Friday Frontiers in Biomedical Science: Ophthalmology

Friday Frontiers in Biomedical Science is a series designed to engage researchers and clinicians at all stages of career development. The upcoming seminar features research from the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, and highlights the work of professor of Ophthalmology and Physiology, Brian McKay, PhD, and postdoctoral research associate I, Induvahi Veernala, PhD. The two speakers will share a 20-minute overview of their work, with an opportunity for audience engagement.

Light refreshments will be provided for in-person guests.

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Brian S. McKay, PhD
Professor, Ophthalmology and Vision Science; Professor, Physiology
University of Arizona Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science

Title: Nature’s experiment and vision loss

Dr. McKay is a professor of ophthalmology, vision science and physiology. His research interests revolve around age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, and focus on the area of the retina called the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which maintains light-capturing cells called photoreceptors. The McKay Lab was one of the first to investigate these minuscule molecules in the eye, which have been a research focus for nearly two decades. Exosomes are thought to help cells communicate with one another, and tracking their numbers over time might give doctors a glimpse at a patient’s vision health. AMD is the leading cause of blindness and Dr. McKay discovered the pathway, the drug to activate the cells and developed the human clinical studies that show how to stop the AMD epidemic which affects 30-35% of individuals over 75 years old.

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Induvahi Veernala, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate I
University of Arizona Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science

Title: Role of g protein-coupled receptor 143 in pigmentation and vision

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To request any disability-related accommodations for this event please contact the event coordinator at least three business days prior to the event.