Transmission of Endoscopic Procedures from the Medical Sciences Campus to Four Institutions Simultaneously
Construction Phase of the Molecular Science Building of the University of Puerto Rico Announced in a Special Ceremony
The University of Puerto Rico aims to construct a 152,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art research facility for the Molecular Sciences, which has strong potential for economic development opportunities in Puerto Rico. This building will provide the arena for cutting-edge research in the molecular and other related sciences, and will contribute to Puerto Rico’s development in Science and Technology, helping to make the Island a competitive player in the growing economy of knowledge.
The University or Puerto Rico has numerous resources at the Rio Piedras and Medical Sciences campuses that will optimize utilization of such a facility. These two campuses are positioned to make major contributions in molecular biology, neuroscience, proteomics, nanotechnology, and cancer research, areas of investigation with high potential for advances in health related research, health care and the economic well-being of Puerto Rico.
From left: Sidney A. McNairy, Director of the Division of Research Infrastructure, NCRR-NIH, Antonio Gracía-Padilla, President of the University of Puerto Rico, and Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, Director National Institutes of Health. Emma Fernandez-Repollet, Director of the RCMI Program at the Medical Sciences Campus and Sidney A. McNairy, Director of the Division of Research Infrastructure, NCRR-NIH
The building will be the first facility in Puerto Rico designed and constructed to support and promote advanced research in the molecular sciences. The schematic design phase has been already completed. Funding for this project includes two NIH-NCRR CO6 grants, the UPR Centennial Initiative and the Trust Fund for Science, Technology, and Research. A special ceremony was conducted on May 26, 2006 to announce the initiation of the construction phase. The ceremony was attended, among others, by Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director, National Institutes of Health; Anibal Acevedo Vilá. Governor of Puerto Rico; Dr. Sidney McNairy, Director, Division of Research Infrastructure, National Center for Research Resources; Antonio Garcia Padilla, President of the University of Puerto Rico, and Jorge Silva-Puras, Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce. Industry, government and academic sectors were also represented. Dr. Zerhouni congratulated Governor Acevedo-Vilá and President Garcia-Padilla on the seriousness of their efforts, while Dr. McNairy categorized the initiative as the most ambitious research project being developed in Puerto Rico.
