News 2000-2001
2000-2001
RCMI Program Celebrates Conclusion of 1996-2001 Grant Cycle
The RCMI Program at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus celebrated the conclusion of the grant's third five-year cycle on Friday, August 31, 2001 at the Zipperle Restaurant.
Glaxo Smithkline Researchers Explore Collaboration Opportunities With UPR Researchers
On Monday, August 27, 2001, four researchers from Glaxo SmithKline (GSK) in Collegeville, Pennsylvania met with a group of researchers from the University of Puerto Rico at the Resource Center for Science and Engineering, Río Piedras Campus, to explore the possibility of developing collaborative research alliances.
Society of Research Administrators (SRA) celebrates its Annual Meeting
The Puerto Rico Chapter of the Society of Research Administrators (SRA) held its fourth annual meeting on August 23-25, 2001 at the Normandie Hotel in San Juan Puerto Rico. This year the meeting focused on "A New Vision of the Higher Education in Puerto Rico".
Research And Development Forum: "Key for the Technological Transformation of Puerto Rico"
The College of Engineers and Land Surveyors of Puerto Rico sponsored a Research and Development Forum in which representatives from the government, academia and industry discussed their perspectives on the role that research and development should play in the economic development of Puerto Rico.
Dr. Marlene Haffner, Director, Office of Orphan Product Development, USFDA, Visits UPR Medical Sciences Campus
On August 9, 2001 the UPR Medical Sciences Campus received the visit of Dr. Marlene Haffner, Director of the Orphan Drug Program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Research in Malaria: Newspaper Article
Congratulations to Dr. Adelfa Serrano, Professor of the Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, for the article published in The San Juan Star related to her research on malaria.
Society of Research Administrators (SRA) Leadership Retreat
A leadership retreat, organized by the Society of Research Administrators (SRA), was held on August 4-7, 2001, in Winston-Salem North Carolina.
Undergraduate Summer Students Poster Presentation
The MBRS-RISE Program organized a Poster Presentation Session in which undergraduate summer students presented the results of their research experiences. The activity was held on August 3, 2001 in the Student Center of the Medical Sciences Campus.
Health Conditions of the Elderly in Puerto Rico
On August 2, 2001, Dr. Alberto Palloni from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Drs. Melba Sánchez-Ayéndez and Ana Luisa Dávila from the School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, presented the project "Health Conditions of the Elderly in Puerto Rico" to representatives of the academic, government and industry sectors.
Principal Investigators of the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Program met in San Juan Puerto Rico
The Principal Investigators of the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Program met in San Juan Puerto Rico July 12-14, 2001. Dr. Judy L. Vaitukaitis, Director of the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) and Dr. Sidney A. McNairy, Jr., Associate Director of the Infrastructure Area at NCRR, presented detailed reports on the initiatives available at NCRR to support biomedical research at RCMI Institutions.
RCMI Sponsors DNA Microarray Technology Seminar
The Coordinator of the RCMI Molecular Biology Facility and Director of the Biochemistry Department, Dr. José Rodríguez Medina, organized a two-day DNA Microarray Technology Seminar, taking place June 13-14, 2001.
AAAS Representatives Visit Medical Sciences Campus
During the week of May 14, the AAAS conducted its second panel review with the objective of evaluating the five thrust areas identified by Puerto Rico-EPSCoR and preparing a report with recommendations regarding future directions for competitive research in Puerto Rico.
Outstanding Graduate Students are Recognized by the Associate Deanship of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate Studies of the School of Medicine
On May 11, 2001, Dr. Walter Silva, Associate Dean of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate Studies of the School of Medicine recognized in a special ceremony the outstanding work and achievements of four of its graduate students.
MSC Graduate Student Wins First Prize at Education and Research Forum
Congratulations to graduate student Lilliam Cruz Orengo of the Department of Physiology for winning first prize at the XXII Education and Research Forum with her podium presentation, "Eph Receptors Protein Tyrosine Kinases (RPTK) as Putative Inhibitory Cues After Spinal Cord Injury."
