Yang Yu Receives AWHONN Novice Researcher Award

Yang Yu, PhD, MPH, an assistant professor at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, has been selected to receive the Every Woman, Every Baby Novice Researcher Award from the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).

The AWHONN Every Woman, Every Baby Novice Research Award is intended to assist new researchers in beginning areas of study, investigating clinical issues, or launching a pilot study. The award will provide Yu with a $10,000 grant for her research proposal, “Pre-Pregnancy Weight Loss: Associations with Obstetric, Birth, and Long-Term Offspring Outcomes.”

Pre-pregnancy obesity is a growing public concern in the United States. While national guidelines advise women with obesity to lose weight prior to pregnancy, the short- and long-term benefits and risks of that weight loss remains unclear. Yu’s study aims to address this knowledge gap.

“Results of this study have the potential to add evidence for national guidelines that advocate pre-pregnancy weight loss as a prevention strategy, support future research and clinical practices targeting safe and effective weight management before pregnancy, and ultimately improve the health of countless women and their children,” she said.

Yu obtained her PhD and MPH from the University of Pittsburgh. She joined the UR School of Nursing as a post-doctoral fellow in 2019, and joined the tenure-track faculty in 2021.