# SJB Biomedical Research Center for Hispanic Health Disparities

> **NIH NIH C06** · SAN JUAN BAUTISTA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $6,311,169

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
As an Institution of Emerging Excellence (IEE) in Puerto Rico, San Juan Bautista School of
Medicine (SJB) is in critical need of new infrastructure to facilitate the development of
transformative, cutting-edge biomedical research addressing health disparities in our population.
As a Hispanic-serving institution, we are committed to training, supporting, motivating, and
incentivizing investigators in developing research projects addressing minority health disparities.
This project will prioritize research studies on women, youth, and children's health and health
equity in conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, infectious diseases,
violence, and trauma. The new SJB Biomedical Research Center for Hispanic Health
Disparities (SJB BioReC) will significantly enhance the research endeavors of SJB
investigators, collaborators, and students by providing a unique set of capabilities currently
unavailable. The SJB BioRec will be a central component of the SJB Research Center for
accomplishing the following four objectives: 1) meet the current and projected future research
demand, 2) enable faculty, students, and collaborators to develop research expertise in
addressing health disparities, 3) enhance institution-wide research programs, including the
creation of a Ph.D., and 4) increase the number of students entering research interdisciplinary
programs. The primary approach for achieving these objectives is constructing new biomedical
research facilities on a 1.7-acre parcel of land owned by SJB contiguous to the Institution's
current facilities. The single-level building will include 2 Core Labs, 2 Cell Culture Rooms, a
Sample Collection and Preparation Room, a Data Analysis, Shared Equipment, Group
Discussion and Dark Rooms, and an Autoclave Room, among other facilities. Integrating
modern laboratory spaces, research training, and capacity-building programs will help meet the
growing needs of SJB investigators and students. The expanded research infrastructure will
boost the capabilities to obtain data to submit proposals to competitive external grant
opportunities and become partners in multi-institutional research grant projects. The project will
also benefit researchers outside the Institution by providing a valuable hub in Caguas, Puerto
Rico (easily accessible from all areas of the Island) for biomedical, clinical, and translational
research. In addition, this facility will benefit local researchers in under-resourced communities
and serve a broad research community as we seek to advance research addressing health
disparities among Hispanic populations. Therefore, the new SJB BioReC will significantly
enhance the research capacity at the Institution and promote internal and external scientific
collaborations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11015958
- **Project number:** 1C06OD037783-01
- **Recipient organization:** SAN JUAN BAUTISTA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** ESTELA S ESTAPE
- **Activity code:** C06 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $6,311,169
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-17 → 2028-09-16

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11015958

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11015958, SJB Biomedical Research Center for Hispanic Health Disparities (1C06OD037783-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11015958. Licensed CC0.

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