Dr. María José Crespo is Designated Fellow
Dr. María José Crespo of the Pharmacology Department at the UPR Medical Sciences Campus was recently selected for the privileged position of Fellow of the Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences of the American Heart Association.
Caribbean Primate Research Center Obtains Two NIH Grants
Dr. Edmundo N. Kraiselburd, Professor and Director of the Unit of Comparative Medicine recently announced that the Caribbean Primate Research Center (CPRC) was awarded two grants from the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C.
Clark Atlanta University Hosts RCMI Research Symposium
The RCMI Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development at Clark Atlanta University hosted a symposium on Latest Advances in Cancer Research on April 26 and 27.
BD Pharmigen Sponsor Seminar at the Medical Sciences Campus
Representatives from BD Biosciences visited the UPR Medical Sciences Campus last April 19-20, 2001. During its visit, the company co-sponsored two activities with the RCMI Program.
Investigators from the Medical Sciences Campus received Scholarly Productivity Awards (SPA) at the 13th AAAS and Puerto Rico EPSCoR Annual Meeting
Dr. Glorissa Canino, Director of the Institute of Behavioral Sciences and Dr. José Rodríguez-Orengo from the Department of Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, were recognized by the Puerto Rico EPSCoR Committee for their outstanding contribution to the continued growth and development of new science and technology in Puerto Rico.
22nd Scientific Research Forum
The University of Puerto Rico's Medical Sciences Campus 22nd Annual Research Forum was held from April 18-20, 2001, with activities on campus and at the Intercontinental San Juan Hotel. The theme of this year's forum was "Health Reform, Education, and Long-distance Health Services: Development and Challenges for the Academic Health Centers of the New Decade."
CDC Inaugurates New Facility
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention inaugurated its new San Juan Laboratories on Wednesday, April 18, 2001.
Internet2 Day @ UPR
The University of Puerto Rico High Performance Computing facility will celebrate Internet2 day on April 20, 2001.
Dr. José R. Carlo Appointed Acting Chancellor of the UPR Medical Sciences Campus
Dr. José R. Carlo, Associate Director of the RCMI Clinical Research Center, was appointed acting Chancellor of the UPR Medical Sciences Campus on March 19, 2001
The National Library of Medicine's Toxicology and Environmental Health Databases
The National Library of Medicine and the Oak Ridge Institute for Sciences and Education (ORISE) had their training on how to search NLM's toxicology and environmental health databases on the Internet, how to find valuable information on contaminants in your community, and other environmental health information resources on the Internet on April 3-4, 2001.
Brain Awareness Week Begins at Plaza Las Américas
National Brain Awareness Week will be celebrated from March 12-18, 2001 at Plaza Las Américas with an exhibit organized by the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences and Río Piedras Campuses, along with the Sigma Xi Society of Neuroscience, the Medical Sciences Campus RCMI Program, and the COBRE Program.
Dr. Rodica Lenkei, from CALAB Research in Stockholm, Visits the RCMI Program at the UPR Medical Sciences Campus
Dr. Rodica Lenkei, Senior Investigator of the Flow Cytometry Laboratory at CALAB Research in Stockholm, Sweden visited the UPR Medical Sciences Campus during February 28-March 2
Dr. David Satcher Visits Puerto Rico for the Lydia J. Roberts Lecture
Dr. David Satcher, Assistant Secretary of Health and Surgeon General of the United States was the distinguished lecturer at the 36th Lydia Jane Roberts Conference held in San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 8, 2001.
New Center for Maternal Infant Studies(CEMI) Celebrates Open House
The new Center for Maternal-Infant Studies (CEMI by its Spanish acronym) inagurated its new facilities on March 7, 2001 with an Open House. The activity was attended by numerous faculty, students and visitors at the Medical Sciences Campus.
Genotyping of TNF Microsatellites in Patients with Crohn's Disease
A joint project has recently been initiated between the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and the Cedars Sinai Medical Center Division of Medical Genetics to analyze the haplotypes for Tumor Necrosis Factor microsattelites in patients with Crohn's Disease in Puerto Rico.
