Universidad Central Del Caribe Inc

UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL CARIBE RESEARCH CENTERS

UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL CARIBE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTERS

NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN PUERTO RICO

SNRP PROGRAM AT UCC

HISPANIC/LATINO HEALTH DISPARITIES NATIONAL FOCUS AREA ATTC

STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS - HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS

HISPANIC/LATINO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER OF EXCELLENCE - THE HISPANIC/LATINO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COE (H/LBH COE) WILL SERVE AS A RESOURCE TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE PROVIDERS, PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY-BASED AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, H/L SERVING INSTITUTIONS (HSIS) OF HIGHER EDUCATION, PEER AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICE PROVIDERS, STATE, REGIONAL, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL ENTITIES, OTHER SYSTEMS THAT ADDRESS BH ISSUES EXPERIENCED BY H/L INDIVIDUALS (E.G. EDUCATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND SOCIAL SERVICES), AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING H/L INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AND THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EXPERTS IN H/L BH, STAKEHOLDERS, STATE OFFICIALS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY SERVICES, SAMHSA OFFICE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EQUITY, COES, AND MHTTC, ATTC, AND PTTC NCOS, THE H/LBH COE WILL (1) DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE CULTURALLY INFORMED, EVIDENCE-BASED BH INFORMATION; (2) PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (T/TA) ON EVIDENCE-BASED AND BEST PRACTICES IN MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT AND RECOVERY FROM MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD); AND (3) EXPAND THE BH WORKFORCE FOR H/L COMMUNITIES. THE H/LBH COE WILL ESTABLISH A STEERING COMMITTEE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, COMMUNITY-BASED PRACTITIONERS SERVING H/L POPULATIONS, AND NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND A PANEL OF EXPERTS FROM 12 NATIONALITIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN BH EQUITY, TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES, AND PEER RECOVERY SERVICES, TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE IN PRODUCT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS TO BE TRAINED WITH AWARD FUNDS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EQUITY, TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES, AND PEER RECOVERY SERVICES IS 500 PER YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 2,500 AT THE END OF THE GRANT CYCLE. THE NUMBER OF UNDUPLICATED ORGANIZATIONS TO BE PROVIDED TA/TRAINING WITH AWARD FUNDS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EQUITY, TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES, AND PEER RECOVERY SERVICES IS 5 IN Y1 AND 10 ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS FOR A TOTAL OF 45 AT THE END OF THE GRANT CYCLE. THE NUMBER OF PRODUCTS TO BE DEVELOPED IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EQUITY, TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES, AND PEER RECOVERY SERVICES IS 5 IN Y1 AND 20 PRODUCTS IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS, TOTALING 80 AT THE END OF THE GRANT CYCLE. FOR THE H/LBH COE, IRESA HAS ESTABLISHED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI- KANSAS CITY (UMKC) TO DEVELOP A COMMUNICATION PLAN, BRANDING, AND WEB DEVELOPMENT. THE H/LBH COE POLICY ACADEMY WILL BE DEVELOPED WITH THE LATINO POLICY INSTITUTE (LPI) AND THE LATINO MENTAL HEALTH NETWORK OF RHODE ISLAND (LMHN). THE H/LBH EMPOWERMENT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (H/LBH ELA) WILL BE DEVELOPED IN ALLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS A & M INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (TAMIU, LAREDO CAMPUS). THE H/LBH STUDENT WORKFORCE INITIATIVE (H/LBH SWI) WILL BE DEVELOPED WITH THE GILL-LEBOVIC CENTER FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH IN THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (GWU). THE H/LBH COE WILL IMPLEMENT A LANGUAGE ACCESS AND ASSISTANCE COMPONENT TO IMPROVE THE CAPACITY OF THE BH WORKFORCE TO SERVE THE H/L POPULATIONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. THE H/LBH COE WILL PROVIDE INTERPRETER TRAINING FOR BH PROVIDERS WORKING WITH INTERPRETERS TO DELIVER BH CARE. THE H/LBH COE WILL REPORT THE IMPACT, EFFECTIVENESS, APPLICATION, AND USEFULNESS OF T/TA EVENTS USING THE UNIFORM ELECTRONIC DATA COLLECTION TOOL.

IMPACT-PR: IMPROVING ADOLESCENT SEXUAL HEALTH EQUITY AND PREVENTING TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN PUERTO RICO. - THE INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND SERVICES IN ADDICTION (IRESA) IS REQUESTING FUNDING FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE OF POPULATION AFFAIRS TO IMPROVE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, PROMOTE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY FOR PUERTO RICAN YOUTH, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE REPLICATION OF MEDICALLY ACCURATE AND AGE-APPROPRIATE EVIDENCE-BASED TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION PROGRAM (EBPS), POSITIVE PREVENTION PLUS. THE PROJECT IMPACT-PR: IMPROVING ADOLESCENT SEXUAL HEALTH EQUITY AND PREVENTING TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN PUERTO RICO, THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO REDUCE TEEN PREGNANCY AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIS), INCLUDING HIV IN THE NORTHERN COASTLINE AREA OF THE ISLAND. OVER 31 MUNICIPALITIES IN PUERTO RICO SURPASS THE 15-19-YEAR U.S. PREGNANCY RATE OF 15.4 X 1,000. THE NORTHERN COASTLINE AREA SHOWS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER TEEN PREGNANCY RATES, SUGGESTING THAT INTERVENTIONS UNDERSCORING ABSTINENCE, SEXUAL RISK CESSATION, COMMUNICATION WITH TRUSTED ADULTS, AND OTHER ADULT PREPARATION SUBJECTS ARE CRITICALLY NEEDED TO SUPPORT YOUTH THRIVING AND FOCUSING ON THEIR FUTURE. IMPACT-PR WILL USE POSITIVE PREVENTION PLUS (PP+) CURRICULUM ALREADY TRANSLATED AND CULTURALLY ADAPTED BY OUR TEAM FOR PUERTO RICAN STUDENTS WITH THE NOVELTY OF INTEGRATING ADULTHOOD PREPARATION SUBJECTS AND USING DIRECT INSTRUCTION. THE PROJECT WILL RECRUIT UP TO 3,000 YOUTH PER YEAR FROM FOUR DIFFERENT SETTINGS, INCLUDING PUBLIC MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER (FQHC) CLINICS, MENTAL HEALTH AND ANTI-ADDICTION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (MHAASA, OR “ASSMCA’, SPANISH ACRONYM) REGIONAL CLINICS, AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ADFAN) REGIONAL FACILITIES. THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO: -FOSTER THE ADOPTION OF IMPACT-PR TO IMPROVE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, PROMOTE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY FOR PUERTO RICAN YOUTH, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES BY REPLICATING POSITIVE PREVENTION PLUS (PP+) AT THE SYSTEMS LEVEL. -IMPLEMENT IMPACT-PR TO INCREASE CAPACITY ON THE BENEFITS OF FORMING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, STRENGTHENING PARENT-CHILD COMMUNICATION, AND PRACTICING HEALTHY LIFE SKILLS AMONG PUERTO RICAN YOUTHS. -LINK YOUTH TO SERVICES WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OTHER AGENCIES TO BOLSTER ADOLESCENT HEALTH OUTCOMES EQUITABLY AND MITIGATE DISPARITIES.

