Wright Receives Retinal Research Foundation Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 6, 2014) -  Charles Wright, postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, has received The Loris and David Rich Postdoctoral Scholar Award from the International Retina Research Foundation (IRRF).

The Loris and David Rich Postdoctoral Scholar Award is one of three IRRF Scholar Awards that have been designated in honor of individuals who played a critical role in the development of the International Retinal Research Foundation and are meant to serve as a memorial to their efforts. Additionally, the awards were established to provide salary and research support in the amount of $35,000 per year for a postdoctoral scholar nearing the end of his/her training. 

Wright studies age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the laboratories of Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati and Dr. Bradley Gelfand. Under the direction of both Ambati and Gelfand, Wright will study how aberrant blood vessels invade the eye during neovascular (or “wet”) AMD. It is not currently understood how the more common non-neovascular (or “dry”) AMD progresses to the more devastating neovascular AMD, but Wright hopes this award will help in the investigation of that process.

The mission of the Retina Research Foundation is to reduce retinal blindness worldwide by funding programs in research and education.  As a public charity, RRF raises funds from the private sector and the investment of its endowment funds.

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at 859-323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu