Terry and Shelley Barr Research Professorship

Terry and Shelley Barr shared a deep connection to the University of Michigan and a commitment to advancing medical research. Both U-M alumni, Shelley earned a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene in 1958. Terry played for the U-M football team, receiving the Michigan Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor, before completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957. He was then drafted by the Detroit Lions, where he played for nine seasons and was best known as a wide receiver. Married for 51 years, they raised three sons and remained devoted to their family, friends, and Michigan community. After Terry’s passing in 2009, Shelley has continued to honor their shared legacy through generous support of Michigan Medicine, including neurology, concussion and Alzheimer’s-related research, cardiovascular care, and dentistry at U-M. Their philanthropy reflects a deep belief in the power of research and discovery to improve lives.

Yunlu Zhu, Ph.D., graduated from the University of Virginia, where his research focused on neurodevelopment, glia, and neuroimmunology. He then completed postdoctoral training in systems neuroscience with David Schoppik, Ph.D., at the NYU School of Medicine, studying navigation and postural control using zebrafish. Zhu’s research establishes zebrafish as a model system for understanding how the brain transforms gravity signals into stable movement, and how disruptions in these circuits lead to balance deficits. Zhu has received multiple honors for his work, including the Christine Beattie Award from the International Zebrafish Society, the Leon Levy Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuroscience, and the Rainwater Tau Leadership Award. He is committed to mentorship and to building a research environment that values curiosity, dialogue, and rigor.