Project Summary (Overall section): The UPR COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity (UPR-CCfN) was established with a COBRE phase 1 award in 2013 as a collaboration of two main UPR campuses, the Institute of Neurobiology (UPR-MSC) and the Department of Biology at UPR Rio Piedras (UPR-RP). The UPR-CCfN has since expanded collaborations to include several UPR campuses, including the Departments of Biology and Chemistry (UPRRP), Departments of Physiology, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, and Anatomy (UPR-MSC), Department of Chemistry (UPR Humacao campus), and Universidad Central del Caribe Medical School, a private institution in PR. During COBRE phases 1-2 the UPR-CCfN achieved several benchmarks: (1) It has significantly enhanced ability of new and early-stage UPR researchers to conduct competitive research in the area of neuroscience. (2) It has established a critical mass of 24 investigators. (3) It has developed the COBRE Neuroimaging and Electrophysiology Facility (NIEF) core into a state-of-the-art resource for the UPR-CCfN investigators and the larger UPR biomedical research community. This was accomplished by providing outstanding specialized technical services, training, and access to state-of- the-art instrumentation in fluorescence, confocal, and multiphoton microscopy along with electrophysiology that has enhanced the productivity of our researchers. (4) A major accomplishment of the NIEF was becoming a Nikon Center of Excellence (NCoE), globally renowned for its state-of-the- art facilities for advanced research imaging. (5) The UPR-CCfN has extraordinarily increased its biomedical research capacity as it recently took occupancy of a new state-of-the-art research infrastructure, which includes a more than $26 million institutional investment on two floors (~40 square feet) of the Molecular Science Research Center (MSRC); the Neuroplasticity Center (floor 6); and Vivarium (floor 7). (6) UPR-CCfN has developed a robust business plan that will sustain and upgrade our NIEF core facilities, provide technical support, and programmatic activities beyond COBRE Phase 3. During Phase 3 the UPR-CCfN will continue to provide a multidisciplinary cadre of investigators with cutting-edge facilities, scientific capability, and multidisciplinary collaborations with the public and biopharma sectors for the treatment of neurodegeneration-related diseases. The UPR-CCfN will foster research innovation, maximize research synergy and collaborations as well as mentoring and entrepreneurship. Our overreaching goal is that during Phase 3, the UPR-CCfN will propel into a world- recognized Center for Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration with translational/therapeutic applications.

UPR COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity During Phase 3 the UPR Center for Neuroplasticity will continue to provide a multidisciplinary cadre of investigators with cutting-edge facilities, scientific capability, and multidisciplinary collaborations for the treatment of neurodegeneration-related diseases. Our projects are unified by shared thematic and technical factors toward understanding and treating neurological disorders, including, the origins of neural and mental health disorders, as well as elucidating the molecular basis for alcohol neuroadaptation, addiction, and neuroprotection. Our center will become a world-recognized center for the study of neurodegeneration-related diseases with therapeutic applications.