COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico – Center for Neuroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico

Center for Neuroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico

Advancing collaborative neuroscience research through multidisciplinary projects, mentorship, research infrastructure and funding opportunities.

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MENTORED PROJECTS

Demetrio Sierra,

PhD

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

Jose Colón,

PhD

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

Alfredo Ghezzi,

PhD

Epigenetic control of transcription dynamics in long-term alcohol neuroadaptation

Amaya Miquelajáuregui,

PhD

Role of microglial α7nAChR in diet induced brain inflammation.

Andrew Seeds

Assistant Professor

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

Pilots Projects

Dr. Yancy Ferrer

PhD

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.

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PILOT PROJECT SUBMISSION

the COBRE Pilot Project Program (CP3) seeks to advance the Center’s goals of fostering development of junior investigators into competitive researchers working on projects with direct biomedical significance; and to further the continued development of a competitive research culture, whilst focusing on the thematic of Neuroplasticity

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SEED PROJECT SUBMISSION

The program introduces a novel COBRE outreach and expansion component by making the human and infrastructure resources in the thematic area of Neuroplasticity available to all higher education colleges and universities in Puerto Rico. Through this initiative further expands the dimensions of the cadre of neuroplasticity research scientists in Puerto Rico

Apply for Seed Project

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

Research news

Dr. Lakshya Bajaj, COBRE Phase III Pilot Project recipient, was recently awarded an R16 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

October 6, 2026

Dr. Lakshya Bajaj, COBRE Phase III Pilot Project recipient, was recently awarded an R16 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). His project p(UG) RNA Quadruplexes as Nucleators of Stress Granules and Modulators of TDP-43 Pathology in ALS explores how the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 relocates to stress granules (SGs), dynamic, liquid-liquid phase-separated,…

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Students from COBRE-supported labs participated in the Lilly R&D Talent Development Activity (TDA) at the Molecular Sciences Research Center.

September 23, 2026

Students from COBRE-supported labs participated in the Lilly R&D Talent Development Activity (TDA) at the Molecular Sciences Research Center. Lilly’s TDA offers graduate students opportunities to work on research projects within Lilly’s R&D organization. Students gain experience with pharmaceutical research, collaborate with Lilly scientists, and learn how their scientific training can contribute to the development…

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Recents Publications

October 6, 2026

Dr. Lakshya Bajaj, COBRE Phase III Pilot Project recipient, was recently awarded an R16 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

September 23, 2026

Students from COBRE-supported labs participated in the Lilly R&D Talent Development Activity (TDA) at the Molecular Sciences Research Center.

March 27, 2026

Negrón, L.M.; Camacho-Mercado, C.L.; Morales-Borges, C.A.; López-Colón, A.; De Jesús-Hernández, A.; Santiago-Figueroa, A.E.; Rodríguez-Rivera, J.M.; Ferrer-Acosta, Y.; Madera-Soto, B.A.

A new publication from Dr. Luis Negrón and his group at UPR Cayey was featured on the morning news ! Dr. Negrón was supported by the COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity Phase II Collaborative Seeds Program.

July 8, 2025

Velazquez C.

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.