CARIBBEAN BASIN & HISPANIC ADDICTION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER

HISPANIC AND LATINO MENTAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER (HL-MHTTC)

PROMOTING POSTBACCALAUREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISPANIC AMERICANS (PPOHA)

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM

PREPARING FUTURE FACULTY PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL CARIBE

ADDICTION MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP

PROTECTION AGAINST ORGANOPHOSPHATE NEUROTOXINS BY TOBACCO CEMBRANOIDS

PUERTO RICO DRUG ABUSE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (PRDARDP II)

PROYECTO MUJER (PROJECT WOMAN): SERVICES AND LINKAGES FOR SUPPORTING WOMEN WELL-BEING

MICROGLIA FACILITATE GLIOMA PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PYK2 AND FAK SIGNALING

POLYAMINES AND BRAIN SIGNALING

INTEGRATED SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) TRAINING PROGRAM

SYNAPTIC VESICLE DYNAMICS AT EXCITATORY HIPPOCAMPAL SYNAPSES

MBRS-SCORE PROGRAM AT UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL CARIBE

ROLE OF ASTROCYTIC TREK-2 POTASSIUM CHANNELS IN CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA

WELLBEING: ENHANCING LINKAGES AND SERVICES FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS PROJECT

UCC CARES ACT - INSTITUTIONAL PORTION

HEALTHY AND POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT EDUCATION (HAPEE) PROJECT

TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED LEARNING COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM - THE UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL CARIBE (UCC) TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROPOSED PROGRAM AIMS TO ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS (PCPS) IN DIAGNOSING AND MANAGING SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, AND CHRONIC PAIN. UTILIZING THE PROJECT ECHO (EXTENSION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES) MODEL, THIS INITIATIVE FOSTERS A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN ACADEMIC SPECIALISTS’ EXPERTISE AND COMMUNITY-BASED PCPS. THE PROGRAM SPOKES SITES WILL BE PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS ORGANIZED UNDER “ASOCIACIÓN DE IPAS DE PUERTO RICO (PUERTO RICO IPAS ASSOCIATION), A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION ESTABLISHED IN 2005; THAT HAVE MORE THAN 60 MEDICAL PARTNER GROUPS, 1,850 PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 700,000 PATIENTS ENROLLED UNDER MEDICAID PROGRAM AND APPROXIMATELY 300,000 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES. THE UCC-TECL PROGRAM FIRST YEAR TARGETS 25 MEDICAL GROUPS ACROSS PUERTO RICO, PROVIDING A SCALABLE SOLUTION TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE AT PRIMARY LEVEL AND HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES. AS TIME GOES ON, TEN (10) ADDITIONAL GROUPS WILL BE INCLUDED EACH YEAR, ENDING THE FIFTH YEAR WITH FORTY-EIGHT INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENTS AND UCC FACULTY. PARTICIPATING PCPS WILL RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM EXPERTS IN ADDICTION MEDICINE, NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND CHIROPRACTIC DOCTORS. THROUGH REGULAR TELE-MENTORING SESSIONS, CASE-BASED DISCUSSIONS, AND A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH, THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE ECHO MODEL'S HUB-AND-SPOKE STRUCTURE WILL RECEIVE CONTINUED EDUCATION. PROGRAM IMPACT WILL ENSURE THAT PARTICIPANTS GAIN PRACTICAL, EVIDENCE-BASED INSIGHTS, FOSTERING A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE THAT SUPPORTS CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. BY EMPOWERING PCPS WITH ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO IMPROVE EARLY DETECTION, TREATMENT, AND PATIENT CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM THESE COMPLEX CONDITIONS. THIS INITIATIVE ADDRE SSES THE PRESSING NEED FOR SPECIALIZED CARE IN UNDERSERVED REGIONS, ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES, TIMELY ACCESS TO CARE, AND REDUCING HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES IN PUERTO RICO.

