The Pilot Project Program facilitates the underrepresented minorities’ investigators access to resources, mentorship, and technology to help them transition successfully into independent researchers.

Associate Professor and Residency Program Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology UPR-Medical Sciences Campus

Expression of immune-related Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of TLR4 and TLR9 as susceptibility biomarkers for cervical dysplasia and HPV infection. CO-PI: Dr. Ana L. Rosario I am a young faculty from Obstetrics and Gynecology department of the University of Puerto Rico. I am interested in the area of cancer prevention since early in my training. I…

Assistant Professor, Microbiology and Zoology Department, UPR- Medical Sciences Campus

Interplay between microbial and immune cells in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer The main goals of my laboratory are to characterize the immune mechanisms involved in tumor development, metastasis,and treatment to uncover new therapeutic targets and improve survivalof patients with HNSCC. As a basic and translational immunology researcher, I have focused on characterizing immune mechanisms modulating the…

Adjunct Professor School of Public Health UPR-Medical Sciences Campus

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR PROJECT TITLE: HIV and COVID in Puerto Rico Study As a Public Health Practitioner and a Social-Community Psychologist I am interested in understanding how social determinants of health influence people’s health and well-being. For the past 10 years, I have had the opportunity to work with vulnerable populations and communities. My research focuses…

Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Gut microbiome un a sample of Hispanic patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome I have focused my research efforts in understanding the high prevalence of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus in our population. As an endocrinologist, I see every day the detrimental effects of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases in…

Associate Professor, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Does the “Night-­float rotation” alter sleep/wake cycles and circadian rhythms of UPR physician residents: Modulation by chronotypes. Co-PI: Yohana De Jesús Berríos, MD Co-PI: Annabell Segarra, PhD My long-term career goal is to contribute to the understanding of how the multiple circadian oscillators throughout the body interact to regulate homeostasis, physiology, and brain…

Mikhail Inyushin, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology Universidad Central del Caribe

Principal Investigator Project Title: ACCUMULATION OF AMYLOID-BETA PEPTIDES IN THE MYOCARDIUM I have a wide background in electrophysiology, molecular biology, and imaging. I did my physiology PhD in invertebrates, but in 1993, Dr. Stephen McMahon invited me to visit his laboratory, where I learned modern electrophysiological and imaging techniques in mammals. Since then, my interests have centered…

Chair Physiology Department, UPR-Medical Sciences Campus

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Does the “Night-­float rotation” alter sleep/wake cycles and circadian rhythms of UPR physician residents: Modulation by chronotypes. Co-PI: Yohana De Jesus, MD Co-PI: José Agosto, PhD The research in our laboratory focuses on the neurochemical substrates that participate in mediating sex differences in motivated behaviors. For the last 30years, our laboratory has studied…

Assistant Professor School Of Medicine Universidad Central del Caribe

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR PROJECT TITLE: Delivery of Edelfosinethrough the blood-brain barrier using a transferrin-based delivery system for epilepsy CoPI: Yamixa Delgado, PhD Throughout my Ph.D., postdoctoral, and early investigator research work, I have received the academic and technical training to push forward successful scientific projects. My Ph.D. research training was in Neuroscience/Molecular Biology, specifically in the…

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine

Principal Investigator Project Title: Delivery of Edelfosine through the blood-brain barrier using a transferrin-based delivery system for epilepsy CoPI: Yancy Ferrer, PhD My academic background is in industrial chemistry with research experience in molecular modeling of proteins, a doctoral degree in biochemistry & biotechnology with research experience in protein-based drug delivery systems, and postdoctoral training…

Caleb Esteban, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, Ponce Health Sciences University

Principal Investigator The Risk Of Metabolic Syndrome Associated With The Rejection Of The Coming Out Process Among Hispanic LGB Young Adults   Dr. Caleb is Clinical Psychologist by training and work as a Researcher and Assistant Professor in the PhD Clinical Psychology Department, School of Behavioral & Brain Sciences at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU).…