Description of the Activity

The purpose of this activity is to strengthen research in women's health at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus' National Center of Excellence in women's Health, by supporting two projects in the major causes of morbidity and mortality in women's health in Puerto Rico (Project I: A Multidimensional Empowerment Model for Women with Breast Cancer, PI: Carmen Zorrilla, MD; Project II: Menopause and Health in Hispanic Women in Puerto Rico, PI: Josefina Romaguera, MD); focusing on health disparities in women. The project facilitates and promotes the development of multi and interdisciplinary research to eliminate disparities in women's health focusing on Hispanic women. It facilitates and promotes collaboration and interaction among campus basic and clinical researchers across disciplines, particularly among young female investigators, researchers already conducting research projects in women's health and investigators participating in the projects under this component. The Core Component serves as a model for developing a strong research portfolio related to women's health and especially to the health disparities affecting women.

The specific aims of this activity are:

1. To support new initiatives in basic and clinical research in areas related to the major sources of health disparity among Hispanic women living in Puerto Rico.
   
2. To encourage and facilitate that new investigators incur in research areas pertinent to women's health.
   
3. To facilitate that young women investigators in our faculty compete more favorably for external research funds.
   
4. To promote interdisciplinary collaboration in the development of research projects in women's health.
   
5. To enhance interaction among investigators with ongoing research in women's health.
   

The offices of the Center of Excellence in Women's Health constitute the quarters for the Disparities in Women's Health Core Component. Offices are located on the second floor of the main Medical Sciences Campus building. Six computers linked to a laser printer networked with Campus computers and with connection to internet are available; these have Microsoft Office software and access to SYSTAT program for statistical analysis. The facilities house a library that doubles as a meeting room.