GLIAL CELLS AND POLYAMINE SIGNALING IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

DEPENDS ON ME

UCC CARES ACT

ROLE OF THE ENDO/LYSOSOME SYSTEM IN SYNAPTIC FUNCTION

QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF PRESYNAPTIC FACILITATION

BUILD-UP OF BETA-AMYLOID IN THE BRAIN IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: AMYLOID BETA (ASS) IS THE HALLMARK OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE (AD) BUT ALSO AFFECTS PARKINSON’S DISEASE (PD) PATIENTS, ESPECIALLY IN LATER STAGES WHEN PD DEMENTIA (PDD) STARTS TO DEVELOP. WHEN PDD ADVANCES, ABOUT 50% OF PDD PATIENTS DEVELOP EXTENSIVE NEUROPATHOLOGY SIMILAR TO AD. THIS INCLUDES MISFOLDED ASS PLAQUES AND TAU NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES, WHILE THE SOURCE AND SCALE OF ASS-PRODUCED DAMAGE AND ITS EFFECTS ON PDD DEVELOPMENT ARE UNKNOWN. IN 53% OF PD PATIENTS THERE IS ALSO AN ACCUMULATION OF INSOLUBLE ASS AMYLOID AROUND BLOOD VESSELS, KNOWN AS CEREBRAL AMYLOID ANGIOPATHY (CAA). WE PREVIOUSLY FOUND THAT SYSTEMIC ASS PEPTIDE, GENERATED BY BLOOD PLATELETS DURING CEREBRAL THROMBOSIS, IS HIGHLY VISIBLE ON AND AROUND THE BLOOD VESSELS WITHIN THE BRAIN. IN ADDITION, IN A MURINE MODEL OF PD, WHEN CHEMICALS ARE INJECTED INTO THE BRAIN TO KILL DOPAMINERGIC NEURONS, ASS APPEARS ON AND AROUND BLOOD VESSEL WALLS. WE HYPOTHESIZED THAT TISSUE ACCUMULATION OF ASS AND CAA IN PD MAY BE THE RESULT OF CONTINUAL PLATELET ACTIVATION DUE TO LOCAL BRAIN INFLAMMATION, WITH HIGH QUANTITIES OF ASS TRANSPORTED THROUGH BLOOD VESSEL WALLS TO BRAIN TISSUE, CAUSING INJURY. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROPOSAL ARE TO FIND THE PLATELET-RELATED MECHANISMS INVOLVED IN LATE- PD PATHOGENESIS. OUR SPECIFIC AIMS WILL TEST WHETHER THE DIRECT REDUCTION OF PLATELET COUNT, PLATELET ACTIVATION/DEGRANULATION, OR BLOOD PLASMA ASS CARRIERS ARE IMPORTANT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ASS ACCUMULATION. OUR PROPOSED INNOVATIVE RESEARCH WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THIS DIRECT APPROACH IS EFFECTIVE AND COULD THEREBY LEAD TO A CURE FOR LATE-STAGE ASS ACCUMULATION IN PD. THIS APPROACH MIGHT OPEN THE WAY FOR NEW THERAPEUTICS TO STOP THE DEVELOPMENT OF PDD, WHICH WOULD BE A VERY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

ADDICTION MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP - ON JULY 1, 2019, THE UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL CARIBE (UCC) ESTABLISHED PUERTO RICO’S FIRST ACGME-APPROVED ADDICTION MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE PROGRAM HAS SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED NINE FELLOWS TRAINED AS BOARD-CERTIFIED OR BOARD-ELIGIBLE SPECIALISTS IN ADDICTION MEDICINE. THESE PHYSICIANS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO ASSESS, MANAGE, AND TREAT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUDS). IN 2024, THE PROGRAM ACHIEVED FULL ACGME ACCREDITATION, ALLOWING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND TO THREE FELLOWS ANNUALLY. THE PROPOSED EXPANSION ENHANCES UCC’S COMMITMENT TO ADDICTION MEDICINE TRAINING AND AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SPECIALISTS ADDRESSING SUDS IN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THESE SPECIALISTS WILL INTEGRATE EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION AND CO-OCCURRING CONDITIONS. IT WILL EXPAND AND ESTABLISH NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH CLINICAL ROTATION SITES THAT FOCUS ON INTEGRATING PRIMARY CARE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUD TREATMENT. ADDITIONALLY, IT WILL ENHANCE FELLOWS' ABILITY TO ASSIST PATIENTS WITH REFERRALS TO LEGAL AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS RELATED TO THEIR CARE NEEDS. FURTHERMORE, THE PROGRAM WILL INCREASE AWARENESS OF ADDICTION MEDICINE AS A SUBSPECIALTY AND REDUCE PROVIDER STIGMA TO ENCOURAGE MORE PHYSICIANS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN ADDICTION MEDICINE. OVER FIVE YEARS, THIS INITIATIVE WILL FOSTER A SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM THAT IMPROVES ACCESS TO ADDICTION TREATMENT WHILE CREATING A BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR PROVIDERS. THE PROGRAM WILL BE GUIDED BY A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, ENSURING SERVICES REACH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. EDUCATION IN ADDICTION MEDICINE WILL ENHANCE PROVIDER EXPERTISE, REDUCE BARRIERS AND STIGMA, AND IMPROVE CARE ACCESS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING ADOLESCENTS, PREGNANT WOMEN, AND OTHER SPECIAL POPULATIONS. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, UCC LEVERAGES PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. KEY COLLABORATORS INCLUDE THE PUERTO RICO ADMINISTRATION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ANTI-ADDICTION SERVICES (ASSMCA), RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS, PRIMARY CARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM IS ENHANCING NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PUERTO RICO DRUG COURT SYSTEM AND JUVENILE PROGRAMS WHILE EXPANDING FELLOW ROTATION SITES WITH RURAL FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS (FQHCS) THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM LETTERS OF AGREEMENT. PUERTO RICO IS PREDOMINANTLY COMPOSED OF MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE ISLAND'S ECONOMIC CRISIS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT SERVICES, DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, PUERTO RICO HAS FACED MULTIPLE NATURAL DISASTERS, INCLUDING HURRICANES MARIA AND IRMA, RECENT EARTHQUAKES, AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH HAVE EXACERBATED THE ADDICTION CRISIS. THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO ADDRESS THESE URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES BY EXPANDING THE ADDICTION MEDICINE WORKFORCE AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY, EVIDENCE-BASED ADDICTION TREATMENT.

