We Are COBRE

Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence augment and strengthen institutional biomedical research capabilities by expanding and developing biomedical faculty research capability through support of a multidisciplinary center led by a peer-reviewed, NIH-funded investigator with expertise central to the theme of the grant proposal.

MENTORED PROJECTS

Demetrio

Came to the UPR Medical Sciences Campus from the Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard University in 2014.

Jose

Alpha-7 nAChR: Potential Therapeutic Target for Obesity Induced Cognitive Decline

Alfredo

Epigenetic control of transcription dynamics in long-term alcohol neuroadaptation

Amaya

Role of microglial α7nAChR in diet induced brain inflammation.

Andrew

Assistant Professor

Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

Pilots Projects

Dr. Ferrer-Acosta is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Neuroscience at the Universidad Central del Caribe in Bayamón, PR. Dr. Ferrer-Acosta projects focus on studying the specific contribution of astrocytes in ischemic stroke.

Collaborative Seeds Projects

Dr. Nadezhda Sabeva

& Dr. Antonio H. Martins:

Ex vivo and in vivo models of Gulf War Illness Allow for Mechanistic Studies and the Search for Antidotes

& Dr. José Colón:

Synthesis of Biological Active Amino Derivatives and Multi-target Drugs for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. Priscila Sanabria

& Dr. Carlos Jiménez:

Xylazine effects on morphine-induced prefrontal cortex neuroplasticity

Dr. Yancy Ferrer

& Dr. Valance Washington:

Age-dependent involvement of inflammation associated receptors in hippocampal plasticity and neuroprotection after an ischemic insult

Dr. Luis Negrón

& Dr. José Rivera:

Lipid Dendrimer Nanoparticles for the Encapsulation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Simvastatin as a Non-Invasive Approach to Promote Neuroplasticity

Dr. Yancy Ferrer

& Dr. Antonio H. Martins:

Nuclear G-coupled Kinin-B2 Receptors in a Human hCMEC/D3 Blood Brain Barrier Cell title: Nuclear G-coupled B2 receptor

Request for Application or Funding Opportunities

PILOT PROJECT SUBMISSION

SEED PROJECT SUBMISSION

PILOT PROJECT SUBMISSION

SEED PROJECT SUBMISSION

SUBPROJECT SUBMISSION

Research news

Dr. Walter I Silva Ortíz, Center for Neuroplasticity Research Projects Core Director, participated in the 3rd External Advisory Committee Meeting of the COBRE Center for Promotion of Cancer Health Research (CePCHe)

Dr. Walter I Silva Ortíz, Center for Neuroplasticity Research Projects Core Director, participated in the 3rd External Advisory Committee Meeting of the COBRE Center for Promotion of Cancer Health Research (CePCHe).  Dr. Silva Ortíz directs the CePCHe Administrative Core.

COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity Research Projects Core Director, and Dr. Abel Baerga, COBRE Center for Promotion of Cancer Health Research Program Director, provided an orientation session on the newly implemented NIH and UPR Research Security Training (RST) and Domestic-only Research policies.

COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity Research Projects Core Director, and Dr. Abel Baerga, COBRE Center for Promotion of Cancer Health Research Program Director, provided an orientation session on the newly implemented NIH and UPR Research Security Training (RST) and Domestic-only Research policies. The session was shared with all UPR COBRE programs and participants.

Recents Publications

July 8, 2025

The work is a collaborative effort between several campuses: the UPR-Cayey, UPR-Carolina and UPR-MSC Integrated Informatics Services facility RCMI-RCC-IIS in collaboration with the Institute of Neurobiology.

May 28, 2025

Localization of Cholecystokinin/Sulfakinin Neuropeptides in Biomphalaria glabrata, an Intermediate Host for Schistosomiasis. J Comp Neurol. 2025 Jan;533(1):e70016. doi: 10.1002/cne.70016. PMID: 39825709; PMCID: PMC11841659.

May 1, 2025

A conserved gastropod withdrawal circuit in Biomphalaria glabrata, an intermediate host for schistosomiasis. J Neurophysiol. 2024 May 1;131(5):903-913. doi: 10.1152/jn.00390.2023. Epub 2024 Mar 13. PMID: 38478883; PMCID: PMC11383391.

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