10th Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

10th Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

San Juan Bautista School of Medicine is proud to share that on April 16th, 2026, we celebrated our 10th Interdisciplinary Research Symposium with great enthusiasm and more than 150 attendees. We had 68 poster presentations, 34 (50%) from SJBSM and 34 (50%) from other institutions.

We were honored to welcome participants from UPR campuses (MSC, Rio Piedras, Cayey, Bayamon, and Humacao), PHSU, UCC, InterAmerican University, Ana G. Mendez University, Universidad Sagrado Corazon, and the Polytechnic University of PR, Caguas Mennonite Hospital, Manati Medical Center, UPR Pediatric Hospital, Women and Children’s Hospital, UPR Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the PR Department of the Family.

We thank our distinguished plenary speakers for sharing their scientific findings and perspectives regarding “Bridging Science and Society: Community-Driven Research for a Healthier Puerto Rico”: Filipa Godoy-Vitorino, PhD, and Dr. Linda Laras, MD, MPH, MSc in their respective areas of expertise: The Microbiome Shift and Addressing Sexual Violence.    

We are pleased to share the poster presentations with the best evaluations and the 3 highest evaluation scores, listed in first, second, and third place in each category:

Best evaluation:

Angiotensin II–AT1R signaling promotes pro-inflammatory and oxidative responses in microglia. Andrea Bahamundi¹, Blake Bailey¹, Khristoffer Bury¹, Ricardo Vazquez¹, Yalimar Rivera², Diana Rivera¹, and Yaritza Inostroza-Nieves¹. ¹Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, 2 University of Puerto Rico, Humacao Campus, Humacao, PR.

1. Restoring STING Expression in STING-Silent Head and Neck Cancer Cell Lines Using Epigenetic Drugs to Enhance STING-Induced Sensitivity to Therapies. Valeria A. Román^1,2, Hannah Aldrich², Kishore Banik², Thomas Hayman2 ¹San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, ²Yale School of Medicine, Department of Therapeutic Radiology

2. Discovery and Development of Anxiolytic Agents from Tropical Marine Algae using Drosophila melanogaster as a Behavioral Model. Mardelys González Ruiz¹, Ana M. Torres Cardona¹, Gabriela I. Hernández Alicea ², Fabián A. Santiago Rodriguez ¹, Paola N. Guzmán Torres ¹ Ana M. Torres Cardona¹, Layza M. Alicea López¹, Adriann Torres Pedraza³ and Ricardo Chiesa¹. 1 Department of Biology, UPR-Cayey. 2 General Sciences Program, University of Puerto Rico-Cayey. 3 Department of Social Sciences, University of Puerto Rico-Cayey

3. Short Term High Glucose-Induced Activation of Microglia: Insights into Neuroinflammation in Diabetes. Sebastián Hernández¹, Ricardo Laboy¹, Jorge García¹, Andrea Bahamundi ¹ Institutions: ¹San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Caguas, Puerto Rico; ²San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Caguas, Puerto Rico

Case Reports

Best evaluation:

Progression of Hypoattenuated Leaflet Thickening to Valve Failure Despite Anticoagulation. Amanda Franko1, Andrea Figueroa Grillasca1, Alexandra Pujols Astacio1, Yandy Garcia1, David Franko, MD2 1 Department of Clinical Sciences, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, PR, USA. 2 Department of Cardiology, Stony Brook Cardiology, Stony Brook, NY, USA.

1. When Lupus Affects The Brain: Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Manifestations In An Adolescent. Nicole E. Cortinas Colón, MD; 2Magdalena Veláquez, MD; Elivette Zambrana, MD3. Puerto Rico Children’s Hospital: 1Pediatrics Residency Program; 2Department of Pediatrics; 3Department of Pediatric Rheumatology; Puerto Rico Children’s Hospital, Bayamón, PR.

