Dr. Ishmail Abdus-Saboor has received the NIH Director's Pioneer Award, part of the NIH's High-Risk, High-Reward Research program. This award supports "scientists with outstanding records of creativity pursuing new research directions to develop pioneering approaches to major challenges in biomedical, social science, and behavioral research." Dr. Abdus-Saboor will use his $5.75 million Pioneer Award to explore the role the sense of touch plays in helping maintain harmonious relationships.
Dr. Abdus-Saboor's lab explores the brain circuitry that helps the East African naked-mole rat maintain long-term relationships. These rodents are blind and live underground in complete darkness, maintaining closely knit societies over decades, reminiscent of closely knit human societies. In naked-mole rat societies, touch seems to play a significant role in maintaining social bonds.
Read more about Dr. Abdus-Saboor's work here.
