The 20th PHSU–PRI Annual Scientific Conference and 4th RCMI Symposium was held on May 30, 2026, at the PHSU Auditorium in the Academic Tower. The event brought together students, faculty, clinicians, researchers, and community partners to highlight advances in biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and public health research.

The conference opened with remarks from Dr. Kenira J. Thompson, PhD, MBA, President of the Ponce Research Institute, followed by a welcome address from Dr. David Lenihan, PhD, JD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Tiber Health, representing Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU). Puerto Rico Secretary of Health Dr. Víctor Ramos was also in attendance.

The Opening Plenary Session was presented by Dr. Sukirth M. Ganesan, BDS, PhD, MPH, of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Iowa. Dr. Pedro Santiago, Alliance Program Director, provided an overview of the program’s services. The Closing Plenary Session featured Dr. Rosario Costas, PhD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Scientific presentations and poster sessions covered a wide range of topics, including cancer biology, infectious diseases, mental and behavioral health, community-engaged research, clinical outcomes, chronic diseases, and health equity. The conference also featured a High School Edition poster session, recognizing the contributions of aspiring young researchers.

The event attracted more than 500 attendees and showed approximately 180 presentations across multiple scientific disciplines. Over 44 judges evaluated submissions, and outstanding presenters in each category received awards. The conference provided valuable opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific networking, mentorship, and the dissemination of innovative research.

The conference was made possible through the collaborative efforts of PHSU, the Ponce Research Institute (PRI), and numerous institutional teams, with generous support from sponsors including the Alliance Program, Avantor-VWR, Streamlyne, BioAnalytical, and others.