Barbara Carlson

Dr. Carlson is a biobehavioral scientist with a research program that examines mechanisms that link innate immunity, endothelial function, and cerebral blood flow to sleep and cognitive performance in older adults. Multiple sources, including NINR, NCI, NSF, Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services, COVID relief funds, Reynolds Center for Geriatric Nursing Science, Presbyterian Health Foundation, and private industry, have funded this 30+ year career. She has served on review panels for NIH and PCORI and was the first nurse to serve on the Research Committee of the American Geriatric Society. She is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and the only nurse recipient of the organization’s Clinical Research Award Research in Gerontology.

Administratively, Dr. Carlson has been the Director of the Biobehavioral Laboratory at UNC Chapel, a faculty liaison and industry sponsor reviewer for the NCTraCs Institute, and the Associate Dean of Research at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She served 5 years on the Board of the Hartford Center for Geriatric Nursing and was a Fellow and Senior Scientist for the UNC Center on Aging. She serves on the editorial boards of two scientific journals: Biological Research for Nurses and Research in Gerontological Nursing.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biological and Functional Markers of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ph.D. in Nursing (Minor: Neuropsychology and Biomedical Instrumentation), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
MSN in Nursing (Minor: Nursing Education), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
BSN in Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Specialization in Teaching

Pathophysiology-Pharmacology
Geriatrics
Brain-Mind science
Research Methods
Research Practicums
Grant-Writing
Writing for Publication
Theory

Research Interests

GeroScience
Gerontology
Cerebrovascular Aging
Neurocognitive decline
Cognitive and Functional Decline
Sleep Medicine
Instrumentation and waveform processing
Behavioral Observation and Coding using Observer XT
Genetics and Precision Medicine
Innate immunity, endothelial dysfunction, autonomic nervous system dysfunction
Biobehavioral Methodologies: actigraphy, robotics, remote monitoring, heart rate variability, pulse wave conduction, PET, Brachial Radial Index, Pulse contour analysis, Pulse transit time, Multimodal Brain Imaging (Functional MRI, DTI, PET, Electroencephalography, Near-infrared spectroscopy), polysomnography, spectral analysis, facial action coding, standard neurological and neurocognitive assessments, brain default networks, wet-laboratory methods including cell activation and genomics.

Professional Service

1. Invited mentor, International Academy of Nurse Editors, 2019-present
2. Invited merit reviewer, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, 2017-2024
3. American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Intersociety Collaborations Presidential Committee Appointment, 2019-2020
4. Nursing Research Review Committee, American Nurses Foundation, 2 terms, 2015-2019
5. American Geriatrics Society, Research Committee-Society Level, 2014-2019
6. External Advisory Board Member and Pilot Study Consultant) “P20 Self-Management Science Center, P20NR015339” College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee”. National Institute of Nursing Research, NIH. 2014-2019
7. Board Member, National Hartford Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence. 2013-2018
8. Reviewer, Alzheimer’s Association New Investigator Research Program, 2012-2018
9. Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Leadership Committees: Chair Membership Committee, 2015-2018, Information Technology Committee, 2012-2015, Board Member/Health Science Section Representative, 2010-2012
10. Invited Reviewer, NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, NIGMS-NIH, 2009-2010
11. Gerontological Society of America, Health Science Section, Awards Review Panel, 2023-2025, Fellowship Committee, 2014-2018, Membership Committee, 2013-2014, Executive Committee, 2010-2013
12. North Carolina Nurses Association, Awards Committee, 2010-2012
13. North Carolina Nurses Association, Research Committee, 2004-2012
14. Southern Nursing Research Society, Chair Biobehavioral Interest Group, 2009-2012
15. International Advisory Board, Japan Journal of Nursing Science, 5th term, 2009-present
16. Editorial Board: Biological Research for Nursing 2007-2025, Research in Gerontological Nursing 2013-2028
16. Reviewer: Nursing Research, Western Journal of Nursing Research, the Gerontologist, Journal of Gerontology, Journal of the American Geriatric Society, Physiological Measurement, NeuroImage, GeroScience, Heart and Lung-the Journal of Critical Care, Physics in Medicine and Biology, Physiological Measurement.

Honors & Awards

1. Fran and Earl Ziegler Endowed Chair in Nursing Science, 2021-2022
2. Presidential Select Panel for Interdisciplinary Research, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2020
3. Invited Guest Speaker, Scientific Meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 2018
4. Robert and Doris Klabzuba Endowed Professorship in Nursing Science, 2016-2021
5. Excellence in Scholarship Award, The University of Oklahoma College of Nursing, 2015
6. Inducted Fellow, UNC-CH Institute on Aging, 2013
7. Presentation of Distinction, US Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, 2012
8. Fellow, The Gerontological Society of America, 2011-present
9. D. Jean Wood Scholarship Award for Excellence in Nursing Research, Southern Nursing Research Society, 2011
10. Mary Martha and Ed Stinnet Visiting Scholar, University of Texas at Houston, 2010
11. Excellence in Geriatric Nursing Research Mid-Career Award, The Hartford, and Southern Nursing Research Society, 2010
12. The Laurel Archer Copp Literary Achievement Award, UNC-CH, 2008
13. Gordon H. DeFriese Junior Faculty Career Development Award, Institute on Aging, UNC-CH, 2004
14. Faculty Delegate, International Doctoral Symposia, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, 2002
15. Clinical Medicine Research Award, The Gerontological Society of America, 1999
16. Postdoctoral Trainee Travel Award, National Institutes of Health-Federal Drug Administration, 1999
17. Postdoctoral Fellowship (T32NR07091), National Institute of Nursing Research, 1998-2000
18. James Speight Scholarship, UNC-CH, 1997
19. Gordon H. DeFriese Predoctoral Scholarship, Institute on Aging, UNC-CH, 1996
20. National Research Service Award (NRSA NRO6821), NIH-NINR, 1992-1995
21. Keeper of the Lamp, University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, 1982
22. Marchitelli Scholar Award, University of Pittsburgh, 1981