The event took place at Casa Comerío, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, 10:00 am through 4:00 pm.
This event was developed by the Office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. The organizing committee included Dr. Fernández, Associate Dean; OARGDS Staff (Vicmag Cabrera, Jennifer Guzmán, Lissette Arroyo, Ivonne Amill, Gabriel Sierra) and representatives for all academic programs.
Keynote Speaker:
Ivone Bruno, PhD, VP Preclinical Affairs and Process Development at CytoImmune Therapeutics
Presentation Title: “The Future of Healthcare: Artificial Intelligence’s Role in
Biotech Advancements”
Knowing the professionalism and academic talent of our students and residents, we have developed the UCC Research Symposium as a poster presentation activity to showcase their research projects, achievements, and intellectual growth. This is a valuable learning experience that facilitates the exchange of ideas, promotes knowledge innovation, and fosters new research collaborations and networking among students, faculty, and researchers.
The symposium encompasses a range of research focus areas, organized into three main categories: the basic sciences, Clinical and Translational Sciences, and public health.
Sixty-four poster presentations were presented this year by students in all academic programs (Biomedical Sciences, Chiropractic, Medical Imaging, Medicine, and Substance Abuse). With approximately 220 participants, a Keynote Speaker session.
A total of ten (10) Awards and recognitions were given.
Best Poster Award – $150
- Glucocorticoid and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptors Signaling in Osteoblasts: Crosstalk and Implications for Bone Health. C. López Vega; H. Bensreti; C. Gross; D. Alhamad; A. Tripathi; S. Sultana; C. Yearwood; J. Dorn; C. Dai; W. Bollag; C. Isales; M. McGee-Lawrence. Academic Program: Medicine
Three prizes for 1st Place Poster Award – $150
- Basic Sciences: Pyk2 and MEK/ERK Signaling Control Extracellular Vesicle Secretion in Glioblastoma. N. Ramírez; L. Kucheryavykh. Academic Program: Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences.
- Clinical and Translational: Neuroadjuvant Immunotherapy Improves Survival Outcomes in Locoregionally Advanced, Resectable Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study. R. Torres; F. Gleber; S. Naara; M. Amit; N. Gross. Academic Program: Medicine
- Public Health: Understanding the Healthcare Needs of the Underserved: A Patient Population Analysis at the Padre Venard Student-Run Free Clinic. G. Del Rio Montesinos; F. Mercado Nieves; I. Olmeda López; A. Soto-González; G. Camareno Soto. Academic Program: Medicine
Three prizes for 2nd Place -$100
- Basic Sciences: Influence on the Activation State of Monocytes from HIV-negative Men Expose to Plasm Exosomes from ART-treated HIV-positive Men in Presence of Absence of Cytochalasain D. B. Collazo; N. Alcalá; L. Ortiz-Valentin; Y. Cantres-Rosario; E. Rodríguez; J. Alves; V. Wojna; Y. Genera. Academic Progam: Medicine
- Clinical and Translational: Chiropractic Management of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome and Achilles Tendinopathy: A Case Study. G. Flores; R. Vazquez; C. Marrero. Academic Program: Chiropractic
- Public Health: Health Literacy Assessment Tools in Spine Surgery and their Relevance to Underserved Populations. E. Lugo; A. Fábregas; N. Ramírez. Academic Program: Medicine
Three prizes for 3rd Place – $75
- Basic Sciences: Statistical Analysis of Mortality Due to Renal Disease in Puerto Rico During Periods of Emergency (2015-2023). J. Encarnación; C. Pérez Morales; P. Rivera; O. Lugo Capera. Academic Program: Medicine
- Clinical and Translational: Neonatal Encephalopathy Associated Feeding Disorders and Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings. J. Pérez-Ocasio; N. Borges-Rivera; L. García-Fragoso; K. Colón-Romero; L. Garcia-Tormos. Academic Program: Medical Imaging Technology
- Public Health: Substance Use in Puerto Rican Breastfeeding Mothers. A. Figueroa-Vázquez; C. Reyes-Pagán; A. Fuentes-Armesto; H. Nieves-Díaz; M. Cabán-Ruiz. Academic Program: Substance Abuse
As the symposium continues to evolve, the UCC Biomedical and Clinical Student/Residents Research Symposium remains a vital space for promoting the exchange of ideas and knowledge that fosters research collaboration and networking among students, faculty, and researchers. Plans for the 2026 symposium will be announced, and we extend our deepest thanks to the members of the organizing committee, our president, Waleska Crespo; the Vice President, Ariel Dávila; and to the Deans, Directors, and all participants who contributed to the success of this event.
Addressing Food Insecurity in the Underserved Population of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico Through Clínicas Padre Venard’s Outreach
Carolina Ganan Mejia Jasmine Contreras Santini Naishaliz Lorenzo Gonzalez Alondra Soto-González Gabriel Camareno Soto Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico Introduction At Clínicas Padre Venard, addressing food insecurity and providing [...]
Anatomical Variation in Thumb Polydactyly: A Cadaveric Case Study
Andrea Fabregas, BS Gonzalo Del Rio, BS Ana Ortiz, PhD Sofia Jimenez, PhD Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico Introduction Anatomical variation in musculoskeletal [...]
Avutometinib and Defactinib Control the Raf/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway on GBM Cell Proliferation and Regulation
Emely Morales Colon, MS Lilia Kucheryavykh, PhD Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico Introduction Tumor cell proliferation pathways denote a promising target for recurring glioblastoma. On glioblastoma (GBM) it is [...]
BMI and HbA1c Trends in Pediatric Diabetes and Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study in the CUMIC Clinic in Puerto Rico
Sergio M. Aymat Sánchez-Vahamonde, MS-IV Maillim I. Ortiz López, MS-IV Gabriel Camareno, MS-IV Claudia Ramirez, MS-IV Nicole Polish, MS-II Sebastián Morales, MS-II Daniela Matinez, MS-IV Daniel Del Toro, MS-IV Bárbara L. [...]
Cardiovascular Effects of Commercial Tobacco Product Use Among Transitional Age Youth
Antonio Morales Montalvo, BS Angélica M. Rosado-Quiñones, PhD Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico Fundación Dr. García Rinaldi, San Juan, Puerto Rico Introduction Commercial tobacco product use remains one of [...]
Complex Management of Postoperative Surgical Site Infection Following Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Case Report
Coral Martes Villalobos Iván Pérez Vicente, MD Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine, Bayamón, Puerto Rico University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico Introduction Basal cell [...]
Abstracts should be presented as a single paragraph adopting the structured abstract style, including section headings as follows:
Title: Maximum of 150 characters, including spaces.
Affiliation(s): list institutions where work was performed.
Introduction: A brief description of the significance of the research presented. Please include the study’s aim/goal/objective, research questions, and hypothesis, if applicable.
Methods: Brief description of the research study design, procedures, statistical analysis (if apply), strategies, and/or activities.
Results: Summary of the preliminary data or results obtained.
Conclusion: A statement about the findings reached and future directions. Conclusions must be written in the present simple tense.
If apply, include IRB/IACUC approval number.
Provide acknowledgments. It is highly recommended to include grant support.
For clinical trials: please provide the name of the trial registry, the registry ULL and the trial registration number.
Length of the abstract: Not exceed 300 words, excluding title, authors, affiliations, IRB/IACUC approval number, and acknowledgments.
Use Arial 12 font size.
Keywords: 5 maximum
