Research Core

University Of Puerto Rico Med Sciences, San Juan PR

Investigators

Abstract

Project Summary The overall goal of the COBRE Puerto Rico Center for Microbiome Sciences (PR-CMS) research core (PR-CMS-RC) is to become the most important resource facility for anyone seeking to develop microbiome research projects. It will enhance and accelerate the research capacity in microbiomes at the University of Puerto and the region. The PR-CMS-RC will synergize and expand services available in other local core facilities and bring innovation to the growing microbiome field. It will offer a much- needed capacity for biological sample handling, nucleic acid and metabolite isolation, study design, and support for protocol development using best practices in microbiome research, and advanced data analysis support. The Center will address the critical need for a metagenomics research core to increase and support the expert workforce in Puerto Rico. The core will give individualized support to COBRE research project leaders, pilot, and feasibility project awardees, as well as other faculty, physician- scientist, graduate students, and their mentors across PR institutions, who wish to enhance training in the microbiome and advance their research agendas. The partnership with the US Microbiome Centers Consortium (MCC) will establish the UPR as a key center in microbiome research outside the mainland US, increase recognition as a microbiome support center in Latin America while enhancing the diversity of the biomedical research workforce and expanding scientific studies in microbiome. The core will support an increase in the number of instructional opportunities for training available to faculty at all career levels and graduate students (basic and clinical) and the partner IDeA programs and enhance the capacity for local researchers to compete for funding and increase their publication portfolio. With the acquisition of state-of-the-art instrumentation and full-time technical support, the PR-CMS-RC will be key to increasing equity and inclusion in microbiome sciences, placing the UPR among cutting-edge contemporary core data centers for analyses and interpretation of microbiome data. The Research Core facility-specific aims include 1) Enhancing Puerto Rico’s capacity to conduct world-class microbiome research, 2) Expanding microbiome research discoveries by supporting innovative research projects, and 3) Fostering career development and training while increasing microbiome literacy. The COBRE PR- CMS will be the first core facility of its kind and will expand and improve greatly on the capacity of other core services already available. The Center will support a vibrant research community interested in addressing fundamental questions about the microbiome-host symbioses.