UVA School of Medicine Faculty News Weekly Round-Up
April 21
• Focused Ultrasound Named One of 2016’s Top Clinical Research Achievements
The University of Virginia’s pioneering use of focused sound waves to treat essential tremor – the most common movement disorder – has been named as one of the top 10 clinical research achievements of 2016.
The Clinical Research Forum presented the award to University of Virginia neurosurgeon Jeff Elias and University of Maryland neurologist Paul Fishman Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington.
Elias led the research into the use of focused ultrasound as a scalpel-free alternative to traditional brain surgery for essential tremor, a condition that often leaves patients unable to write legibly or eat without spilling. His years of work were rewarded last July when the federal Food and Drug Administration approved the approach to treat the condition.
The results of an international clinical trial conducted by Elias and his team were reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in August.
Jeff Elias, MD, is a professor in the UVA School of Medicine’s Department of Neurological Surgery.
• VA researchers study effects of low-nicotine cigarettes and exercise
The University of Virginia is conducting a research study to determine if exercise and reduced-nicotine cigarettes can ease the withdrawal symptoms associated with reducing nicotine dependence.
The researchers will provide regular cigarettes to one group of study participants and reduced-nicotine cigarettes to two other groups. Of those two groups, one will exercise and one will not.
“We hope to see that exercise helps the users of low-nicotine cigarettes to reduce their withdrawal symptoms,” explained Aaron Yao, PhD, assistant professor in the UVA School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences. Yao is leading the study with Steven Malin, PhD, assistant professor of kinesiology in the UVA Curry School of Education.
CBS 19 Newsplex featured the study this week.
—
Did we miss something? If you have UVA School of Medicine faculty news to share, please email christa@virginia.edu.
Filed Under: News
Comments