An interdisciplinary team of the Mayagüez University Campus (Rum) of the Puerto Rico University (UPR) managed to position the country in the prestigious collection of publications of Natureby disseminating in the magazine Scientific Reports a pioneering study that explores the relationship between the virus of Hepatitis c and the development of Parkinson.
“The article presents results on the correlation between the conditions studied, and also puts our research philosophy, developed in the Rum. We propose to solve problems traditionally treated with bioinformatic tools under an optic of mathematical optimization ”the doctor said this Saturday Mauricio Cabrera RíosProfessor of the Department of Industrial Engineering of Rum, via statement.
The research was conducted by Cabrera Ríos and the doctors Isis Narváez Flaggraduated from the doctoral program in bioengineering, and Clara E. Isaza BrandoProfessor of the Department of Biology. The effort also had the collaboration of doctoral and subgraduated students of biology.
“This in particular was an effort of about three years. Dr. Narváez Flag began the subject as part of her doctoral thesis. Later the doctor joined Deiver Suárezwho also graduated this summer, and the young women CORAL CASTRO, Alaina Camasta and Morelia Duránof the Department of Biology. We gathered weekly to advance until the manuscript we submit to Scientific Reports. After a rigorous review process by six evaluators, which is rare, we finally receive approval. This publication reflects a constant and collaborative commitment that remained for more than three years, ”said Isaza Brando.
According to the researchers, the proposal is distinguished not only by their findings, but for its innovative methodological approach, which they called “biooptimatics”.
“Every time one sends articles to these magazines, they usually tend to favor groups of well -known universities. Achieve it with our local team and with a global idea is worthy to congratulate. In addition, research requires resources, administrative support, investigative time, financing to cover publications Open Accessacademic credits for students. It is an ecosystem. And seeing our young people flourish in this context is one of the most rewarding things that one can experience as an educator ”said Cabrera Ríos.