In a completely virtual and innovative setting, Puerto Rico celebrated its “Clinical and Translational Research Week in Puerto Rico (CTRWPR) from May 3-7, 2021. This year the overarching topic was: The Multidimensional Impact of COVID-19.
The organization and celebration of this main activity, for the development
of clinical and translational research in our island, was a joint, collaborative and united effort of a variety of projects/initiatives and institutions that included: Puerto Rico Public Health Trust; Hispanic in Research Capabilities Endowment (HiREC); Postdoctoral Master in Clinical and Translational Research (PMCTR); Hispanic Alliance for Clinical and Translational Research (The Alliance); Puerto Rico Consortium for Clinical Investigation (PRCCI); Caribbean Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine and both the Title V Cooperative Project between the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus (UPR MSC) & Universidad Central del Caribe (UCC) and the Title V UPRMSC projects.
The event general Coordinators were Dr. Rubén García-García, Director of the Title V projects and Dr. Margarita Irizarry-Ramírez, Core leader for the Professional Development Core of The Alliance. For a detailed view of the program please go to the following link. 
The Opening Session of the CTRWPR took place on May 3, 2021. During this official ceremony, Dr. José Hawayeck, Dean of Academic Affairs for UPR MSC, read the Governor’s Proclamation for the Clinical and Translational Research Week in Puerto Rico.
After the proclamation there was a presentation of the mosaic, ” Supported by Roots” which was chosen as the WCTRWPR’s emblem. The presentation of this artwork was done by Architect Luis A. Rivera-Torresrepresenting the seventeen artists that made this collaborative work, as a response to the COVID-19 situation, which depicts from left to right the somber presence of the virus and towards the right, the bright future after the pandemic.
The plenary lecture was sponsored by HiREC, through its Visiting Scientist Professorship Program. The lecturer was Dr. Gerry Eijkemans, Unit Chief of Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health for the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization, discussed: “Challenges and opportunities created by COVID-19, a glance towards the future”. Dr. Eijkemans summarized the COVID-19 situation throughout the Americas and then presented her perspective on the research and educational agendas for the future to deal with the present challenges. A very active question and answer section followed.
A celebration of scientific organizations and projects 5th, 10th, and 20th anniversaries was done through a video presentation highlighting the accomplishments throughout the years. Approximately 90 attendees, who included students, faculty, and public, were linked and participated in this enlightening opening session.
- May 4: 10th Title V Symposium, Morning Session
- May 4: 10th Title V Symposium, Afternoon Session
- May 5: The Alliance 10th Scientific Day, Morning Session
The 10th Scientific Day was celebrated on May 5 as one of the main activities of the CTRWPR. The Scientific Day’s focus was“Multidisciplinary Research Responses to COVID-19 in Puerto Rico: Challenges and Outcomes.”
