Grace Wu receives funding for law enforcement health research

The UNC School of Nursing is pleased to announce that Assistant Professor Grace Wu, PhD, RN, has been awarded a one-year Tar Heel Bus Tour Grant from UNC Rural to advance her research project, The Carolina Blue Project.

The Carolina Blue Project focuses on investigating the impact of work-related stress on disinhibited eating and cardiovascular health among law enforcement officers in North Carolina. Recognizing the significance of her research, UNC Rural has provided funding to establish a new research site at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute in Kannapolis City.

This initiative aims to address a critical need for cardiovascular health screening among law enforcement officers, particularly those in rural areas where access to such services may be limited. Dr. Wu and her team have already made significant strides in providing health assessments to officers across North Carolina, but the grant will enable them to expand their reach to Rowan County, NC, where the prevalence of heart disease is notably high.

Dr. Wu’s dedication to improving the health of law enforcement officers has garnered praise from officers themselves. One officer from Stokes County expressed gratitude for the unprecedented effort to provide health screenings in rural areas, while another from Wake County noted the eye-opening nature of their individual results, which inspired them to take proactive steps toward better health.

The Tar Heel Bus Tour Partnership Program seeks to foster collaborative research initiatives that address pressing issues affecting communities in North Carolina. Dr. Wu’s project exemplifies the program’s mission by bridging the gap between research and practice to benefit the health and well-being of law enforcement officers statewide.

To learn more about The Carolina Blue Project and Dr. Grace Wu’s research, please visit https://carolinablueproject.org/.

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