Center for Neroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico

An interdisciplinary multi-campus center

Will implement improvements to the research infrastructure of Puerto Rico and will support a critical mass of investigators with shared scientific interests in the neurosciences.

Call for COBRE Pilot Project Proposals

The NIH-NIGMS Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Program seeks to augment and strengthen institutional biomedical research capabilities

Island-wide Universities Open Call Collaborative Seeds Proposals (CCSP)

The COBRE PHASE 2 Center for Neuroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico aims to foster development of junior investigators into competitive researchers working on projects with broad biomedical significance

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 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

Stefanie Hampel,

PhD

Establishing an experimental model for probing the neural and molecular basis of abnormally repetitive behavior

Bianca Torres,

PhD

Polymorphism in neuroplasticity-related genes and its association with anxiety and depressive symptoms severity in Caribbean Hispanic patients

José E. Lizardi Ortiz

PhD

Role of Nicotinic Alpha 7 Autoreceptors in Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons

Steven Van Belleghem

PhD

Chromatin remodeling during butterfly brain development

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

Research news

The COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity co-sponsored the Southeast Regional IDeA Conference in San Juan, PR on November 12 – 14, 2021

November 23, 2021

Left photo: Speakers in the Neuroscience Session included (left to right): Dr. Andrew Seeds (UPR COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity, Alicen Wilcox (Harding University), and Dr. Jessica Larsen (Clemson University). Dr. Nicolas Bazan (LSU Health Center; screen insert) participated remotely. Dr. Mark Miller (UPR COBRE Center for Neuroplasticiy; rear) co-moderated the session. Right photo: Dr. José…

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Call for COBRE Pilot Project Proposals

September 20, 2021

The NIH-NIGMS Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Program seeks to 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. The COBRE PHASE 2: Center for Neuroplasticity…

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Recents Publications

July 30, 2020

Martins AH, Zayas-Santiago A, Ferrer-Acosta Y, Martinez-Jimenez SM, Zueva L, Diaz-Garcia A, Inyushin M.

Accumulation of Amyloid Beta (Aβ) Peptide on Blood Vessel Walls

July 30, 2020

Alves JM, Martins AH, Lameu C, Glaser T, Boukli NM, Bassaneze V, Dariolli R, Nascimento IC, Martins PCM, de Souza HDN, Krieger JE, Casarini DE, Sales VM, Pesquero JB, Ulrich H.

Kinin-B2 Receptor Activity in Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and

July 30, 2020

Ferrer-Acosta Y, Gonzalez-Vega MN, Rivera-Aponte DE, Martinez-Jimenez SM, Martins AH.

Monitoring Astrocyte Reactivity and Proliferation in Vitro Under

July 30, 2020

Ferchmin PA, Pérez D, Cuadrado BL, Carrasco M, Martins AH, Eterović VA.

Neuroprotection Against Diisopropylfluorophosphate in Acute Hippocampal Slices. Neurochem Res. 2015 Oct;40(10):2143-51. doi: 10.1007/s11064-015-1729-4. Epub 2015 Oct 5. PubMed PMID: