Welcome to the
MOLECULAR SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER
In the spirit of cooperation, we encourage the sharing of knowledge, best practice, research and news.
The UPR Molecular Sciences and Research Center is a 152,000 sq. ft. advanced research facility with laboratories conducting basic and translational biomedical research in the areas of protein structure and dynamics, molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, bio-imaging, pharmacogenetics, and neurosciences. Inaugurated in 2011 it now houses over 300 researchers, students and technicians. The primary goal of the MSRC is to produce a significant increase in competitively funded forefront scientific research by scientists at UPR. The MSRC is the UPR System’s first multidisciplinary environment, designed to meet the needs of cutting-edge research in Puerto Rico for the foreseeable future. This new research space design paradigm features standardization, flexibility and adaptability, systems integration, and ease of sharing equipment and human resources.
Vision
- Strengthen research infrastructure and research disciplines of tradition in PR as foundations of a knowledge-based economy.
- Bridge basic research disciplines with clinical research to foster Translational Research and Technological Innovation.
- Enrich our society with an “open research culture” by exposing research activities, new technology, training opportunities and discoveries.
- Develop world-wide recognized Research Centers in areas of Cutting-Edge Scientific Impact through high level of intra- and inter-institutional collaborations.
- Develop partnerships and collaborations with industry.
- Enhance UPR’s intellectual property (IP) portfolio and the commercialization of research inventions in PR.
CORE FACILITIES
Crystallization Design Institute, formed in 2015
The Institute was founded by Dr. Vilmalí López-Mejías and Dr. Torsten Stelzer with the mission of providing technical services and unparalleled expertise ranging from materials design to crystallization process development. It is focused on providing molecular and engineering solutions to pressing challenges in materials design and crystallization process development.
SGF has been providing services for projects since 2006
The Facility collaborates closely with the High Performance Computing Facility at the UPR, creating opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to experience and learn latest technological advances and the bioinformatics tools needed to analyze these large datasets as well as providing ample project consulting and training.
The Nikon Center stimulates cutting-edge research and attracts collaborations with other universities
The Nikon Center of Excellence in Microscopy harbors the Technology Transfer and Innovation Office to empower it to become the main hub of the ecosystem for development of intellectual property, its licensing, creation of start-ups or spin-offs, and full entrepreneurial insertion and sustainability of a knowledge base economy for Puerto Rico.
The systems available:
- Ti-E inverted microscopes with A1R confocal
- FN1 upright microscope with a Coherent Chameleon multiphoton laser and A1R MP confocal unit
- DS-Fi1c cooled Camera with 5.24 megapixels
- All these microscopes allow confocal acquisition with 4 different lasers (405λ, 488λ, 561λ and 640λ).
- Spectra channels are also available for emission fingerprinting.
- The addition of resonance scanning provides the capacity of high speed image capture (range from 30 fps up to 420 fps)
- Can be used for hybrid scanning using both scanners in tandem. In this mode, the high resolution scanner can be used for photoactivation or photobleaching followed by high speed imaging with resonant scanner.
- The MP Chameleon Vision is a Verdi pump laser that provides a wide range of excitation from 680 nm to 1080 nm. At 40 nm/s, it has the fastest tuning speed on the market. This provides the greatest flexibility for a wide choice of fluorophores.
A Comprehensive Solution to Process Development of Biopharmaceuticals
The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and CDI Laboratories have partnered to provide comprehensive solutions for process development. The CDI facility, based in Mayaguez, performs protein expression trials and develops purification schemes. The UPR facility, based in the MSRC, develops tailored analytical tools for a wide array of biological products in a good manufacturing practice environment. Our goal is to streamline the process development pipeline of a promising biotherapeutic from lead to clinic.
The facility has the capability of running a broad range of applications including GC / MS, HPLC / MS, analysis of volatile organic compounds by headspace, direct insertion probe, direct injection, as well as analysis of polymers or protein materials. This facility includes:
- Bruker Scion TQ GC-MS- MS,
- Waters Xevo G2-S Q-TOF
- HPLC-UV Alliance 2695
- Q-Tof Micro Ms/MS
The NMR Lab. includes 4 NMR spectrometers:
- Bruker Avance DPX-300 with multinuclear and variable temperature capability used for routine samples.
- Bruker Avance AV-500 with multinuclear capabilities equipped with a broadband auto tunable probe with gradients.
- Bruker Ascend Aeon 700 with multinuclear, variable temperature and cross polarization magnetic angle spinning.
- Bruker Ascend Aeon 500 with Ultra Shield Aeon Magnet, which eliminates liquid nitrogen from magnet and minimizes helium refills to small volume top-off every 1-2 years. It is equipped with a Prodigy cryoprobe PH5010, an ultra-high sensitivity Multinuclear (5mm sample diameter), including high sensitivity 2H lock channel. It is ideally suited for research applications in chemistry demanding highest sensitivity for X nuclei with 1H decoupling as well as excellent 1H or 19F observe sensitivity. The broadband channel covers a wide range of nuclei from 31P to 15N. Standard temperature range: -40° to 80°C.
The surface microscopy equipment includes:
- JEOL 6480LV scanning electron microscopes (SEM) with low vacuum and X-ray fluorescence (EDAX) capabilities
- Digital Instrument Nanoscope IIIA Atomic Force (AFM)
- Scanning Tunneling (STM) Microscopes
- PHI Physical Electronics 5600 ESCA System
- Nicolet IS 50 FT-IR Spectrometer and Continuum IR Microscope
- Thermo Scientific DXR Raman Imaging Microscope
- Bruker Tensor 27 and Helios attenuated total Reflectance Spectrometer
- Bruker Lumus Microscope
This facility is equipped with a Rigaku SmartLab diffraction system. Complementary analysis performed at the facility are:
- Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA)
- Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
Latest
NEWS
Creating Solutions With Nanoparticle Chemistry
Dr. Nicolau currently supervises 8 graduate students, and has supervised 30 undergraduates since his appointment as an Assistant professor by the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras.
The Vaccine Against HIV
Hace 33 años se descubrió el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana. Hay sobre 35 millones de personas infectadas actualmente en el mundo. Esta charla explora los retos que implican el desarrollo de una vacuna para evitar la infección y discute las nuevas esperanzas en este campo científico, en el que Puerto Rico juega un papel importante.
Centros de investigación de la UPR cautivan a la NASA
La NASA visita el Instituto de Aeronáutica y Aeroespacial de Puerto Rico
Avanza la investigación sobre vacuna contra el VIH en P. R.
Avanza en Puerto Rico la investigación con marihuana medicinal
Cautivadora experiencia en investigación química para estudiantes de escuela superior
