South Middlesex Times

A Rutgers University professor, Victoria Abraira, has been awarded a 2025 Sloan Research Fellowship for her work on the sense of touch. An assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Abraira is among 126 researchers from 51 institutions across the U.S. and Canada to receive this honor.

The Sloan Research Fellowship recognizes innovative individuals with potential for leadership in fields like chemistry, computer science, Earth system science, economics, mathematics, neuroscience, and physics. Abraira's research delves into how early-life touch experiences impact brain development for emotional and social growth.

Abraira challenges conventional views by showing that touch signals are processed in the spinal cord before reaching the brain. “This fellowship is particularly meaningful because it acknowledges our lab's innovative work in understanding one of our most overlooked but vital senses,” she said. Her lab investigates how simple skin sensations can transform into significant experiences such as hugs or holding hands.

Her findings have implications for conditions like autism and chronic pain where touch processing is altered. “Touch is the only sense that, if deprived in early childhood, can have devastating consequences for brain development,” Abraira noted. The fellowship will support developing tools to understand how infant touch affects brain circuits essential for normal development.

Abraira's interest in neuroscience stems from her fascination with sensory information processing by the brain. A first-generation college graduate and immigrant from Argentina, she emphasizes collaboration in scientific endeavors: “Growing up, I never imagined becoming a scientist – it seemed like an impossible dream,” she shared.

She takes pride in her team’s discovery that contradicts traditional teachings about touch signal pathways to the brain. “It's like discovering that what we thought was a simple relay station is actually a sophisticated computer,” she explained.

The Sloan Fellowship provides $75,000 over two years to support research flexibly. Each year over 1,000 researchers are nominated by peers; Abraira was nominated by Lori Covey of Rutgers' cell biology and neuroscience department.

Historically, many recipients have become leaders in their fields with some winning Nobel Prizes. Since 1955, 84 faculty members at Rutgers have received this fellowship including Abraira.