UCC EXTRAMURAL ASSOCIATE PROGRAM

SYNAPTIC VESICLE DYNAMICS AT HIPPOCAMPAL SYNAPSES

PUERTO RICO MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY RESPONSE - THE INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND SERVICES IN ADDICTION (IRESA) OF THE UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL CARIBE (UCC), PROPOSES PUERTO RICO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS COMMUNITY RESPONSE (PRMHACR) PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WILL TRAIN SCHOOL PERSONNEL, EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS, FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL, LAW ENFORCEMENT, VETERANS, ARMED SERVICES MEMBERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES AMONG OTHERS ON HOW TO RESPOND TO INDIVIDUALS APPROPRIATELY AND SAFELY WITH MENTAL DISORDERS, PARTICULARLY INDIVIDUALS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI) AND/OR SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES (SED). THE PRMHACR WILL TARGET THE METRO NORTH HEALTH REGION (MNHR) OF PUERTO RICO COMPRISED BY THE MUNICIPALITIES OF BARRANQUITAS, BAYAMON, CATAÑO, COMERIO, COROZAL, DORADO,NARANJITO, OROCOVIS, TOA BAJA, TOA ALTA, AND VEGA ALTA WHERE THE NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH CASES IS HIGHER IN COMPARISON TO OTHER AREAS. THIS PROJECT IS A CAPACITY-BUILDING INITIATIVE SEEKING TO PREPARE, STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO THE SEGMENTS OF THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT AND AT RISK OF DEVELOPING ANY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER. PRMHACR WILL TRAIN 1,180 INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURES OF HELP, SERVING AND IN CLOSE AND CONTINUOUS CONTACT WITH THIS POPULATION IN THE CURRICULUMS OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (YMHFA), MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA), MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOR OLDER ADULTS (MHFA-OLDER ADULTS), MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOR VETERANS (MHFA-VETERANS) AMONG OTHERS. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY INCREASING THE MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY OF INDIVIDUALS INTERACTING WITH YOUTH, OLDER ADULTS, AND RURAL POPULATIONS (YOARP) TO RECOGNIZE WARNING SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS, MAKE APPROPRIATE REFERRALS, AND EMPLOY CRISIS DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES WHEN NECESSARY. TO ENSURE THIS IDENTIFICATION, EARLY REFERRAL AND CRISIS DE-ESCALATION OCCURS, THE PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH A NETWORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND HEALTH INSURERS TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO NEEDED SERVICES. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PRMHACR AIMS TO BUILD, STRENGTHEN, AND EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF THE MNHR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL DISORDERS, PARTICULARLY SMI AND/OR SED TO DEPLOY APPROPRIATE AND SAFETY RESPONSE; AND ESTABLISH LINKAGES WITHIN THE MNHR TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS OF REFERRALS AND SERVICE DELIVERY.

GLIAL UPTAKE OF DOPAMINE AFTER L-DOPA MEDICATION

VALIDATING THE MODE OF ACTION OF ERGOSTEROL PEROXIDE AS A SELECTIVE BREAST CANCER INHIBITOR - PROJECT SUMMARY TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER (TNBC) IS AN AGGRESSIVE AND LETHAL BREAST CANCER SUBTYPE MORE COMMONLY DIAGNOSED ON YOUNGER (<40Y) WOMEN OF COLOR (HISPANICS AND AFRICAN AMERICAN), WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE DISEASE RECURRENCE AND WHO HAVE AN OVERALL SHORTER SURVIVAL. FURTHERMORE, ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS (I.E. DRUG TOXICITY, AND THERAPY RESISTANCE) PERSIST IN THE CLINIC FOR TNBC PATIENTS. THUS, A CRITICAL NEED EXISTS TO DISCOVER MORE DESIRABLE TARGETED THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES THAT SELECTIVELY TARGET TNBC TUMOR CELLS WHILE LEAVING NORMAL CELLS UNAFFECTED, ENHANCING A COMPLETE RESPONSE AND REDUCING TNBC-ASSOCIATED MORTALITY RATES. ACCORDINGLY, OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE BC MORTALITY BY IDENTIFYING UNIQUE VULNERABILITIES OF TNBC THAT CAN BE EXPLOITED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELECTIVE THERAPEUTIC AGENTS. WE RECENTLY IDENTIFIED THE NATURAL PRODUCT ERGOSTEROL PEROXIDE A STEROIDAL COMPOUND FOUND IN FUNGI, AS A POTENT ANTIPROLIFERATIVE AGENT AGAINST TNBC CELL MODELS WITH LITTLE TO NO EFFECT ON NONCANCEROUS CELLS. WE DEMONSTRATED THAT EP IS MORE POTENT TOWARDS TNBC THAN HER2-POSITIVE MODELS. EP INDUCES ROS AND APOPTOSIS IN TNBC CELLS AND REDUCES TUMOR VOLUME IN TNBC MODELS IN VIVO. HOWEVER, EP’S MODE OF ACTION (MOA) REMAINS TO BE DEFINED. EXTENDED PERIODS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE MITOCHONDRIA LEAD TO ACCUMULATION OF DAMAGED PROTEINS, WHICH ARE NORMALLY REMOVED BY UBIQUITINATION VIA THE VCP/ANKZF1 PATHWAY. WE HAVE SYNTHESIZED EP IN GRAM SCALE AND SHOW THAT EP ACCUMULATES IN THE CYTOSOL AND AFFECTS VCP AND ANKZF1 INTERACTIONS, RAISING THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE VCP/ANKZF1 COMPLEX IS TARGETED DURING ITS ASSEMBLY PRIOR TO ARRIVING TO THE MITOCHONDRIA. THUS, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TNBC’S DEPENDENCY ON STEROL UPTAKE, REMOVAL OF MISFOLDED PROTEINS AND ALTERED REDOX HOMEOSTASIS, WE PROPOSE THAT EP SERVES AS A VCP/ANKZF1 COMPLEX PROTEIN-PROTEIN INHIBITOR (PPI). WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT EP TARGETS THE VCP/ANKZF1 COMPLEX, IMPAIRING THE ABILITY OF CANCER CELLS TO CLEAR DAMAGED PROTEINS AND CAUSING MITOCHONDRIA DYSFUNCTION TO INDUCE TNBC CELL DEATH. TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS WE WILL IDENTIFY THE MECHANISM BY WHICH EP TARGETS THE VCP/ANKZF1 COMPLEX IN TNBC MODELS USING BIOPHYSICAL ASSAYS AND SYNTHESIZED EP-PROBES (AIM 1). THE RESULTS FROM THIS AIM WILL VALIDATE THAT TARGETING VCP/ANKZF1 COMPLEX INDUCES INCREASES MISFOLDED AND AGGREGATED PROTEINS, WHICH LEAD TO CANCER CELL DEATH. WE WILL DETERMINE THE EFFICACY OF EP USING SYNGENEIC MODELS INJECTED WITH DOXYCYCLINE INDUCIBLE ANKZF1 SILENCED CELLS, AND IN TNBC PDXS. EP SAFETY AND BIO- AVAILABILITY WILL ALSO BE DETERMINED AND STUDIED BY MTD AND PK/PD (AIM 2). THE RESULT OF THIS AIM WILL PROVIDE DATA NEEDED FOR THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS THE TRANSLATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF EP. STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN THIS HYPOTHESIS-DRIVEN RESEARCH WILL IMPROVE THE PIPELINE FOR URM STUDENTS IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND LEAD TO IMPROVED BC TREATMENT.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONALS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS

