Joshua Barney
Josh joined the Health System in 2011 as a writer and editor. He previously worked at The Daily Progress newspaper in Charlottesville, Va., first as a reporter and then as an editor. He is a graduate of UVA. Josh primarily covers research and the School of Medicine.
Posts by Joshua Barney
Discovery May Explain a Great Mystery of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s
February 14, 2019The cells may die because of naturally occurring gene variation in our brain cells that were, until recently, assumed to be genetically identical.
Antidepressant Medication Could Stop Deadly Sepsis, Study Suggests
February 13, 2019An antidepressant used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder could save people from deadly sepsis, new research suggests.
Surprise Rheumatoid Arthritis Discovery Points to New Treatment
February 7, 2019The discovery, emerging from the School of Medicine’s new affiliation with Inova Health, may also lead to a simple blood test to detect people at elevated risk for rheumatoid arthritis.
Scientists Seeking to Regrow Kidneys Make Promising Discovery
February 6, 2019The finding could help doctors regenerate kidneys in adults and children alike.
NIH Salutes Brain Discovery in List of 2018’s Most Promising Medical Advances
January 21, 2019The discovery identifies an important role for the brain’s cleaning system in aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
Exercise Before Surgery Can Protect Muscles and Nerves, Study Shows
January 15, 2019UVA researchers are working to improve outcomes for people who suffer ischemia reperfusion injury, including surgery and trauma patients and soldiers injured on the battlefield.
FDA Approves Scalpel-Free Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease Tremor
January 3, 2019“We are very excited about this approval,” said UVA neurosurgeon Jeff Elias, who led the testing of the technology. “Now, patients with Parkinson’s disease will have more options if their symptoms become refractory to medication.”
Gene Discovery Reveals New Targets for Treating Atherosclerosis, Inflammation
December 20, 2018A group of genes that has been largely ignored by scientists could play critical roles in atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), inflammation and likely obesity and other metabolic diseases.
HPV Discovery Raises Hope for New Cervical Cancer Treatments
December 18, 2018HPV is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer and 95 percent of anal cancers. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease, infecting more than 79 million Americans.
UVA Makes Surprising Discovery About Neurons
November 26, 2018Meticulous new research from the School of Medicine has changed a well-accepted scientific belief about neurons, the vital nerve cells that allow us to experience the world and record those experiences as memories in our brains.