Professor Dr. Blair Leavitt

Biography

Blair Leavitt is a Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia and a Senior Scientist at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics. He leads a research laboratory that focuses on developing new treatments for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, with a strong emphasis on Huntington's Disease and related conditions. His lab utilizes transgenic mouse models to replicate human disease features, enabling the testing of novel therapeutic strategies in preclinical settings. Dr. Leavitt’s work is critical in advancing the understanding of genetic neurodevelopmental disorders and has implications for a broader range of neurological conditions. He has been recognized for his contributions to the field, receiving awards like the Young Investigator Award from the Brain Research Centre and the Michael Smith Foundation Health Research Career Investigator Award. Alongside his research, he contributes to clinical practice through ongoing clinical research programs focusing on hereditary movement disorders. He is actively involved in clinical trials for new therapeutics targeting Huntington’s disease and efforts to investigate the role of huntingtin in neurodevelopmental processes.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards