Grace Wu named Biobehavioral Lab director

Ya-Ke “Grace” Wu, PhD, MSN, RN, has been appointed director of the Biobehavioral Lab (BBL) at the UNC School of Nursing, effective June 1, 2026.

Wu is an assistant professor in the School of Nursing and an adjunct assistant professor in the UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders, Department of Psychiatry. Her research spans obesity, disordered eating behaviors, cardiovascular disease and mental health across diverse populations, with an emphasis on bio-psycho-social factors and advanced biomarker assessment.

Wu earned her PhD from the UNC School of Nursing in 2018, with training in biobehavioral science and molecular biology at the BBL. She completed a T32 postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Nursing Research, where she received advanced training in genetic and genomic sciences. During that period, she also trained in eating disorders and psychiatric genetics at the UNC Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders and in intervention development through the UNC School of Nursing.

Her expertise includes non-invasive physiological measurement and portable, field-based data collection methods. With more than 12 years of experience as a registered nurse, she brings a clinical perspective to translating research findings into practical strategies for improving health and well-being.

As director, Wu will draw on her experience as a longtime user of BBL facilities to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, support research development and create opportunities for faculty and student engagement.

The School of Nursing also recognizes Bharathi Zvara, PhD, MS, who served as interim director of the BBL since July 2025. During her tenure, Zvara led efforts to acquire new equipment that expanded the lab’s capacity for biologics measurement. The Lab and School have benefited greatly from her dedication and leadership over the last year.