UCC - PROVIDERS CLINICAL SUPPORT SYSTEM - UNIVERSITIES (UCC-PCSS-U) - IN 1995, UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL CARIBE PREMIERED ITS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING WAS INITIATED, OFFERING A POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING AND THE MASTER OF HEALTH SCIENCES IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING. UCC IS A HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION (HSI) LOCATED IN BAYAMÓN THAT ALSO CREATED THE FIRST AND ONLY FELLOWSHIP IN ADDICTION MEDICINE FOR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS IN PUERTO RICO. DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF PEOPLE LIVING IN PUERTO RICO HAS EXPERIENCED A DRAMATIC DECLINE. THE DRAMATIC RISE OF SUDS AND OUDS IN THE PUERTO RICAN POPULATION WILL MOST LIKELY CONTINUE TO INCREASE DUE TO THE SHORTAGE OF ADEQUATELY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN COLLABORATE IN THE PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT (MOUD/MAUD) OF THEM. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED UCC-PCSS-U PROGRAM IS TO TRAIN GRADUATE-LEVEL MEDICAL STUDENTS TO EFFECTIVELY PREVENT, IDENTIFY, DIAGNOSE AND TREAT MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, SPECIFICALLY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD) AND OPIOID USE DISORDERS (OUD). THE UCC-PCSS-U PROGRAM HAS 3 MAIN GOALS: (1) INCREASING THE NUMBER OF GRADUATE-LEVEL MEDICAL STUDENTS COMPLETING THE THEORICAL AND CLINICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SUBSTANCE AND OPIOID USE DISORDERS IN MEDICINE IMMERSION PROGRAM; (2) ESTABLISHING A DIDACTIC AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IN SUD/OUD PREVENTION, MOUD, AND RECOVERY SERVICES FRAMED IN A LONG-TERM ILLNESS AND RECOVERY MANAGEMENT MODEL; (3) PLACE GRADUATE-LEVEL MEDICAL STUDENTS IN CLINICAL ROTATION SITES THAT PROVIDE ROBUST MENTAL HEALTH AND SUD/OUD SERVICES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS.OUR PROPOSED TRAINING PROGRAM WILL INTEGRATE THE RECOMMENDED CORE CURRICULUM TOPICS FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN EARLY ACADEMIC CAREER HEALTHCARE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AS OUTLINED ON SAMHSA'S CORE CURRICULUM ELEMENTS ON SUBSTANCE USE. THE UCC-PCSS-U PROGRAM WILL IMPACT MEDICAL STUDENTS AT UCC, WHO WILL PARTICIPATE IN THEORETICAL COURSEWORK AND CLINICAL ROTATIONS. AFTER COURSE COMPLETION, PARTICIPANTS WILL DEMONSTRATE EFFICIENCY AND EFFICACY IN MANAGING PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD'S) AND OPIOID USE DISORDERS (OUD'S). THIS THREE-YEAR PROGRAM WILL HELP MEDICAL STUDENTS TO CREATE AWARENESS ABOUT THE SUD/OUD, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TREATMENT PROCESS AND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS AN EFFICIENT PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION-ORIENTED PLAN THAT WILL ALLOW US TO SERVE OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. OUR MEDICAL STUDENTS WILL INCREASE AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, THUS REDUCING BARRIERS AND STIGMA TO TREATMENT AND PREVENTION IN SUD/OUD. THE SUBSTANCE OPIOID USE DISORDERS IN MEDICINE IMMERSION PROGRAM CLINICAL/THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK WILL ADDRESS SUD'S/OUD'S AND HOW TO MANAGE THEM AS COMPLEX CHRONIC CONDITIONS, TO AVOID SEQUELAE AND PREMATURE DEATH. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY DEVELOPING A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT WILL MERGE THE KNOWLEDGE OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM LED BY BOARD-CERTIFIED ADDICTION MEDICINE DOCTORS, AND COMPOSED OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELORS, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS. THE PROPOSED UCC-PCSS-U PROGRAM WILL ENROLL 180 PARTICIPANTS IN THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD (Y1:50; Y2:60; Y3:70). AFTER THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UCC-PCSS-U, WE WILL CONDUCT ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRAININGS/WORKSHOPS THAT WILL IMPACT STUDENTS FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND PROFESSIONALS FROM DIVERSE DISCIPLINES.

