Neuroscientist Mohamed Kabbaj often uses novel approaches in the laboratory to better understand emotional behavior. His work is helping to explain, among other things, why some are more prone to stress than others. He has developed several theories that shed light on why otherwise similar people might have such differing emotional reactions to the same set of circumstances.

Kabbaj, an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, is one of six Florida State University faculty members chosen to receive a 2011 Developing Scholar Award. The recipients will be honored at the university’s Faculty Awards Ceremony April 19.

“This is a great award for our team of outstanding students, postdocs, laboratory assistants and undergraduate students,” Kabbaj said. “It's truly a reflection of their hard work, dedication and love for science.

"It's also a reminder to me of the great support I've always received at the College of Medicine. I'm grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with not only great scientists, but also with great people.”

 The award is based on an evaluation of Kabbaj’s scholarly activities while at FSU. He was nominated by peers and selected by the university Council on Research and Creativity. The award is intended to identify and recognize scholarly activity with the goal of stimulating additional development of quality programs at FSU.

Kabbaj, who joined the College of Medicine in 2002, already is exploring questions that could help explain various psychiatric disorders, including those behind depression and substance abuse.

Dr. Kabbaj is the recipient of three National Institutes of Health grants. He recently received a $1.8 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to research sex differences in anxiety. Kabbaj has found evidence that higher levels of testosterone could explain why men are less afflicted by anxiety than women.

Kabbaj, who teaches neuropharmacology, said the research could lead to drugs that reduce anxiety more effectively.