Three translational research projects, encompassing the areas of basic biomedical, behavioral and clinical research, and representing two of the six schools of the UPR-MSC are currently supported by the Center for Collaborative Research in Minority Health and Health Disparities.

Research Projects (RO1 Type) 

The research projects were selected after a competitive process that included external evaluations of scientific merit and internal assessment of the relevance and alignment of the proposals to the U54 RCMI and the MSC Campus goals for addressing health diseases affecting our population and facilitating faculty career development. 

Our first objective was to include competitive translational studies covering health areas targeted for development at the UPR-MSC that affect the Puerto Rican population, as well as other Hispanic populations. The selected Research Projects focus on three of the targeted health disparities areas: cancer, prevention medicine and cognitive impairment.

Our second objective was to include investigators at different stages of their careers (assistant-associate-professor level) who have not yet received an RO1 grant and are likely to benefit from the funding and mentoring support to be provided by the Center. All three investigators meet these criteria. The expectation is that during or by the end of RCMI support, these investigators will be successful in obtaining independent competitive funding (RO1, R21 grants).