Columbia University Professor Nabila El-Bassel Receives Research Award From the National Institutes of Health

Nabila El-Bassel, a University Professor at Columbia University, has received the Director’s Award for Excellence in Research from the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative at the National Institutes of Health. She was honored for her contributions to harm reduction and addiction treatment research within marginalized communities.

Dr. El-Bassel came to Columbia University nearly four decades ago as a research associate. Currently, she serves the university’s School of Social Work as the Willma and Albert Musher Professor of Social Work. She holds multiple leadership positions within the university including director of the Social Intervention Group and director of the Global Health Research Center of Central Asia.

Throughout her career, Dr. El-Bassel has dedicated her studies to HIV behavioral prevention science and the intersection of HIV, gender-based violence, and substance use. Outside of her appointments with Columbia, her research has led to visiting faculty positions at Harvard University School of Medicine and the University of Malaya Medical Centre in Malaysia as well as a fellowship at the New York Academy of Medicine.

“I’m honored to accept the NIH HEAL Initiative Director’s Research Award,” said Dr. El-Bassel. “I knew early in my research career that I wanted to direct my studies toward addressing society’s most pressing social and health problems.”

Dr. El-Bassel received her bachelor of social work degree from Tel Aviv University in Israel. She holds a master of social work degree from the Hebrew University School of Social Work in Israel, and a joint Ph.D. and doctor of social work degree from Columbia University.