Team

Group members

Jorge Duconge, PhD, MSc, BSc Pharm

Professor of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Puerto Rico School of Pharmacy, Medical Sciences Campus. 20+ years as a lecturer, including prior teaching experiences in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Havana and the Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla (BUAP), Mexico. Four-time “Teacher of the Year” award, School of Pharmacy, UPR-MSC. Education: BSc Pharm degree (Summa Cum Laude, Gold Medal Honor List); Master in Sciences (MSc) degree in Experimental Pharmacology and a PhD degree (Best Thesis in Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Council of Scientific Degrees) from the School of Pharmacy at University of Havana. Fellow of the advanced residency program in Pharmacokinetics/ Pharmacodynamics (Cambridge University, UK).

Dagmar Hernandez, MD.

Dagmar F. Hernandez-Suarez, MD, MSc is a cardiology fellow at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (UPR-SOM). Dr. Hernandez-Suarez completed a Post-Doctoral Master in Clinical and Translational Science at UPR-SOM and a STTEP-UP, NRSA TL1 fellowship program at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Since the beginning of his fellowship, he has worked on both structural heart disease and pharmacogenomics of antiplatelet drugs. He is currently working in a proposal aimed to apply artificial intelligence in the generation of prediction models for transcatheter valve replacement/repair-related adverse outcomes. He plans to continue to develop a career in academic cardiology with a particular focus on structural heart disease and multimodality imaging.

Kyle Melin, PharmD.

As a researcher, I am currently transitioning from pharmacy practice-based research into clinical and translational research within the field of pharmacogenomics. I hope to position myself as a future expert in the area of pharmacogenomic guided clinical decision making, specifically in the Hispanic population. To this end, I plan to develop the research capabilities to better measure, understand, and utilize the genetic basis for observed drug response variability in the Hispanic population to enable clinicians to provide higher quality care through personalized medicine approaches to care. I have already recently become a research collaborator on a pharmacogenomic study utilizing a pharmacogenetic driven dosing algorithm in patients being treated with warfarin. However, under mentorship of an experienced research in this field, I hope to further develop myself as a researcher by conducting association studies in Caribbean Hispanics treated with clopidogrel for cardiovascular diseases. To further this transition in my research career, I have recently enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico Post Doctoral Master Degree Program in Clinical and Translational Research at the Medical Sciences Campus. As part of my application for entry to this program, I was awarded the Hispanic Clinical and Translational Research Education and Career Development (HCTRECD) Award from the National Institutes of Health. This program includes coursework in epidemiology, statistical analysis, and research design, as well as guided mentorship in my own research proposal development over the next two years. In addition, I will continue to take short courses directly in the fields of analytical, bioinformatics and clinical delivery aspects of pharmacogenetics. In fact, I have already attended a workshop organized by the PRCTRC on informed consent for genomic studies as well as a variety of grantsmanship workshops in preparation for this proposal. In addition, I am planning on completing the RxGenomix Training Program in Pharmacogenomics, an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited training program through the joint providership of American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and RxGenomix. While conducting this research, I will be under the mentorship of Jorge Duconge, Ph.D., MSc, BSc Pharm, and Professor of Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacokinetics at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus (UPR MSC), School of Pharmacy. As PI of three previous NIH-funded grants, Dr. Duconge has experience conducting performing measures of genetic admixture in Puerto Ricans, determining frequency distribution of major genetic markers of clinical relevance, and testing genetic associations and developing pharmacogenetic-driven dosing algorithms in this population. His experience and guidance as an independently funded researcher in this field will be invaluable to my own development as a researcher.

Jessicca Y. Renta, MS, Molecular Biologist

I have been working with Dr. Jorge Duconge (School of Pharmacy) in his research projects, for the last 7 years and supporting molecular biology, genetics and genomics applications to UPR MSC users through the RCMI Program with Dr. Carmen L. Cadilla (School of Medicine) since 1998. My work ethics, previous involvement in the several PI's research activities, and my 20 years+ of experience and successful performance in the areas of molecular biology and genetics will position me in a good condition to help UPR MSC Investigators achieve their project goals.

