Measuring Community Engagement in Research: Reflections from Puerto Rico’s Experience with the Alliance for Clinical and Translational Research

Community Engagement and Outreach core

By: Edna Acosta Pérez, PhD, MSc Co-Leader, Community Engagement and Outreach Core Representing Puerto Rico at ACCEL Delaware 2025 I had the honor of representing The Alliance at the 2025 Community Research Exchange (CRE) hosted by  IDeA‑ Clinical and Translational Research (CTR) from Delaware (Delaware‑CTR ACCEL),  where I presented a workshop titled “Measuring the Impact…

Dra. Heidi Carrero Vallés, a graduate student from the Public Health Program at Ponce Health Sciences University addresses the public from a podium

PHSU Doctoral Student Heidi Carrero Vallés Successfully Defends Dissertation on Buprenorphine Treatment Adherence in Southern Puerto Rico

PHSU

On April 24, 2025, Ponce Health Sciences University Public Health Program doctoral student, Mrs. Heidi Carrero Vallés, successfully defended her doctoral dissertation in epidemiology titled “Retention and Adherence to Buprenorphine Medication in Patients Diagnosed with Opioid Use at a Community-Based Clinic in Southern Puerto Rico.”  The objectives of the research project were to describe the…

GROW PR Network January 2025 Newsletter

PBRN

GROW PR Network’s Members and Collaborators’ Meeting In the spirit of fostering collaboration, innovation, and generating clinical research ideas, GROW PR Network’s December 17th meeting was a resounding success that left members with renewed enthusiasm and a strengthened sense of community. One of the main highlights of the meeting was the recognition of members whose…

Centro Hispano Caribeño de Investigaciones Clínicas para ELA: Un Avance para Puerto Rico y el Caribe

Collaborators

A toda la Comunidad:                     Los estudios clínicos han demostrado su importancia para el entendimiento de las enfermedades, desarrollo de nuevos medicamentos y tratamientos con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas.   La Esclerosis Lateral Amiotrófica (ELA) es una enfermedad que impone una carga física y emocional a quien…

Trainees from Puerto Rico and the United States who completed the scientific research training program known as the "Cancer Prevention and Control Research Training Program" (CAPAC) at the UPR Comprehensive Cancer Center during the closing session of the 2024 cycle.

CAPAC Research Program at UPR Comprehensive Cancer Center Concludes Inaugural Session, Opens Applications for 2025 Cycle

Collaborators, Training

The Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Puerto Rico (CCCUPR) successfully concluded the inaugural session of its scientific research training program, known as the “Cancer Prevention and Control Research Training Program” (CAPAC). “The CAPAC participants had the opportunity to present their findings from cancer research projects they worked on over the summer, under the…

Poster on Technological Connectivity and Social Isolation in Puerto Rican Communities Wins Student Award at VI Puerto Rican Public Health Conference

Comunidad

The poster titled “Technological Connectivity, Social Isolation, and Community Resilience: A Qualitative Analysis of Community Forums in Puerto Rico” examines the challenges faced by isolated communities in Puerto Rico regarding access to technology, social connection, and the ability to recover from adversities. This study, conducted by the Hispanic Alliance for Clinical and Translational Research, highlights…

The Alliance at the 9th National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE)

AC, Comunidad, PHSU, UCC, UPR-MSC

The Alliance at the 9th National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE) The Alliance was present at the 9th National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE), held from June 16-19, 2024, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. Throughout this event, our Principal Investigators, Dr. Carlos Luciano and Dr. Evangelia Morou, along with…

San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Celebrates Successful 8th Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

SJBSM

On April 2nd, 2024, the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine (SJBSM)  celebrated its with great enthusiasm and over 150 attendees. Dr. Yocasta Brugal, SJBSM President, and the 8th Organizing Committee thank the presenters,  evaluators, SJBSM Students’ Council, the Research Interest Group, and attendees for contributing to the Symposium’s success and for making it once…

Alliance Participation at the 2024 ACTS Annual Meeting

Comunidad, Professional Development, Tracking and Evaluation

Alliance Participation at the 2024 ACTS Annual Meeting In early April, members of the Alliance made a significant impact at the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. This three-day event brought together an array of attendees, including trainees, junior faculty, and seasoned scientists from CTSA and IDeA CTR…