NIEF - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Specialist of the Neuroimaging

Lcdo. Bismark A. Madera Soto is the Microscopy Specialist of the Neuroimaging and Electrophysiology Facility and a Medical Laboratory Scientist. He focuses his efforts on providing help and training to students through microscopy and immunofluorescent assays. He finds great satisfaction on strengthen student's skills for their next academic challenges. He also provides clinical laboratory services as a Medical Technologist (M.T.). Education MS, Medical Technology, Clinical Laboratory Administration, Interamerican University, Metropolitan Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico BS, Medical Technology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico Professional Certifications

Job Titles:

• Director
• Coordinator of Confocal Microscopy at the Institute of Neurobiology
• Coordinator of Microscopy at the Institute of Neurobiology

Dr. Dina Bracho is the Coordinator of Confocal Microscopy at the Institute of Neurobiology. She is interested in synaptic homeostasis during development or neural activity. Education PhD in Biology (Molecular Biology) at University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus MS in Biology (Environmental Microbiology) at UPR, Mayaguez Campus BS in Microbiology at Universidad de Pamplona Research Interests Synaptic homeostasis Molecular Neurobiology Neuropathology Neuroimmunology Prions

Job Titles:

• Electrophysiology Specialist
• Specialist of the Neuroimaging

Dr. Héctor G. Marrero Hernández is the Electrophysiology Specialist of the Neuroimaging and Electrophysiology Facility and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Institute of Neurobiology. He is interested to study biological mechanisms at the molecular level and to establish and develop state-of-the-art techniques for, more specifically, the study of molecular interactions in biological membranes. Education Postdoc, Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA Postdoc, Pharmacology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA Postdoc, Neurobiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Postdoc, Biophysics, University of Puerto Rico, Institute of Neurobiology, San Juan, P.R. PhD, Molecular Biophysics, Boston University, Boston, MA

Job Titles:

• Director
• Director of the Neuroimaging

Dr. Jorge D. Miranda is the Director of the Neuroimaging and Electrophysiology Facility and Professor of Physiology at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. His research is in the area of cell survival and nerve regeneration after trauma to the central nervous system. Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in a series of time-dependent changes at the lesion site, producing a non-permissive or repulsive environment for cell survival and axonal outgrowth. Among the molecular and cellular events triggered by the physical injury to the spinal cord are: necrosis, blood vessel damage, formation of free radicals, edema, infiltration of cells from the immune system, inflammation, axotomy, demyelination, apoptosis and gliosis. The end result from these events is the reduction in sensory and locomotor activity. Therefore, a multi-active compound is necessary to target most of the detrimental events initiated by the injury. We are studying the effects of estradiol or tamoxifen, as neuroprotective agents, to improve functional locomotor recovery after SCI. Education Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Miami School of Medicine in the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. MS in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR BS in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR Research Interests Spinal Cord Injury Neuroprotection Neuroregeneration Molecular Neurobiology Cellular Neurobiology Estradiol and Tamoxifen as neuroprotective agents

Job Titles:

• Director
• Program Director
• Program Director of the COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity

Dr. José A. Lasalde Dominicci is the Program Director of the COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico and a Professor of Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. His research is focused on: (1) the structure function relationships of nicotinic receptors, (2), the role of lipid-protein interaction on acetylcholine receptor function, (3) the question of how genetically abnormal ion channels give rise to neurodegeneration, (4) studies towards a high-resolution structure of the Torpedo californica nAChR and a7-nAChRs, and more recently (5) the regulation of neuronal nicotinic receptor in HIV pathogenesis. Education Postdoc, Membrane Biology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA Postdoc, Biophysics, University of Puerto Rico, Institute of Neurobiology, San Juan, P.R. PhD, Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, P.R. BS, Chemistry and Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, P.R.

Job Titles:

• Manager
• Manager of the Neuroimaging

Dr. José D. Otero Cruz is the Manager of the Neuroimaging and Electrophysiology Facility and an Associate Scientist at the UPR Molecular Sciences Research Center. He is interested in the development of biosensor-based bioassays to evaluate the drug's proarrhythmic liability and to study the cardiac arrhythmias induced by cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. Education Postdoc, Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA Postdoc, Cardiac Signal Transduction, University of Washington, Seattle, WA PhD, Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, P.R. MPharBE, Pharmaceutical Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA BS, Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, P.R.

Job Titles:

• Associate Director
• Facility Coordinator of the COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity

Dr. José E. Lizardi Ortiz is the Facility Coordinator of the COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico and an Adjunct Professor at The Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico. His research interests are basal ganglia neurophysiology and development of pharmacotherapy for movement disorders and drugs of abuse. His work is focused on: (1) regulation of acetylcholine and dopamine release in the striatum and the molecular basis leading to their aberrant release in these disorders, (2) structure-function relationships of psychostimulants on nicotinic receptors and monoamine transporters, and (3) structure-based drug design following the amphetamine therapeutic approach. Education Postdoc, Neuropharmacology and Neurophysiology, Columbia University, New York, NY Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, P.R. B.S., Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, P.R. Research Interests Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Monoamine Transporters and Receptors Amphetamine-type Psychostimulants Parkinson Disease and L-DOPA-induced Dyskinesia Electrophysiology and Electrochemistry Confocal and Two-photon Microscopy Time-correlated Single Photon Counting Molecular & Cell Biology Behavioral Paradigms

Job Titles:

• Director
• Director of the Neuroimaging

Dr. Manuel E. Díaz Ríos is the Director of the Neuroimaging and Electrophysiology Facility and a Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. His research is focused on assessing the role of sensory feedback networks after a spinal cord injury (SCI) and the role of spinal networks and its component neurons in the control of locomotion and its changes due to the use of neuromodulators such as caffeine, ethanol, taurine, and others. Education Postdoc, Neurophysiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY PhD, Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, P.R. BS, Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, P.R. Research Interests Neuroanatomy Neurophysiology Neuromodulation Locomotor Behavior Molecular Neurobiology

Job Titles:

• Associate Director
• Associate Director of the COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity

Dr. Mark W. Miller is the Associate Director of the COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico and a Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. His research is focused on understanding the structure and function of neural circuits involved in the central pattern generators (CPGs) and control of motor behavior. Currently, Miller laboratory group is studying: (1) the nervous system structure and function of Biomphalaria glabrata, an intermediate host for schistosomiasis, (2) the principles of "brain"-"body" coupling and motor control, (3) the co-neurotransmission and the regulation of motor activity, and (4) the neuromodulation of conditional rhythmicity and synchrony of motor activity. Education Postdoc, Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University, New York City, NY Postdoc, Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA Postdoc, Neurophysiology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel Postdoc, Neurophysiology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI PhD, Neuroscience, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

Job Titles:

• Director

Mr. Fernández is interested to help investigators in Puerto Rico and elsewhere, with electrophysiology techniques and help them to incorporate electrophysiological strategies in their research projects.

Job Titles:

• Laboratory Technician
• Technician of the Neuroimaging

Ms. Paola Méndez De Jesús is the Laboratory Technician of the Neuroimaging and Electrophysiology Facility and oversees the tissue culture facility at the Institute of Neurobiology. She focuses her efforts on providing help and training to students through immunohistochemistry assay and confocal microscopy. Education BS, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, P.R. Research Interests Tissue Culture Confocal Microscopy Neuroanatomy Neuropeptides Molecular Neurobiology