The Alliance for Clinical and Translational Research in Puerto Rico successfully hosted its Alliance Kick-off Event, marking the official launch of the new 2025–2030 funding cycle under the NIH Institutional Development Award for Clinical and Translational Research Network (IDeA-CTR). The Alliance—led by the UPR Medical Sciences Campus in collaboration with Ponce Health Sciences University/Ponce Research Institute and Universidad Central del Caribe—begins this cycle with a record $25 million award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

The event also provided a meaningful moment to honor Dr. Carlos Luciano, who led the Alliance during its first cycle and has played a pivotal role in the development of this program for more than two decades. His leadership and vision laid the foundation for the Alliance’s continued growth and success.

This new phase strengthens the Alliance’s commitment to advancing health in Puerto Rico through an integrated network based on the Quadruple Helix model, bringing together academia, government, community partners, and the health sector.

Key Highlights from the Event

• Renewal of the program for an additional five years (2025–2030).

• Expanded support for workforce development, training, and mentoring programs for emerging and established investigators.

• Growth of the GROW-PR Network, the island’s first Practice-Based Research Network.

• Continued enhancement of clinical research infrastructure across partner institutions.

• Access to a robust Clinical Data Warehouse with over 450,000+ electronic health records to support real-world data studies.
  

Alliance Impact at a Glance

• 473 studies supported

• 278 scientific publications with more than 1,953 citations

• $240M in external research funding leveraged

• Development of research cohorts, clinical units, and innovative scientific discoveries across multiple disciplines

As the Alliance enters this new chapter, its mission remains clear: to accelerate translational research that improves health outcomes for the people of Puerto Rico and beyond.