Institute of Neurobiology of the University of Puerto Rico receives grant $2.9 million to rebuild its facilities

SAN JUAN – The Medical Sciences Campus (MSC) of the University of Puerto Rico received a grant of $2.9 million to reconstruct facilities of the Institute of Neurobiology that were damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria. The grant was awarded by the Extramural Research Facilities Restoration Program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Mark W. Miller, Professor of the UPR School of Medicine, is the Principal Investigator of the project.

“As a research unit dedicated to the study of the structure and function of the nervous system, the operation of the Institute of Neurobiology is essential for the Medical Sciences Campus. This project has eleven objectives that impact the facade and infrastructure of the facilities, as well as the structure’s cooling system,” explained Dr. Segundo Rodríguez Quilichini, MSC Chancellor.

The Institute of Neurobiology, located in Old San Juan, houses ten laboratories that investigate behavior and brain functions. The research addresses important neurological conditions ranging from developmental disorders, such as autism, to neurotrauma and degenerative conditions related to aging.

“We submit many proposals but very few are funded, so it is wonderful to receive good news about a project that will impact many students and researchers,” Dr. Miller said.

The project from Puerto Rico was one of four grants awarded. Other members of the Institute of Neurobiology renovation team include Dr. María A. Sosa-Llorens, Co-Investigator, Mrs. Idalia Guzmán, Infrastructure and Facilities Administrator, and Mrs. Bethzaida Birriel Orozco, Federal Projects Administrator.

圣胡安讯，波多黎各大学医学院收到了290万美元的赠款，用于重建被飓风“伊尔玛”和“玛丽亚”破坏的神经生物学研究所的设施这笔资金是由美国国立卫生研究院(NIH)的院外研究设施修复计划提供的。波多黎各大学医学院教授马克·米勒博士是该项目的首席研究员。

医学院院长塞贡多斯博士表示：“神经生物学研究所作为一个致力于神经系统结构和功能研究的研究单位，其运作对医学校园至关重要。该项目有11个目标，影响立面和设施的基础设施，以及结构的冷却系统。”

位于圣胡安的神经生物学研究所拥有十个研究行为和大脑功能的实验室。这项研究涉及重要的神经系统疾病，从发育障碍，如自闭症，到神经创伤和与衰老相关的退行性疾病。

米勒博士说：“我们提交了许多提案，但得到资助的却很少。因此，我们很高兴收到这个项目的好消息，它将对许多学生和研究人员产生影响。”

波多黎各的这个项目是获得的四项赠款之一。神经生物学研究所改造小组的其他成员包括联合研究员列壬博士、基础设施和设施管理人员古斯曼女士和联邦项目管理人员奥罗斯科女士。