Event Summary

As part of Puerto Rico Clinical and Translational Research Week and with a record breaking attendance of 200, the Alliance for Clinical and Translational Research (the Alliance) held its 14^th Scientific Day on May 7, 2025, at the Caribe Hilton hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Centered on the theme “Advances in Health through Implementation Science: Research in Real-World Practice and Community Settings,” the event convened institutional leaders, researchers, students, and collaborators from diverse academic institutions, organizations and backgrounds to foster dialogue on improving health outcomes through research and innovation.

Key institutional leaders in attendance included Dr. Myrna Quiñones Feliciano [University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus (UPR-MSC) Chancellor], Dr. Kenira Thompson (President, Ponce Research Institute), and Dr. Diana Fernández (representing Universidad Central del Caribe President, Dr. Waleska Crespo), highlighting the strong institutional commitment that supports the Alliance’s mission.

Dr. Margarita Irizarry, who served as the master of ceremonies for the event and is retiring from her role as Professional Development Core Leader in the upcoming cycle, was honored in a heartfelt tribute by Alliance leaders Dr. Carlos Luciano and Dr. Evangelia Moru. Recognized for her outstanding contributions to cancer research and her exceptional scientific leadership over the past two decades, Dr. Irizarry expressed deep gratitude to her colleagues and the event’s organizers, and reflected on the spirit of collaboration that has shaped and enriched her career.

The plenary session, led by Dr. Milagros C. Rosal, a distinguished Professor from the UMass Chan Medical School and Co-Director at the UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science K Award Program,who focused her presentation on implementation science and its critical role in translating research into practical solutions to improve population health. Dr. Rosal’s presentation titled “Advancing Health through Implementation Science: The Blood Pressure Control Trial” specifically addressed the challenges of hypertension management, particularly among Latino populations, and illustrated how targeted interventions can lead to significant improvements in blood pressure control.

The 14^th Scientific Day featured an awesome poster presentation session, showcasing 77 cutting-edge research projects by graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and research collaborators. The posters spanned a wide range of topics within basic sciences, clinical, translational, and community-based research. Participants had the opportunity to present their findings, engage with subject-matter experts, and increase the visibility of their work within Puerto Rico’s expanding research community. A special supplement of the Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal, featuring peer-reviewed abstracts from the showcased posters, is available at Puerto Rico Health Science Journal website

In addition, during the event were presented the results of two research projects supported by the Alliance. Dr. Yaritza Inostroza Nieves, from San Juan Bautista School of Medicine and a 2023–2024 Pilot Project awardee, presented the findings of her project titled “Endothelin-1 as a Biomarker for Cardiovascular Risk in Sexually Abused Children.” Her research highlighted the potential of this biomarker in assessing long-term cardiovascular outcomes in vulnerable pediatric populations. Following her, Dr. Ileana Rodríguez Nazario, from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, School of Pharmacy, and recipient of the 2023–2024 Community Pilot Award, shared results from her project titled “Incorporating Medication Therapy Management and Pharmacogenomic Services into an Interdisciplinary Rural Health Program.” Her work emphasized the importance of precision medicine and interdisciplinary collaboration in improving healthcare delivery in underserved rural communities.

The 14^th Scientific Day concluded with an award ceremony held during lunch. The following investigators, students, and collaborators were recognized in different categories:

 

 

Across the time, the Alliance Scientific Day has proved to be a platform for fostering a rich environment for scientific exchange, constructive feedback, and interdisciplinary networking. We are excited to continue offering this professional scientific forum in the years ahead as part of the Alliance’s new cycle!