Contact: Allison Elliott

Jayakrishna Ambati

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 27, 2005) -- National recognition and grants have been rolling in for Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, the University of Kentucky assistant professor of ophthalmology who developed the world’s first animal model of macular degeneration.

Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, the premier journal of ophthalmologic research, has appointed Ambati to its editorial board. His nomination was approved by a unanimous vote of the trustees of The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Editorial board members review, evaluate and make editorial decisions regarding scientific articles submitted to the journal. Ambati’s term on the editorial board began Jan. 1, 2005.

Recently, Ambati also received grants totaling $550,000 to support his work in macular degeneration. The first award comes from the Macula Vision Research Foundation for $240,000 over three years. Another award, from the International Retinal Research Foundation, totals $100,000. The final award, granted by the E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation for the Blind, will total $210,000 over three years.

For more information about research and ophthalmologic care, contact the UK Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.