Students

Jorge Martinez Jimenez, Graduate Student

I am a Hispanic-American graduate student at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. I'm currently coursing my final year of the biochemistry Ph.D. program. I'm working in the Human Genetics Core Lab under the guidance of Dr. Duconge and Dr. Cadilla. We are studying the PGx of warfarin, which is the most used oral anticoagulant with 0.5-1.5% of worldwide prescriptions yearly.  Warfarin dose requirements vary significantly among patients (up to 10-fold the standard dose) due to genetic variations in metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 9 (CYP2C9). Using the unique genetic admixture of Puerto Ricans, we are hoping to develop a new precision medicine paradigm for the Hispanic Caribbean population. We hope to achieve this using a mixture of genetic studies and bioinformatical tools such as machine learning.

Pablo Gonzalez Santiago, Graduate Student

I am a Hispanic graduate student at the School of Medicine of the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. I'm currently coursing my 3rd year in the Pharmacology Ph.D. program, working under guidance of Dr. Jorge Duconge and Dr. Susan Corey. My previous undergraduate studies were under Dr. Carlos Gonzalez of the Department of Biology in the Rio Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, where I received training in biochemistry and molecular biology under a laboratory setting, working on projects for the laboratory. My current thesis project is progressing under the mentorship of Dr. Jorge Duconge. Our laboratory is concerned with studying the pharmacogenomics of anticoagulant drugs and their effects on cardiovascular systems. My current project concerns clopidogrel, a covalent antagonist of P2Y12 in platelets, which inhibits coagulation in blood vessels by preventing platelet aggregation. CYP2C19, one of the cytochrome P450 proteins, is involved closely in clopidogrel metabolism and is key to its function; clopidogrel is a prodrug, and therefore requires metabolism to become biologically active. Therefore, the variations in metabolism caused by polymorphisms in the CYP2C19 gene can affect delivery and efficacy of the drug. Although it is known that interethnic variations play a role in drug response, to date the admixed Hispanic populations are still underrepresented in pharmacogenomic studies. We are currently looking to better understand the underlying association between variations in CYP2C19 genomics and variability in clopidogrel efficacy, and how Puerto Rican patients' genetic profiles can fit into the broader scope of clopidogrel analysis. One tool we intend to use is machine learning. Machine learning is a method of data analysis that automates analytical model building. It is a branch of artificial intelligence based on the idea that systems can learn from data, identify patterns and make decisions with minimal human intervention. It's our hope that machine learning tools can help us develop high-throughput analysis mechanisms for better understanding of the association between dosage variability and genomic profiles.

Hector Nuñez Medina, MD, Recruitment of Patients

I have the necessary clinical experience, mentoring and motivation to successfully complete the proposed research project. I have an adequate background in molecular biology and formal training in internal medicine which provides me optimal understating of the fundamental aspects associated with the proposed research. My prior work is diverse and includes topics in obesity, bariatric surgery, cardiovascular diseases, and pharmacogenomics. As a new investigator, I have collaborated with other colleagues in exploring metabolic effects of bariatric surgery, and the association of cardiovascular pathologies with antiplatelet therapies, and pharmacogenomics. As an internal medicine physician, I also have the expertise for evaluating the clinical variables associated with the proposed work. My molecular biology background also provides me with the ability to understand the mechanism involved in drugs metabolism and genetic influence.

Dr. Ariel Gonzalez, MD, Recruitment of Patients

I believe that science is always on the verge of profound discoveries. We are permanently devising new techniques to see the micro-world with higher definition and understanding. From the first moon landing to the first genome sequencing, we are going places. As a scientist, I am fascinated by the science of the "omics" and the new depths it will uncover. Through this discipline, we will shed new light into the medical discipline and empower Precision Medicine. I am passionate about research, technology, and Cardiovascular Health. Currently, I am completing an Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) with a simultaneous Masters in Clinical and Translational Research. My interest in research became evident while working as a recruiter for Clinical Trial of MUC1 Vaccine in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Advanced Adenomas; and continued growing, while managing the Puerto Rico Familiar Colorectal Cancer Registry (PURIFICAR) database. 

Now I work under the direction of Dr. Jorge Duconge-Soler to experience pharmacogenomics research and its impacts. We are working with Caribbean Hispanics, who use Clopidogrel, to identify genetic predictors for therapeutic success. This study has opened new research opportunities in the field of genomics and cardiovascular disease. We are on the edge of identifying new genetic risk factors for developing atrial fibrillation in our unique community. This research not only can help reduce the atrial fibrillation disease burden but can elucidate its complex etiology. We are part of research that can reduce health disparities. With my academical background and progressive understanding of genomics, I believe to be well suited for this project. I am confident that with our discoveries we can champion Precision Medicine in the Puerto Rican Population.