GAP JUNCTION INTERCELLULAR COMMUNICATION AND POLYAMINES

SENSITIZATION OF BREAST CANCER AND CANCER STEM CELL TO SYSTEMIC THERAPY BY REISHI

MICROGLIA PROMOTE DISPERSAL OF GLIOMA CELLS THROUGH PYK2 INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING

PYK2 INHIBITION MITIGATES IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ENHANCES THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE TO IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS IN GBM - GLIOBLASTOMA (GBM) IS A HIGHLY AGGRESSIVE BRAIN CANCER AND IS USUALLY FATAL WITHIN A YEAR OF DIAGNOSIS. WHILE IMMUNE CHECKPOINT BLOCKADE THERAPIES, SUCH AS PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH LIGAND 1 (PD-L1) INHIBITORS, HAVE SHOWN SUCCESS IN VARIOUS CANCERS, IN RECURRENT GBM ONLY 8% OF PATIENTS REVEALED OBJECTIVE RESPONSES. NON- RESPONSIVE GBMS DISPLAY AN IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE PROFILE AND HIGHER LEVELS OF TUMOR-INFILTRATING MYELOID CELLS (TIMS), CONSISTING OF BRAIN MICROGLIA AND PERIPHERAL-DERIVED CELLS. TACKLING THE IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE MICROENVIRONMENT IS THE MAJOR CHALLENGE IN GBM IMMUNOTHERAPY. THE GOAL OF THE STUDY IS TO IDENTIFY MECHANISMS OF GBM-MEDIATED IMMUNE SUPPRESSION AND DEVELOP EFFECTIVE IMMUNOTHERAPY. IN HUMAN GBM SPECIMENS AND MOUSE MODELS, WE PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED ELEVATED ACTIVATION OF PROLINE-RICH TYROSINE KINASE 2 (PYK2) AND FOCAL ADHESION KINASE (FAK) SIGNALING, ASSOCIATED WITH AN IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE ENVIRONMENT COMPARED TO HEALTHY BRAIN TISSUE. PYK2 KNOCK-OUT TUMORS EXHIBITED INCREASED INFILTRATION OF INFLAMMATORY MYELOID CELLS AND ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC CD8+ LYMPHOCYTES. ADDITIONALLY, AN INVERSE RELATIONSHIP WAS FOUND BETWEEN PYK2/FAK ACTIVATION AND NEUROFIBROMATOSIS 1 (NF1) EXPRESSION IN HUMAN GBM SAMPLES, WHILE NF1- CELLS DEMONSTRATED HIGHER EXPRESSION OF PD-L1, WHICH WAS REDUCED BY KNOCKING DOWN PYK2 AND FAK. BASED ON THESE FINDINGS WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT PYK2 AND FAK SIGNALING IN GBM CELLS COORDINATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE TUMOR ENVIRONMENT BY REGULATING THE RELEASE OF CYTOKINES AND EXPRESSION OF PD-L1 IN GBM CELLS. TARGETING PYK2/FAK ENHANCES THE SENSITIVITY OF GBM TO ANTI-PD-L1 THERAPY. THE NF1 LOSS EXHIBIT INCREASED SENSITIVITY TO PYK2/FAK INHIBITORS, SUGGESTING A POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY FOR NF1- GBMS. THE COMBINATION OF PYK2/FAK INHIBITOR DEFACTINIB AND PD-L1 INHIBITOR PEMBROLIZUMAB IS ANTICIPATED TO ENHANCE ANTI- TUMOR IMMUNE RESPONSES AND IMPROVE THERAPEUTIC OUTCOMES IN PD-L1 INHIBITOR NON-RESPONSIVE PATIENTS. IN THIS STUDY WE WILL UTILIZE NF1+ AND NF1- MOUSE GBM MODELS AND PRIMARY HUMAN GBM CELL CULTURES, COUPLED WITH CELL BIOLOGY APPROACHES, TO DISSECT THE UNDERLYING MECHANISMS OF PYK2 AND FAK SIGNALING IN REGULATING THE ACTIVATION STATE OF TIMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PYK2/FAK INHIBITION AS A SENSITIZATION STRATEGY FOR THE PD-L1 INHIBITOR PEMBROLIZUMAB WILL BE ASSESSED IN MOUSE GBM MODELS, WITH A FOCUS ON NF1- TUMORS. THESE FINDINGS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO ENHANCE TREATMENT OUTCOMES IN GBM AND GUIDE PERSONALIZED TREATMENT DECISIONS BASED ON THE NF1 STATUS OF THE TUMOR. TO TEST OUR HYPOTHESIS, WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC AIMS: SPECIFIC AIM 1. TO IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF PYK2 AND FAK SIGNALING ON THE IMMUNOLOGICAL MICROENVIRONMENT IN NF1- AND NF1+ GBM TUMORS. SPECIFIC AIM2. TO IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF PYK2 AND FAK SIGNALING IN PD-L1 EXPRESSION IN GBM CELLS. SPECIFIC AIM3. TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMBINED PYK2/FAK AND PD-L1 PHARMACOLOGICAL INHIBITION IN REDUCING GBM TUMOR GROWTH.

