# Developmental Research Project Program

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO · 2020 · $2,484,418

## Abstract

This renewal application of the Puerto Rico IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (PR-INBRE)
will reinforce the original goal to strengthen the biomedical research capacity in Puerto Rico by serving as a
platform for conducting multidisciplinary research. This objective will be augmented by the support of four
thematic focus areas: Neuroscience, Molecular Medicine, Drug Development, Environmental and Behavioral
Research; buttressed by the Bioinformatics infrastructure developed during the previous funding period. The
new lead institution, the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus (UPR-MSC) is a complete
academic health center and a predominantly Hispanic-serving institution. The UPR-MSC will strengthen
collaborations between lead and partner institutions, enhance their capacity for biomedically relevant research,
and provide scientific leadership and logistical support for a 17-member PR-INBRE network of 11 Primarily
Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), 3 Medical Schools, 1 Professional School, and 2 Research-intensive
institutions. The PR-INBRE is expected to benefit the ~89,712 full time students pursuing Ph.D., M.D., M.S.,
and B.S. degrees in STEM, Medicine, and Biomedical disciplines. Administrative, Bioinformatics,
Instrumentation, and Education Cores of the PR-INBRE will implement innovative research training and career
development activities for faculty, postdoctoral Fellows, undergraduate, medical, and graduate students. These
activities will be sponsored by a Developmental Research Project Program supporting a variety of funding and
mentoring initiatives for young investigators. Also supported will be research mentoring and salary support for
students, a Visiting Speaker Program for INBRE institutions, Technical Training Workshops, Specialized
Courses, and Travel Awards. The Specific aims of PR-INBRE are: 1-Strengthen the PR-INBRE network lead
and partner institutions' biomedical expertise and research infrastructure. 2- Contribute to the development of
research faculty, postdoctoral Fellows, graduate and undergraduate students of underrepresented groups in
research. 3- Enhance the science and technology competency of the biomedical workforce. Improved
oversight of research project investigators and greater emphasis on effectiveness of Research Mentors
coupled with intensification of external and internal evaluation and tracking of outcomes for every program
activity will be a hallmark of this program. Through collaborations with regional INBRE and COBRE programs,
we will leverage our research resources and scientific expertise, and enrich the number and quality of research
and training opportunities. A unified administrative structure coupled with a strong institutional commitment to
the INBRE goals will create a nurturing environment that will raise the productivity and quality of research in
the network, and result in the recruitment and retention of talented researchers. We expect to sustain a
vigorous biomedical ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9844484
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103475-18
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO
- **Principal Investigator:** SURANGANIE DHARMAWARDHANE
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $2,484,418
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2021-07-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9844484

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9844484, Developmental Research Project Program (5P20GM103475-18). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9844484. Licensed CC0.

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