Frances M Marin Maldonado, MS, Research Technician

I am a Hispanic graduate student in my third year in the PhD Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, on the Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics Track. I am from Arecibo, and I have a master’s degree in biology with a specialty in Genetics from the UPR at Mayaguez. Previously, as part of my research experience, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Martinez Cruzado and Dr. Oleksyk in the validation of 64 indels (insertions and deletions) located at promoter regions in orthologous regions of humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas.

Currently, taking advantage of my background in Genetics, I want to evaluate if there is a correlation between inflammatory and genetic markers that could be used as predictors for the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). With the mentorship of Dr. Jorge Duconge, Dr. Jose Colon, and Dr. Erik Gustafson, our specific aims are to evaluate inflammatory cytokines in plasma samples from patients that are at risk of having the disease by the vascular parameter (cardiovascular diseases) and compare that with healthy patients and patients with AD. Additionally, we want to evaluate different genetic markers that were previously associated with AD in other populations, however, the current knowledge in the Caribbean Hispanic population is unknown.

Finally, we propose to use this data to develop an algorithm enriched with inflammatory and genetic markers to evaluate the risk of an individual developing the disease. My overall interests are within the area of genetics, pharmacogenomics, inflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Bianca Torres

I have always been interested in understanding how the brain and emotions work. I began in research as an undergraduate student in a laboratory that studied neuropharmacology. In that field, I found a branch of science, which merge my passion until that moment, neuropsychopharmacology. For my doctoral thesis, I evaluate the anticonvulsant and anxiolytic properties of natural product extracts in zebrafish. Also, I evaluate how these extracts modulate the gene expression in the zebrafish. After my Ph.D. degree, I began to teach undergraduate students, but I missed the research part of my career. In 2016, I obtained support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the  Hispanic Clinical and Translational Research Education and Career Development (HCTRECD) Award. With this award, I got a formal education in Clinical and Translational research and change from zebrafish to humans subjects. Dr. Duconge was my mentor during my postdoctoral master when I studied the associations of anxiety and depressive severity symptoms and being a carrier of multiple variants in Cytochrome P450 genes (CYP450) among Puerto Rican patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy.  In 2018, I began as a faculty member in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Puerto Rico. I will continue my research with a particular emphasis on the two most common psychiatric illnesses in Puerto Rico: anxiety and depression. Our current research aims to identify genetic variants that can be used as predictors for treatment response in psychiatric conditions. With a better understanding of the effects of these variants, we will develop risk scores using genetic markers as well as clinical factors that are relevant to our Puerto Rican population. Dr. Duconge and other of my former professors are now my collaborators in this and other projects. Recently this research receives support from U54 MD007600 (National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities) and “COBRE Phase 2: Center for Neuroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico 5P20GM103642-06 from the National Institutes of Health. Infrastructure support is provided in part by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities RCMI Grant: 2U54MD007600.

Edgardo González-García

I coursed undergraduate studies at University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras as student Dr. Duconge gave me the opportunity to work in the laboratory extracting DNA, quantifying, and genotyping samples. I finished my bachelor’s in molecular biology in May 2021. My plans are to start studying medicine next year; in the meantime, I’m working as a fulltime laboratory tech to fulfill the goals of all the projects in the laboratory. I’m interested in the field of cardiology making this experience even more exiting. I hope to have an impact on society trough our work and to learn as much as I can.

Joseph Bloom Colon

My interests are focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that are key to protein function and structure and how these mechanisms affect the physiology and morphology of living organisms. I have had experience in the fields of molecular biology, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics and electrophysiology working at the University of Puerto Rico, FDA San Juan District, Universidad Metropolitana, and the Molecular Science Research Center through the NIH BP-ENDURE NeuroID program. These experiences taught me different techniques such as: gel electrophoresis, BCA, protein extraction, purification & reconstitution, HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS oocyte extraction surgery, western blot, immunodetection, immunohistochemistry, tissue staining, two-electrode voltage clamp, affinity chromatography, microinjection, 3D-modeling, homology modeling, computational sequence analysis. My undergraduate studies have prepared me not only to inquire about the molecular mechanisms and components that alter the natural function and composition of proteins, but also to develop and apply biomedical alternatives that will improve the chemical and functional properties of proteins in different diseases.