CELLULAR MECHANISMS OF VASOREGULATION BY VOLATILE ANESTHETICS

PYK2 REGULATES EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES RELEASE IN GBM CELLS AND MODULATES ACTIVATION OF TUMOR INFILTRATING MYELOID CELLS - GLIOBLASTOMA (GBM) IS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE BRAIN CANCER AND USUALLY FATAL WITHIN A YEAR AFTER DIAGNOSIS. CURRENT TREATMENT APPROACHES PROVIDE ONLY A MODEST, FEW MONTHS, LIFE EXTENSION. TUMOR INFILTRATING MYELOID CELLS (TIM) PROVIDE STRONG IMPACT ON TUMOR GROWTH, DISPERSAL AND TREATMENT RESISTANCE. THE CURRENT UNMET NEED IN GBM TREATMENT IS TO ADDRESS THE TIM CONTRIBUTION ON TUMOR GROWTH AND TREATMENT RESISTANCE IN TREATMENT PROTOCOLS. THE GOAL OF THE STUDY IS TO IDENTIFY MOLECULAR TARGETS FOR THE GBM TREATMENT APPROACHES AIMED AT MODULATION OF TUMOR IMMUNE MICROENVIRONMENT. OUR RECENT STUDIES IDENTIFIED SIGNIFICANT UP-REGULATION OF PROLINE-RICH TYROSINE KINASE 2 (PYK2) IN GBM TUMORS, COMPARED WITH HEALTHY BRAIN TISSUE, AS WELL AS, A POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN PYK2 ACTIVATION IN TUMOR CELLS AND CYTOKINES EXPRESSION PROFILE OF TIM. ADDITIONALLY, BOTH TUMOR RESECTION AND TEMOZOLOMIDE TREATMENT UP-REGULATE PYK2 IN GBM TUMORS AND AFFECT ACTIVATION STATE OF TIM. THIS IDENTIFIED PYK2 AS A CANDIDATE PROGNOSTIC MARKER FOR THE IMMUNE STATE IN GBM TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT. PRELIMINARY STUDIES IN GL261 GLIOMA CELLS IDENTIFIED THAT CELLS, KNOCKED OUT FOR PYK2, DO NOT RELEASE THE POPULATION OF EVS WITH DIAMETER BIGGER THEM 600NM AND REDUCE EXPRESSION OF MONOCYTE CHEMOATTRACTANT PROTEIN (CCL2), CCL12 AND VASCULAR ENDOTHELIUM GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF) IN EV FRACTION, COMPARED WITH PYK2WT CELLS. CORRESPONDINGLY, INCREASE OF CD86+/CD206+ INFLAMMATORY MYELOID CELL AND CD8+ LYMPHOCYTES POPULATIONS WERE FOUND IN TIMS, PURIFIED FROM PYK2KO TUMORS, COMPARED WITH PYK2WT TUMORS, IN GL261/C57BL/6 MOUSE GLIOMA IMPLANTATION MODEL. BASED ON THESE FINDINGS WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT PYK2 IS INVOLVED IN SIGNALING REGULATION OF RELEASE OF INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES CCL2, CCL12 AND CCL5 THROUGH THE EVS MECHANISM, LEADING TO MODULATION OF TIM CELLS POLARIZATION. IN THIS STUDY WE WILL UTILIZE MOUSE GLIOMA IMPLANTATION MODEL AND PRIMARY HUMAN GBM CELL CULTURES, WITH HIGH AND LOW LEVELS OF PYK2 EXPRESSION, COUPLED WITH CELL BIOLOGY APPROACHES, TO DISSECT THE ROLE OF PYK2 IN REGULATION OF BIOGENESIS AND CYTOKINES CONTENT OF GLIOMA CELL DERIVED EVS. WE WILL ALSO EXAMINE, IN MOUSE AND HUMAN IN VITRO MODELS, THE MODULATION OF ACTIVATION STATE OF MICROGLIAL CELLS THROUGH THE GLIOMA-DERIVED EV MECHANISM. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY MECHANISMS OF INTERACTION BETWEEN GLIOMA AND TIM CELLS AND THE ROLE OF PYK2 SIGNALING IN THIS COMMUNICATION. TO TEST OUR HYPOTHESIS, WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC AIMS: SPECIFIC AIM 1. TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLE OF PYK2 IN RELEASE OF CYTOKINES THROUGH THE EV MECHANISM IN GBM CELLS. SPECIFIC AIM2. TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLE OF PYK2 IN REGULATION OF ACTIN-RELATED RELEASE OF EVS POPULATIONS. SPECIFIC AIM3. TO ASSESS THE ROLE OF VESICULAR PYK2 IN EV INTERNALIZATION BY MICROGLIAL CELLS.

PROJECT AWARE-PUERTO RICO

SCAMP3 AS A REGULATOR OF EGFR/STAT3 AXIS IN TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER - PROJECT SUMMARY THIS PROPOSAL WILL INVESTIGATE THE MOLECULAR DRIVERS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRESSION OF ONE OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE AND METASTATIC TYPES OF BREAST CANCER. TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER (TNBC) IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE LACK OF HORMONE RECEPTORS (ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE) AND HER2 EXPRESSION AND ACCOUNTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 20% OF ALL BREAST CANCERS. DUE TO ITS HETEROGENEITY AND DEARTH OF DEFINED SPECIFIC MOLECULAR TARGETS, TNBC TREATMENT REMAINS CHALLENGING. ACCORDINGLY, THIS STUDY SEEKS TO ELUCIDATE THE MOLECULAR ROLE OF SECRETORY CARRIER- ASSOCIATED MEMBRANE PROTEIN 3 (SCAMP3) ON TNBC PATHOGENESIS, WITH THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING NEW THERAPIES THAT WILL IMPROVE THE SURVIVAL RATE OF PATIENTS. RECENTLY, SCAMP3 HAS BEEN FOUND OVEREXPRESSED AND ASSOCIATED WITH POOR PROGNOSIS IN HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA, MELANOMA, GLIOMA, AND BREAST CANCER, SUGGESTING THAT SCAMP3 HAS A KEY ROLE IN ONCOGENESIS. HOWEVER, THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF HOW SCAMP3 PROMOTES TNBC PROGRESSION ARE POORLY UNDERSTOOD. SCAMP3 IS A REGULATOR OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR (EGFR) TRAFFICKING WITHIN ENDOSOMAL MEMBRANES PROMOTING RECEPTOR RECYCLING. EGFR MEDIATED ENDOCYTOSIS IS A MECHANISM OF TRANSPORT OF CANCER-ASSOCIATED SIGNALING PROTEINS, SUCH AS SIGNAL TRANSDUCER AND ACTIVATOR OF TRANSCRIPTION 3 (STAT3). EGFR AND STAT3 HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH TNBC PROLIFERATION, INVASION, METASTASIS, AND CANCER STEM CELL (CSC) MAINTENANCE. OUR OBJECTIVES ARE TO DETERMINE THE MECHANISMS BY WHICH SCAMP3 PROMOTES TNBC PROGRESSION AND DETERMINE THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN SCAMP3/EGFR AND STAT3 SIGNALING PATHWAYS. WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT: 1) SCAMP3/EGFR MEDIATED ENDOCYTOSIS REGULATES THE ACTIVATION OF STAT3. 2) SCAMP3 SIGNALING PATHWAY PROMOTES AND MAINTAINS TNBC STEMNESS VIA THE MODULATION OF EGFR/STAT3, AND 3) SCAMP3 CONTRIBUTES TO TNBC TUMOR FORMATION AND METASTASIS. TO TEST THESE HYPOTHESES, WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING AIMS: 1) TO ELUCIDATE THE MECHANISM OF ACTION OF SCAMP3 ON STAT3 ACTIVATION; 2) DEFINE THE ROLE OF SCAMP3 IN TNBC AND CSCS REGULATION VIA STAT3 MODULATION: 2A) TO ELUCIDATE THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF SCAMP3 IN CSCS MAINTENANCE IN VITRO; 2B) TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECT OF SCAMP3 IN TUMORIGENESIS AND METASTASIS. WE PROPOSE EXPERIMENTS THAT WILL MONITOR EGFR AND STAT3 INTERNALIZATION, STAT3 DNA-BINDING ACTIVITY, AND TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVITY. WE WILL IDENTIFY THE RELEVANT DRIVER GENES THAT MAINTAIN CANCER STEMNESS IN SCAMP3 OVEREXPRESSING CELLS USING RNASEQ, WHICH WILL BE CONFIRMED IN PATIENT SAMPLES. THE STUDIES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE RAPIDLY TRANSLATED TO THE CLINIC AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE INCIDENCE AND NUMBER OF DEATHS RELATED TO TNBC.

