About
Due to COVID-19, the BBL will be operating on a modified schedule. The laboratory will be partially reopened beginning the week of June 1, and access to the facility will be limited to users with prior appointment to ensure proper distancing and prioritize safety. Please email sonbbl@unc.edu prior to visiting the lab.
The Biobehavioral Laboratory (BBL) was initiated in 1989 as part of the Office of Research Support and Consultation (RSC) at the UNC School of Nursing. The term biobehavioral refers to the interface of biological and psychosocial factors that underlie individual responses to acute and chronic illness. Since inception, the BBL has expanded in its mission to enhance knowledge and skills in biobehavioral science, physiological measurement and instrumentation.
What distinguishes the BBL from other clinical laboratories is its emphasis on non-invasive monitoring and the use of portable instrumentation. The laboratory houses a number of instruments for the monitoring of physiologic parameters such as electrical brain activity, cardiac output, oxygenation, body composition and heart rate responses.
The laboratory facility supports on-site sleep research and other measurements of interest to faculty and students. The BBL also has been expanded to include a nutritional research and behavioral observation suite. This suite houses an observational room equipped with 6 in-wall cameras and a monitoring room with video recording and editing software. For more information, see our research and equipment pages.
The BBL staff is committed to assisting and promoting faculty and graduate students’ efforts in the use of biobehavioral measures and physiological parameters in their research. The BBL is located on the ground floor of Carrington Hall, Rooms 10 and 03. Faculty and graduate students are encouraged to visit. For more information on how to request equipment or a research consultation with BBL faculty, feel free to call us at 919.966.7598 or email us at sonbbl@unc.edu.
TAKE A TOUR OF THE LAB
The mission of the BBL is to improve public health and research by providing services and training in quality non-invasive measures and data science to advance biobehavioral sciences across several domains, including exercise/physical activity, nutrition, metabolism, neuroscience, neonatology, respiratory and environmental health, vascular aging, biochemistry, genetics, and more. The BBL has a strong emphasis on non-invasive monitoring, simulation-based experiments, and biomarker discovery via molecular diagnostic tools.
Rose Mary Xavier, PhD, MS, RN, PMHNP-BC
Director, Biobehavioral Lab
rxavier@email.unc.edu
Mathew Steadman
Lab Manager, Biobehavioral Lab
msteadma@email.unc.edu
Chongben Zhang
Research Specialist, Biobehavioral Lab
zcb@email.unc.edu
Contact Us!
Email: sonbbl@unc.eduPhone: 919.966.7598
Our Address:
UNC Biobehavioral Lab
UNC School of Nursing
Carrington Hall, CB #7460
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460
Rooms: 03 & 10
For GPS users, Carrington Hall is located at 120 N. Medical Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.
The BBL has a designated parking space on Medical Drive for subjects to park in during lab visits. Call or email for reservations.