My goal is to design new methods and improve the techniques I already know and apply them in the field of biochemistry and also pharmaceutics.  In regard to my long-term goals, I’m inclined to build my own company in order to conduct personalized medicine research and synthesis of customized medications. I am assured that with the experiences I have acquired will be a valuable asset to your program, and that the ongoing investment of my education and growth as a researcher will ultimately contribute to the ever-increasing knowledge of personalized medicine. My ultimate goal as part of the NIGMS-RISE program is not only to find a program that personifies all the qualities of science of utmost excellence, but also to contribute to the innovative research being done here at University of Puerto Rico Medical Campus School of Pharmacy with my determination, laboratory skillset, and my profound motivation for personalized medicine.

Richard Mojica Velez

I graduated from the Molecular Cellular Biology program and did research in the field of Bioinformatics at the Ana G. Méndez Campus Cupey University. My education and research experience has been shaped by a compelling desire to integrate these two disciplines in the service of advances in health care. This aspiration was honed during my undergraduate bioinformatics research and further cemented by the pioneering work of Dr. Duconge's lab in the field of pharmacogenomics. I am in the Ph.D. program in the field of Pharmaceutical Science in the Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics track at the School of Pharmacy of the Medical Science Campus. This program has given me a comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, federal agencies such as the FDA, drug discovery, and pharmaceutical formulation. In addition, I have taken AI and machine learning courses, crucial tools in the field of bioinformatics. This interdisciplinary training has made me a competitive candidate in the scientific community and equipped me with the tools to make impactful contributions to pharmacogenomics. Also, I had the opportunity to participate in the Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network (PGRN) Annual Scientific Meeting at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the city of Memphis in Tennessee.

The Hispanic Caribbean population has a rich and diverse genetic composition due to its unique history, but unfortunately, it is underrepresented in pharmacogenomic studies. Thus, my professional objectives are focused on revealing this untapped potential. My goal is to be a professional in research that uncovers the genetic determinants of drug responses in this population, thus improving healthcare outcomes and drug safety. By developing and applying bioinformatics tools to analyze genomic data, I hope to revolutionize the way we interpret and predict individual responses to drug therapy within this population.

My previous research in bioinformatics has laid the foundation for this ambitious goal. It provided me with vital skills to handle and interpret complex biological data, analysis of protein and genomic Multiple Sequences Aliments, Python Programming Language, R Programming Language, and Linux among others, which is an advantage to carry out pharmacogenomic research. This project revealed the potential of bioinformatics to unravel the complexities of biological systems, their implications for health and disease, and how they relate to the unique genetic heritage of the Hispanic Caribbean population.

The impact of my work is anticipated to be transformative, particularly within the Hispanic Caribbean community. By understanding the relationship between genetic variations, such as CYP2C19 polymorphisms, and drug responses to Clopidogrel, we could see improvements in treatment efficacy, reduced adverse reactions, and possibly the discovery of new drug targets relevant to this demographic. Moreover, it could lead to the development of personalized medicine strategies that consider the unique genetic diversity present in this population.

I am committed to using my expertise in Cellular Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, and Pharmaceutical Science to drive personalized medicine's future within the Hispanic Caribbean community. My aim is to contribute to healthcare practices that are not only personalized, predictive, and precise but are also inclusive of the genetic diversity that our world presents. I firmly believe that my work will shape the future of medicine, advancing knowledge and practice in this exciting frontier.

Valeria-Miranda Bravo

I am a Hispanic graduate student at the School of Pharmacy of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus (MSC). My previous undergraduate research experience was in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience at the School of Medicine of the MSC, where I specialized in behavioral studies and immunohistochemistry. I obtained a master's degree in medicinal chemistry from the pharmaceutical sciences program in the School of Pharmacy of UPR-RCM under the mentorship of Dr. Joseph Bloom where I developed and validated a sensitive analytical method in UHPLC-MS/MS to determine the plasma concentration of clopidogrel in Hispanic-Caribbean.

Currently, I am in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. program, from the School of Pharmacy at the UPR-RCM, in the pharmacology and pharmacogenomics track, working under the mentorship of Dr. Jorge Duconge and Dr. Jose Colon with the development and validation of a sensitive analytical method for the metabolite antiplatelet clopidogrel thiol and the vasodilator cilostazol with their metabolites. Our goal is to have an analytical method in Puerto Rico that offers the opportunity to quantify concentrations of our analyte of interest in its biological matrix, opening the opportunity to know with selectivity and precision the concentrations during the metabolization process in the Hispanic-Caribbean population. Useful information for pharmacogenomic, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic studies in a genetically variable population. Additionally, I perform biological studies to characterize biomarkers of inflammation related to cardiovascular problems in the Hispanic-Caribbean population. This information will be useful for pharmacogenomics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.

