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overview
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I have worked in endometriosis research for over ten years, specifically looking at molecular biomarkers and genetic factors associated with this disease. I currently direct the Endometriosis Research Program (ERP) at PSM, funded through an R01 from NICHD (R01 HD050559) until 2011. The ERP helps mentor and train undergraduate, graduate and medical students in endometriosis-related research and has collaborative links with supporting specialists (Pathologists, Epidemiologists, Reproductive Endocrinologists, and Gynecologists). The ERP has established a unique biorepository of tissues, serum and nucleic acids, as well as demographic and clinical obtained from over 1000 patients with endometriosis and controls. Research at ERP has helped establish the prevalence of endometriosis in Puerto Rico, identify potential diagnostic markers and also identified a genetic region in chromosome 10 associated with disease. Recent studies identified SNPs that are strongly associated with endometriosis and/or infertility in our population. Ongoing interests include the validation of these genetic associations and evaluation of the role of admixture in the genetic predispositions to endometriosis. The ERP has also conducted studies on the impact of endometriosis on life, health and work productivity, and is currently studying the economic impact that this condition has on the health system. Ongoing collaborations include studies on the role of stress in the development/exacerbation of endometriosis-symptoms (ie, pain) in a rat model of disease (collaboration with Dr. Caroline Appleyard and Annelyn Torres; grant #1R15AT006373); studies of the epigenetics of endometriosis, specifically the role of histone modifications, a collaboration with Dr. Edward Seto at MCC (funded through an ARRA supplement to grant #1R01HD050559-S1); studies of the proteome of endometriosis (collaboration with Dr. Hugh Taylor, Yale, and Dr. Ignacio Pino, CDI Laboratories; pilot project to grant #1U54HD052668); and a project that involves development of a primate model of endometriosis at the Caribbean Primate Center (collaboration with Dr. Lynnette Ruiz, grant #1 454RR026139-01A1). I have served for the past four years as the Program Leader of the U56 PSM/MCC Cancer Center Partnership (grant #5U56CA126379). Under the recently funded U54 PSM-MCC Cancer Center Partnership I will continue to provide direct assistance to the PIs (Drs. Jaime Matta y José Torres-Ruiz) in overseeing the operation of the Cores that provide support to projects and programs of the U54. In particular, I have served as one of the co-leaders in charge of the development of a Tissue Procurement Core that for the first time accrues cancer tissues from patients in Puerto Rico. As such, I was part of the team that helped identify the initial barriers and difficulties in establishing a tissue bank where no such initiative was present were identified and surpassed. Throughout my professional career, I have established expertise in molecular genetics of endometriosis, epidemiology of endometriosis, tissue banking, grant administration, and training/mentoring of the next generation of scientists in reproduction, cancer and women’s health.
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