Dr. Veronica Barcelona, Assistant Professor at Yale School of Nursing, was awarded a K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award, from the National Institute of Nursing Research. This competitive award provides salary support and funding for research activities for three years. Dr. Barcelona will study the associations between DNA methylation, obesity, and preterm birth on blood pressure in African American children. She will examine 100 children enrolled in an ongoing R01 study, with her mentor, YSN faculty Dr. Jacquelyn Taylor. Dr. Barcelona is a public health nurse with a PhD in reproductive epidemiology. Her research interests include health disparities in birth outcomes, epigenetics, and the intersection between reproductive outcomes and cardiovascular health.