Enrique J. Leal Alviarez

I am an Internal Medicine Specialist currently working as an Attending Physician for the University of Puerto Rico, Department of Medicine. I was born and raised in Venezuela and moved to Puerto Rico during my high school years which became my second home. I did my undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon Campus. Then I completed my graduate studies in medicine and my residency at the University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine. By training in Puerto Rico, I have witnessed the great impact of cardiovascular diseases and the associated healthcare disparities found in our population due to limited resources and inadequate access to quality healthcare. This greatly influenced my decision to work on research projects related to precision medicine.

I have collaborated with Dr. Duconge and multiple colleagues regarding a pharmacogenetic-driven algorithm to guide dual-antiplatelet therapy in Caribbean Hispanics. I have also been part of multiple case reports which include publications in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. I look forward to continuing to participate in Cardiology related research projects as I plan to pursue a career in the field of cardiovascular diseases.

Former Fellows/ Students from our lab

Mariangeli Morenó Paredes, Graduate Student

I am currently a PhD student in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the MedicalSciences Campus. In 2016 I obtained my master's degree in Environmental Health, where I had the experience of researching environmental toxicology, specifically the optimization in thechemical analysis of 1-hydroxypyrene in the urine. During that period, I managed solid phase extraction coupled with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and refined my laboratorytechniques. This opportunity gave me a enrich experience in the laboratory, both technically and intellectually since my undergraduate research was based on eco-informatics using databasesrelated to the factors affecting chlorophyll reservoirs in Puerto Rico. Currently interested in pharmacogenomics and how it translates to clinical research in order to improve the outcomes ofpatients under drug treatment. Under the guidance of Dr. Duconge and Dr. Corey, I will be workingon the main project of the laboratory titled: "Adopting a Precision Medicine Paradigm in Puerto Rico: leveraging ancestral diversity to identify predictors of clopidogrel response in Caribbean Hispanics".

Dr. Ednalise Santiago Cartagena

During my scientific career, I have been involved in basic sciences studying health disparities, using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model. In my Ph.D., I was trained in molecular biology, genetics, and proteomic techniques, specifically: protein purifications, mass spectrometry, western blot, bioinformatics, DNA and RNA isolation, PCR, Real Time-PCR, statistical analyses, among others. One of my goals as a biomedical researcher is to conduct clinical and translational studies in the underrepresented Hispanic population of Puerto Rico. I am also interested in continuing studies in proteomics, health impairments, drug discovery, and pharmacotherapy. My current postdoctoral appointment is supported by an NIMHD Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research, which is linked to the research project entitled "Adopting a Precision Medicine Paradigm in Puerto Rico: leveraging ancestral diversity to identify predictors of clopidogrel response in Caribbean Hispanics" of the Center for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities (CCRHD) at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. My pilot research project consists of the following specific aims: (1) to perform a preliminary proteomic analysis of plasma collected from a group of cardiovascular patients on clopidogrel with and without high on-treatment platelet reactivity; (2) to perform a preliminary genetics of expression (GGE) analysis of data obtained from a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) conducted in the same group of patients. To accomplish aim #1, I will work with mass spectrometry standardized protocols and collaborate with Drs. Melendez and Roche for the data analyses and interpretation. The goal of this aim is to provide evidence on the early expression of novel biomarkers in Hispanic cardiovascular patients with resistance to clopidogrel. For aim #2, I will perform a multi-ethnic genotyping array focused on Hispanic AMR/AFR populations, using the SCAN database as a bioinformatic analysis tool. The goal of this aim is to determine the functional consequences of pharmacogenomic variations at eQTL-enriched loci across the entire genome of individuals from the study cohort. This postdoctoral training will provide me an opportunity to expand my knowledge in new areas such as Pharmacogenetics, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), clinical and translational sciences. The technical advantages and scientific reasoning skills earned during my academic training will allow me to work as a postdoctoral researcher associate in this project. Furthermore, my previous contributions to the proteomics and genomics fields are in-line with the goals of the project, which is to use those techniques to set a scaffold for implementation of a Precision Medicine model for Hispanics. My sponsor Dr. Jorge Duconge is a leader in the field of pharmacogenetics in Puerto Rico and has an excellent publication record. Therefore, the career development plan, research training, and the help of the advisor will allow me to make a crossover to the next step in the biomedical scientist field: from basic science to clinical science. Finally, this career transition will evolve in becoming an independent translational researcher focused on health disparities.