Virtual News Conference to Announce Discovery of Previously Unknown Form of DNA that Could Have Profound Impact on Medical Research

WHAT: Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, internationally renowned ophthalmology researcher and professor and vice chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Kentucky, will discuss and answer questions online regarding his laboratory’s discovery and study of a previously unknown form of DNA that is outside the human genome and that could have a profound impact on biology and medicine and in study of macular degeneration. WHEN: The virtual news conference will begin live streaming at 2:30 p.m. EDT, Monday, Oct. 6, 2014, via UKNow at http://uknow.uky.edu/. Dr. Ambati will give an overview of his research and will be available for questions. To ask questions during the live stream, tweet @uknewsroom or www.twitter.com/uknewsroom or to ask questions in advance, email [email protected] with subject line: Ambati question. Archived video of the news conference and still photos will be available on the site later the same day. MORE: Dr. Ambati’s groundbreaking research is on the mechanisms that control cell death and vascular growth have led to fundamental insights into both the “dry” and “wet” forms of macular degeneration. He has been honored with a 2014 NIH Director’s Pioneer Award for support of his research. In the 11-year history of this prestigious NIH award, this is the first time it has been awarded to an ophthalmologist, and also the first one awarded to an institution in Kentucky. At UK, Ambati holds the Dr. E. Vernon & Eloise C. Smith Endowed Chair in Macular Degeneration Research in the UK College of Medicine. More about the Ambati Laboratory at the University of Kentucky http://www.mc.uky.edu/angiogenesis/index.html.