PUERTO RICO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING AND COMMUNITY RESPONSE

AHEC INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

HRP CDNA EXPRESSION: A LABEL FOR MODERN ELECTRON MICROSCOPY ON NEUROSCIENCE

ACTIVITY-DEPENDENT GROWTH AND DIFFERENTIATION OF SYNAPTIC BOUTONS

THE NEUROPROTECTIVE ROLE OF 4R-CEMBRANOID DURING SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION.

FUNCTIONAL INTERACTION OF SYNAPSIN AND RAB3A IN THE PRESYNAPTIC VESICLE CYCLE

NEUROPROTECTION AGAINST GULF WAR ILLNESS BY AN ALPHA 7 NICOTINIC ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTOR MODULATOR

DEFINING THE ROLE OF TREM-LIKE TRANSCRIPT-1 IN PLATELET AGGREGATION

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS

UCC FIPSE - CARES ACT

ROLE OF REISHI ON CELL SURFACE PROTEINS AND SIGNALING MODULATION IN IBC

UCC SIP - CARES ACT

REGULATION OF INHIBITORY ACTIVITY AT HIPPOCAMPAL SLICES BY SYNAPSIN II AND RAB3A

PUERTO RICO CANCER RESEARCH MEETING - PROJECT SUMMARY THE PUERTO RICO CANCER RESEARCH MEETING (PRCRM), HOSTED BY UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DEL CARIBE – SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (UCC-SOM), AIMS TO BRIDGE THE GAP IN CANCER RESEARCH BY ADDRESSING CHALLENGES FACED BY LOCAL SCIENTISTS AND STUDENTS DUE TO GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITATIONS. AS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN PUERTO RICO, COMBATING CANCER MORTALITY RATES BECOMES CRUCIAL. LIMITED ACCESS TO RESOURCES RESTRICTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS TO ATTEND NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS. THIS ONE-DAY ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS AN ESSENTIAL PLATFORM THAT FACILITATES CROSS-DISCIPLINARY EXCHANGES AMONG UNDERREPRESENTED INVESTIGATORS, TRAINEES, PATIENT ADVOCATES, AND CANCER SURVIVORS. IT COMPRISES DIVERSE SESSIONS INCLUDING PLENARY LECTURES BY DISTINGUISHED RESEARCHERS, A CANCER/SURVIVOR ADVOCACY TALK, TRAINEES’ SHORT TALKS SESSIONS, POSTER AND NETWORKING SESSIONS, AS WELL AS A UCC GRADUATE PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSION. WITH A PRIMARY EMPHASIS ON PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, THIS MEETING TARGETS UNDERREPRESENTED SCIENTISTS AND STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. FORMER ATTENDEES OF PAST PRCRM EDITIONS ARE NOW CONTRIBUTING AS POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS, RESEARCH TRAINEES, OR RESIDENTS OF ESTEEMED LOCAL AND NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE MEETING'S SPECIFIC AIMS ARE: 1) TO PROMOTE THE DISSEMINATION OF BASIC SCIENCE AND LATEST CLINICAL RESEARCH IN CANCER PREVENTION, THERAPY RESISTANCE, INNOVATIVE TREATMENTS, METASTASIS AND HEALTH DISPARITIES TO AUDIENCES IN PUERTO RICO. 2) TO EMPOWER UNDERREPRESENTED TRAINEES IN THE BIOMEDICAL WORKFORCE FROM PUERTO RICO AND PARTICIPATING PARTNER INSTITUTIONS BY PROVIDING A PIONEERING SCIENTIFIC FORUM, AND GIVING THEM A SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL VENUE TO SHARE THEIR RESEARCH WORK. 3) TO STRENGTHEN NETWORKING AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN LOCAL AND NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, FOSTERING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE TEAMWORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR TRAINEES, FACULTY, AND CANCER SURVIVORS. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES OF THE PRCRM INCLUDE THE STIMULATION OF NEW RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF GRANT PROPOSALS, TRAINEE ADVANCED CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENTS IN CANCER RESEARCH. THIS INITIATIVE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE DIVERSITY IN THE BIOMEDICAL WORKFORCE AND SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER COUNTRIES WITH THE SAME CHALLENGES.

PROJECT AWARE-PUERTO RICO

HISPANIC/LATINO HEALTH DISPARITIES NATIONAL FOCUS AREA ATTC

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONALS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS