Celebrating 31 Years of Neuroscience Excellence:
Highlights from the Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference 2023
The hosting institution of the 31st Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference was the Universidad Central del Caribe (UCC), School of Medicine, chaired by Dr. David Rivera-Aponte. The organizing committee included esteemed members from various institutions, such as Dr. Mark Miller, Dr. Carmen Maldonado, Dr. Emmanuel Cruz, and Dr. Zaira Mateo.
The event took place at the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus (UPRB), marking another successful opportunity for fostering communication and collaboration among students and faculty dedicated to neuroscience research. With approximately 300 participants, various plenary sessions, and a showcase of 75 posters, the event was a hub for intellectual exchange.
Plenary sessions featured distinguished speakers: Dr. Daniel Colón from Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Bianca Jones from Columbia University, Dr. Mark Harnett, and Dr. Pedro Feliciano from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Their contributions added depth and insight to the conference discussions.
An exciting addition to this year’s event was the inaugural neuro art section, allowing participants to showcase paintings, designs, and unique fluorescent microscopy images in an art exhibition. This creative initiative expanded the conference’s scope, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience.
Furthermore, the conference organizers acknowledged the valuable partnership with the UPRB, which enabled the event to be hosted for the first time in that institution, highlighting the collaborative spirit within the scientific community.
The Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference would not have been possible without Dr. Vesna Eterovic, Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the RCMI Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience at the UCC, and Dr. Richard Orkand, from the UPR Puerto Rico Neuroscience Institute.
In 1992, following a research seminar Dr. Eterovic, Dr. Orkand, Dr. Pedro Ferchmin, and Dr. Richard Hann from the UCC Department of Biochemistry discussed the idea of organized an annual Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference. Roughly six months later, on November 13, 1992, the First Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference was held at the UCC in Bayamón.
As the conference continues to evolve, the Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference remains a vital platform for advancing neuroscience research, fostering collaboration, and inspiring the next generation of scientists. The continued success year after year symbolizes the enduring commitment of the scientific community to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and fostering a legacy that transcends time.
The hosting institution of the 31st Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference was the Universidad Central del Caribe (UCC), School of Medicine, chaired by Dr. David Rivera-Aponte. The organizing committee included esteemed members from various institutions, such as Dr. Mark Miller, Dr. Carmen Maldonado, Dr. Emmanuel Cruz, and Dr. Zaira Mateo.
The event took place at the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus (UPRB), marking another successful opportunity for fostering communication and collaboration among students and faculty dedicated to neuroscience research. With approximately 300 participants, various plenary sessions, and a showcase of 75 posters, the event was a hub for intellectual exchange.
Plenary sessions featured distinguished speakers: Dr. Daniel Colón from Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Bianca Jones from Columbia University, Dr. Mark Harnett, and Dr. Pedro Feliciano from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Their contributions added depth and insight to the conference discussions.
An exciting addition to this year’s event was the inaugural neuro art section, allowing participants to showcase paintings, designs, and unique fluorescent microscopy images in an art exhibition. This creative initiative expanded the conference’s scope, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience.
Furthermore, the conference organizers acknowledged the valuable partnership with the UPRB, which enabled the event to be hosted for the first time in that institution, highlighting the collaborative spirit within the scientific community.
The Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference would not have been possible without Dr. Vesna Eterovic, Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the RCMI Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience at the UCC, and Dr. Richard Orkand, from the UPR Puerto Rico Neuroscience Institute.
In 1992, following a research seminar Dr. Eterovic, Dr. Orkand, Dr. Pedro Ferchmin, and Dr. Richard Hann from the UCC Department of Biochemistry discussed the idea of organized an annual Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference. Roughly six months later, on November 13, 1992, the First Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference was held at the UCC in Bayamón.
As the conference continues to evolve, the Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference remains a vital platform for advancing neuroscience research, fostering collaboration, and inspiring the next generation of scientists. The continued success year after year symbolizes the enduring commitment of the scientific community to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and fostering a legacy that transcends time.
Submitted Abstracts
Diabetes-induced neuronal hyperactivity is linked to reduced astrocytic Kir4.1 levels in hyperglycemic mice.
1Luis A. Rojas-Colón, 1Arelys A. Angueira-Laureano, 2 David E. Rivera-Aponte, 2Misty J. Eaton, 2,3Serguei N. Skatchkov, 1,2,4Miguel P. Méndez-González 1 Department of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla, PR 00604-6150, [...]
Discovery and Development of Anxiolytic Agents from Tropical Marine Macroalgae
David A. Gragirenes Delgado1, María F. Acevedo Kury1, Gabriela M. Ramírez Renta1, Geraldine M. Ortiz Sosa2, Aniel J. Rivera Arzola3, Janiennid Alicea Tirado3, Ricardo M. Cruz Sánchez1, Lymelsie Aponte Ramos4, Adrián [...]
Does Increased Engagement in Activities to Manage Undesirable Stress/Emotions Relate to Physical and Mental Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Sebastián A. Quintana-Rodríguez, HSDG, Laura P. La Luz-Barrios, HSDG, Paola M. Rivera-Arroyo, HSDG, & Eduardo Cumba-Avilés, PhD Institute for Psychological Research, College of Social Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras [...]
Effect of closed head injury in rearing and grooming behaviors in female rats
Jahaziel Díaz-Rodríguez1,2, Yadiel Alicea-Torres1,2, Diego Nazario-Martínez1,2, Génesis Rivas-Soto1,2, Isabel Rivera-Correa1,2, Eduardo Rosario-Díaz1,2, Gabriela Serrano- Rivera1,2, Joseph Torres-Cruz1,2, Paulette Vázquez-Martínez1,2, Laura Vicente-Rodríguez, PhD1,2, Demetrio Sierra-Mercado, PhD2 1Department of Biology, University of Puerto [...]
Effects of the herbicide glyphosate on cellular activity in the insula
Salcedo-Rosado, A. Figueroa-Pérez, M. Cáceres-Chacón, O. Martínez-Guzmán, D. Sierra-Mercado Key words: glyphosate, anxiety, insula, behaviors INTRODUCTION:Glyphosate, the active ingredient in various commercial herbicides, is considered a contaminant that can be present [...]
Evaluating different methods to identify changes in the gut microbiota – lessons from alcohol-exposed Drosophila melanogaster
Jan L. Bilbao-Del Valle1, Patricia V. Pujols1, Kerianalee Rivera-Cruz1, Imilce A. Rodriguez-Fernandez1 1College of Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras INTRODUCTION: The microbiome is an unseen [...]
Examining Glial Cell Mitochondrial Morphology and Drosophila Viability: Manipulating MARF to Explore Neuronal Function
Natalia M. Jiménez Vizcarrondo1*, Demi Geneva Fortson2, Erin L. Barnhart2 1Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, San Juan, PR 2Department of Biological Science, Columbia University, New York, U.S. [...]
Examining possible relationships between Circadian Rhythm Desynchrony and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Stay Duration in asthmatic patients
Authors: Pedro I. Medina1, Felix G. Delgado1, Jaime R. Marrero BS1, Anabel Puig PhD2, José L. Agosto PhD1 Affiliations: 1 University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus, 2 University of [...]
Exploring the impact of the “Night-float rotation” on medical residents: Effects on sleep/wake cycles and circadian control of temperature
Jaime Marrero, B.S. 2; Yohana De Jesús-Berríos, MD1; Annabell C. Segarra, Ph.D. 1; Farah Ramirez-Marrero, Ph.D. 2; Lida Orta Anés, Ph.D. 1; Cruz M. Nazario, Ph.D. 1; José Agosto Rivera, Ph.D. [...]
Extinction-like behavior and BDNF expression of female rats in the absence of extinction training
Authors: 1Rosado-Rodríguez, Fabiana Z., 2Richiez-Mateo, Wilma, 3Torres-Lloret, Mario E, 3Barreto-Estrada, Jennifer L. Affiliations: 1Department of Psychology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 00925-253, 2Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, [...]
Glymphatic pathway in Xenopus tropicalis
Authors/Affiliations: Valeria Sofia Rivera Alvarado, Stephen Viviano, Engin Deniz (Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT) Introduction: Understanding cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation in the brain, especially during embryonic [...]
Hemocyte dependent regulation of alcohol induced responses as a function of temperature and dose.
Madhavi Kuchibhotla, Airined Montes, José L. Agosto Rivera, Alfredo Ghezzi. Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, San Juan, PR INTRODUCTION: Alcoholism is the third leading cause of deaths. [...]
