Publications up to April 2026 “View pdf” ⇒

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)

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, membraneless RNA–protein condensates that typically dissolve upon stress resolution. This research promises to identify novel RNA-targeted therapeutic avenues to restore proteostasis and RNA metabolism in the neurodegenerative disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Congratulations to Dr. Bajaj and his research group!

September 23, 2026
Students from COBRE-supported labs participated in the Lilly R&D Talent Development Activity (TDA) at the Molecular Sciences Research Center.

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 of new medicines. The program also helps students explore careers in industry and build professional connections.

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.

May 28, 2025
Rivera A, Bracho-Rincón D, Miller MW.

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
Vaasjo LO, Miller MW.

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.

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 in the Damaged Brain after Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion. Biomolecules. 2019 Aug 8;9(8). doi: 10.3390/biom9080350. PubMed PMID: 31398804; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6723874.

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 Myoblast Differentiation. Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2019 Feb;15(1):48-58. doi: 10.1007/s12015-018-9850-9. PubMed PMID: 30338498; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6613634.

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 Ischemic-Like Conditions. J Vis Exp. 2017 Oct 21;(128). doi: 10.3791/55108. PubMed PMID: 29155711; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5755171.

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: 26438150; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4638331.

July 30, 2020
Berríos VO, Boukli NM, Rodriguez JW, Negraes PD, Schwindt TT, Trujillo CA, Oliveira SL, Cubano LA, Ferchmin PA, Eterović VA, Ulrich H, Martins AH.

Paraoxon and Pyridostigmine Interfere with Neural Stem Cell Differentiation. Neurochem Res. 2015 Oct;40(10):2091-101. doi: 10.1007/s11064-015-1548-7. Epub 2015 Mar 11. PubMed PMID: 25758980; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4567516.

July 30, 2020
Rivera-Pagán AF, Rivera-Aponte DE, Melnik-Martínez KV, Zayas-Santiago A, Kucheryavykh LY, Martins AH, Cubano LA, Skatchkov SN, Eaton MJ. Up-regulation of TREK-2 potassium channels in cultured astrocytes requires de novo protein synthesis: relevance to localization of TREK-2 channels in astrocytes after transient cerebral ischemia.

PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0125195. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125195. eCollection 2015. PubMed PMID: 25886567; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4401746.

July 30, 2020
Martins AH, Hu J, Xu Z, Mu C, Alvarez P, Ford BD, El Sayed K, Eterovic VA, Ferchmin PA, Hao J. Neuroprotective activity of (1S,2E,4R,6R,-7E,11E)-2,7,11-cembratriene-4,6-diol (4R) in vitro and in vivo in rodent models of brain ischemia.

Neuroscience. 2015 Apr 16;291:250-259. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.02.001. Epub 2015 Feb 10. PubMed PMID: 25677097; PubMed Central PMCID:

July 30, 2020
Ferchmin PA, Andino M, Reyes Salaman R, Alves J, Velez-Roman J, Cuadrado B, Carrasco M, Torres-Rivera W, Segarra A, Martins AH, Lee JE, Eterovic VA. 4R-cembranoid protects against diisopropylfluorophosphate-mediated neurodegeneration.

Neurotoxicology. 2014 Sep;44:80-90. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2014.06.001. Epub 2014 Jun 10. PubMed PMID: 24928201; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4176603.

July 30, 2020
Torres-Rivera W, Pérez D, Park KY, Carrasco M, Platt MO, Eterović VA, Ferchmin PA, Ulrich H, Martins AH. Kinin-B2 receptor exerted neuroprotection after diisopropylfluorophosphate-induced neuronal damage.

Neuroscience. 2013 Sep 5;247:273-9. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.05.054. Epub 2013 Jun 2. PubMed PMID: 23735753; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3740336.