Web Based Structural Bioinformatic Modules: Applications for Teaching and Research
Dr. Robert Dottin, Professor of Biological Sciences and RCMI Program Director at Hunter College of the City University of New York, presented a seminar entitled "Web Based Structural Bioinformatic Modules: Applications for Teaching and Research", at the Medical Sciences Campus on February 26, 2001. Dr. Dottin presented the seminar with the assistance of Mekbib Gemeda and Dina Demner-Fushman, also from Hunter College.
RCMI Program Sponsors GCG Workshop at the High Performance Computing Facility
The RCMI Research Informatics Unit and the High Performance Computing facility (HPCf) of the University of Puerto Rico co-sponsored a workshop on the use of the GCG software (Wisconsin package).
RCMI External Advisory Committee Conducts Annual Meeting in 2001
The External Advisory Committee of the RCMI Program conducted their annual meeting at the Medical Sciences Campus last February 8-9, 2001. Committee members met with RCMI Activity Coordinators to discuss issues related to the progress of their projects.
COBRE External Advisory Committee Visits University of Puerto Rico
The External Advisory Committee of the Center for Molecular, Developmental and Behavioral Neuroscience of the University of Puerto Rico, a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) funded by NIH/NCRR, made its first visit to the University on January 27-30, 2001.
University of Puerto Rico Presents Internet2 Project
On January 30, 2001, Dr. Norman Maldonado, President of the University of Puerto Rico, presented a project that will allow the institution to participate in the Internet 2. This initiative presents the first comprehensive plan for a high speed research network link between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Mainland.
RO1 Awarded to Dr. Margarita Alegría and Collaborators
An RO1 grant was awarded to Principal Investigator, Dr. Margarita Alegría, to perform the Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) which will provide national information on the similarities and differences in mental illness and service use of Latinos and Asian Americans, as compared to non-Latino whites and African Americans.
HIV DART 2000 Conference to be held in Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico will host the HIV DART 2000 conference on December 17-21, 2000. The focus of HIV DART 2000 is to assemble clinicians, researchers and basic scientists together to advance our knowledge of the ongoing drug development processes in antiretroviral research.
Clinical Research Infrastructure Initiative (CRII) Awarded Competitive Renewal
The RCMI-CRII competitive renewal application was approved for four additional years by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), NIH.
UPR Medical Sciences Campus' Center of Excellence in Women's Health Obtains Funds
The designation of the Women's and Health Center of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus as a Center of Excellence in Women's Health was extended for an additional funding year.
RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities
The 7th RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities was celebrated in San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 12-15, 2000.
9th Annual Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference
The 9th Annual Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference will be held at the University of Puerto Rico, New Natural Sciences Building Río Piedras Campus on December 1-2, 2000.
Center of Administrative Resources for Scientific Research (CARSR) Relocates in New Facilities
The CARSR relocated its facilities on the 7th Floor of the Main Building of the UPR Medical Sciences Campus, Office 708-A
Diabetes-Related Epidemiological Study to be conducted by the School of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC)
Dr. Rosa M. Pérez, Professor of the School of Public Health, received funding form the CDC to conduct an epidemiological study in the area of diabetes.
Puerto Rico Legislature Approves Diabetes Center for Research, Education and Medical Services
Law 166, creating the Diabetes Center for Research, Education and Medical Services, was approved by the Government of Puerto Rico on August 12, 2000.
RISE awarded to the UPR-Medical Sciences Campus
The University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus was awarded an MBRS-RISE Program. The MSC-RISE Program was funded for four years beginning September 1, 2000.
UPR Awarded a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) by NCRR
The UPR was one of nineteen institutions which received a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) award by the National Center for Research Resources at NIH.
MSC's Compliance Officer Achieves Professional Certification
Dr. Eddie González, Compliance Officer of the Medical Sciences Campus, was certified as IRB manager by the National Association of IRB Managers
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH UPDATE
Northwestern University's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs has made a number of NIH grant application forms available to the general public through their website. NIH will be requiring evidence of education in the protection of human subjects for the key personnel of any proposal which utilizes human beings in its research.
UPR-Medical Sciences Campus Receives SCORE Award
The MBRS SCORE Program for the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus was funded for four years beginning August 1, 2000.
