (cone inner segments and bipolar cells); orange, vimentin (Müller glia cytoskeleton); blue, Hoechst 33342 (nuclei).
A frog retina with a prominin1-null mutation that results in dysmorphic outer segments and deposits of cellular debris. Magenta, wheat germ agglutinin (photoreceptor outer segments); green, calbindin (cone inner segments and bipolar cells); orange, vimentin (Müller glia cytoskeleton); blue, Hoechst 33342 (nuclei).
Have you had any significant mentors who have helped you beyond supervision in the lab? How was their guidance special?
I have had many mentors who helped me in my career. The best advice I could give an early-career scientist is to seek out mentors from all over the world. With Zoom and new hybrid tools it's much easier to get outside perspectives, and they are very important to develop a well-rounded approach to science.
What motivated you to pursue a career in science, and what have been the most interesting moments on the path that led you to where you are now?
The first time I did an immunofluorescence experiment and imaged my first retinal amacrine cell, I was hooked. I love the curiosity and the challenge of being a scientist.
What's next for you?
I have recently started my own lab (in 2022). I am recruiting students to work on this project and similar ones, and I'm working towards tenure!
Tell us something interesting about yourself that wouldn't be on your CV
I love wildlife photography.
Brittany Carr's contact details: Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 7-030 Katz Building, Edmonton, AB T6E 1R3, Canada.
E-mail: [email protected]