2. First Puerto Rican Case of TANC2-Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorder Due to a De Novo Intragenic Deletion. Michelle Ouviña, BS1; Alysa M. Alejandro-Soto, MS2, Frances Velez-Bartolomei, MD3. 1San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Exit 21 172 St. Urb. Turabo Gardens Caguas, PR 00739. 2UMass Chan Medical School 55 N Lake Ave Worcester, MA 01655. 3Genetics Section, San Jorge Children and Women’s Hospital in San Juan San Juan, Puerto Rico

3. When Excess Growth and Hormones Collide: A GH/PRL Co-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma Causing Acromegaly and Amenorrhea. Paula N. Perez Edwards1, Nithya S. Chennupati1, Alondra D. Melendez Cruz1, Ernesto Garcia Santiago, M.D.1,2

1Department of Medicine, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, PR, USA. 2Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Menonita Caguas, Caguas, PR, USA

Clinical Research

Best evaluation:

Outcomes of Mechanical Thrombectomy for Ischemic Stroke: First-Year Experience in the Comprehensive Neurosciences Center in Puerto Rico. Joann Guzmán Vázquez3, MS2, Yarelis Martínez Rodríguez3, MS2, María M. García Pérez2, MD, Juan C. Vicenty Padilla1,2, MD, Rodolfo E. Alcedo Guardia1,2, MD, Mario Polo Asenjo2, MD, Juan M. Ramos Acevedo1,2, MD. 1.  Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Puerto Rico – Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Menonita Hospital, Caguas, Puerto Rico. 3.         School of Medicine, San Juan Bautista, Caguas, Puerto Rico

1. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Initiation and Selection among Participants in the All of Us Research Program. Victoria Fontánez-Ramos1, Grecia A. Carrasquillo-Sanabria1, Jonathan Barreto-Nieves1, Jorge F. García-Báez1, Yaritza Inostroza-Nieves1. 1San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, PR

2. Association of Gestational Diabetes with Long-Term Cardiovascular Disease in the All of Us Research Program: Time-to-Event and Mediation Analysis. Elimichelle Robles-Gierbolini1, Valeria A. Román-Vázquez1, Jeyra L. Pérez-Lozada1, Jonathan Barreto-Nieves1, Jorge F. García-Báez1 Yaritza Inostroza-Nieves1. 1San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, PR

3. Maternal-Infant Bonding Difficulties and Psychological Distress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Andreanel Salgado-Lozada¹, Roberto Y. Rodríguez-Lozada¹, Yessica Areche-Serrano¹, Keimarisse Colón-Díaz, PhD²; Polaris González-Barrio, PhD³, José Martínez-González, PhD⁴, Cynthia García-Coll, PhD², Zayhara Reyes-Bou, MD², Lourdes García-Fragoso, MD², Inés García-García, MD². ¹University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Natural Sciences Faculty, San Juan, Puerto Rico. ²University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Department of Psychiatry, San Juan, Puerto Rico. ³University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology Section, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Behavioral/Community Research

Best evaluation:

Schools as Community Health Infrastructure: International Leadership Responses to Public Health Crises in Vulnerable Contexts. Evelyn I. Matos Quintana¹˒², Miguel E. Marrero Medina³˒⁴. ¹ University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Educational Leadership Area, Faculty of Education, San Juan, Puerto Rico. ² Department of the Family, San Juan, Puerto Rico. ³ San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Master of Public Health Program, Caguas, Puerto Rico. ⁴ University of Puerto Rico, Carolina Campus, Department of Social Sciences and Criminal Justice, Carolina, Puerto Rico

1. Promoting Safe Human Milk Donation Practices in Puerto Rico: A Multidisciplinary Quality Improvement Initiative. Suaih Morales Sánchez DNPs, BSN RN1,2, Ronnie Ramírez-Santana2 BSIS, Dr. Carmen T. Paniagua, EdD, APRN, ACNP-BC, AG-ACNP-BC, FAANP1, Josué Pérez Santiago PhD2. 1San Juan Bautista Medicine School, Doctor of Nursing Practice in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Caguas PR. 2University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan PR, Division of Population Sciences and Cancer Control.

2. Schools as Community Health Infrastructure: International Leadership Responses to Public Health Crises in Vulnerable Contexts. Evelyn I. Matos Quintana¹˒², Miguel E. Marrero Medina³˒⁴. ¹ University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Educational Leadership Area, Faculty of Education, San Juan, Puerto Rico. ² Department of the Family, San Juan, Puerto Rico. ³ San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Master of Public Health Program, Caguas, Puerto Rico. ⁴ University of Puerto Rico, Carolina Campus, Department of Social Sciences and Criminal Justice, Carolina, Puerto Rico

3. clinicaLea in Social Media: A Project to Advance Clinical Research Education for Hispanics in Puerto Rico and Abroad. Wilfredo E. De Jesus-Monge, MD, MSc. Bioclinical Studies Consultants LLC, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico

We thank all the authors for sharing their exciting research findings, offer our congratulations, and look forward to celebrating the 2027 San Juan Bautista School of Medicine 11^th Interdisciplinary Research Symposium!