Project Description

The long term goal of the Center for Molecular Genetics and Infectious Diseases Research is to develop and strengthen a collaborative research environment that will enable high quality biomedical research molecular genetics and infectious diseases at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. The Center consist of three components: Human Genetics, Infectious Disease and Molecular Biology, with corresponding coordinators working together as a team. The Center we will develop the establishment and preservation of immortalized cell lines from the human tissue samples for the purpose of research, and make these available to the research community at the MSC. We propose to maintain on-hand and apply novel DNA and RNA isolation methodologies to diverse group of organisms and biological samples for nucleic acids sequence analysis in general.

To accomplish these goals by pursuing the following specific aims:

1. To strengthen the scientific interactions between basic scientist and clinicians form the MSC and to infectious diseases;
   
   
2. To provide training, education, and support for the development of young scientists as well as established basic and clinical researchers, by offering regular trainings seminars and workshops imparted by internationally recognized leaders in the field;
   
   
3. To stimulate new scientists, both clinical and basic, to become actively engaged in molecular biology, human genetics, and infectious diseases research;
   
   
4. Establish a centralized DNA, plasma and cell banking facility storage of clinical samples from human blood or skin biopsies for research purposes in molecular genetics;
   
   
5. To provide basic core laboratory services in molecular biology, human genetics and infectious diseases including technical support, consulting, and training;
   
   
6. To initiate webcasting of training sessions in specialized areas in collaboration with the "Center for Information Architecture in Research". We will focus these initiatives on externally funded, interdisciplinary, collaborative projects that will enhance the quality of biomedical and clinical research linked to health disparities in Puerto Rico and nationally, at the Medical Sciences Campus.