Dr. Sidney McNairy, Director Division of Research Infrastructure, Keynote Speaker at the Annual Forum of Research and Education

The program of the XXIV Annual Forum of Research and Education, organized by the Deanship of Academic Affairs, included a plenary session presentation by Dr. Sidney McNairy, Director of the Division of Research Infrastructure at NCRR, NIH. The Forum was held at the UPR Medical Sciences Campus on March 31-April 2, 2004. The participants were greeted by Dr. José R Carlo, Chancellor, Esq. Antonio García Padilla, President of the University of Puerto Rico and Dr. Delia Camacho, Dean of Academic Affairs. The Forum was dedicated to Dr. Julio I. Colón Pérez, Professor of the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine. This year's Forum focused on "Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Research and Education for the Promotion and Maintenance of Health".

Dr. Sidney McNairy was introduced by Dr. Emma Fernández-Repollet, Interim Vice President for Research and Technology and Director of the RCMI Program at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. Dr. McNairy provided an excellent overview of the initiatives currently being supported by the Division of Research Resources, focusing on those addressing Health Disparities as well as the Challenges and Opportunities associated with this endeavor. His presentation was received with great interest and enthusiasm by faculty, graduate students and technical staff, as well as visitors and guests from other institutions who attended the Research Infrastructure Session.

Other activities associated with the Forum included poster and oral presentations, as well as the Bailey K. Ashford Memorial Lecture. The latter was presented by Dr. Peter E. Weller, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. His lecture entitled: "Lessons from the Turns and Dances of Filarie".

As in previous years, the participation of the RCMI Program was significant as evidenced by the number of abstracts submitted and presented by its investigators (Abstracts acknowledging RCMI support: 17/73, 24%). Congratulations to Dr. Ruben García-García, President of the Organizing Committee and the Committee members for an excellent program!

Emma Fernández-Repollet, Ph.D.
Director
RCMI Program

Emma Fernández-Repollet,Ph.D.

Program Director

RCMI Program

Room 621-A, 6th. floor

Main Building, Medical Sciences Campus

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San Juan, PR 00936-5067

Email: e.fernandez@upr.edu

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