A New York Times article* titled "9 Federally Funded Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed Everything" recently featured a project of Cynthia Kuhn, a professor of pharmacology and cancer biology. Along with the late Dr. Saul Schanberg, who was her thesis mentor and a professor in the department of pharmacology and cancer biology, their research found that tactile stimulation, such as a rat licking her pup's back, encouraged growth and development. This finding has been applied to how human babies, and especially premature infants, are treated in their early days, which has resulted in many benefits including shorter hospitalizations. In 2014, their research received the Golden Goose Award, which recognizes scientists and their federally-funded projects that have had significant societal impacts.
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