Assistant Profesor of Biochemistry
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, 1993. Molecular and Cell Biology, The Pennsylvania State University.
Master of Science, 1982. Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez.
Bachelor of Science, 1979. Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez.
Gene polymorphisms that predispose to asthma.
We will recruit a Puertorrican cohort of asthmatics with a sex and age matched control group. The asthmatic status will be establish by either a methacholine challenge, when the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1 ) is at least 70% of expected, or a reversibility test with albuterol, when FEV1 is below 70% of expected. The standard questionnaire used by the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Asthma (CSGA) will be used to assess parameters related to their asthma or allergies. This will make data directly comparable with the data bases already established for other ethnic groups. Allergy skin tests will also be done to both groups. We will type the participants’ DNA according to their single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The aim is to type one SNP in at least eight genes involved in the inflamation response. SNPs that has been reported to be associated with asthma in other ethnic groups will be selected for study. Statistical analysis of the data will determine if the SNPs segregate differentially among asthmatics and controls. SNPs will be studied individually or in groups, to determine if there is an increased influence when a marker is in combination with another. The aim is to determine if any of these SNPs are associated with asthma in the Puertorrican population.
SUPPORT
Supplement to U01HL49609, Genetics of Asthma, (Malcolm Blumenthal, PI W.Hernández, suppl.P.I) 7/1/98-5/1/01. 75% of time, reg.sem. Extended until Aug. 2003
NIAID, NIH. $150,000.
The Genetics of Asthma in Puertoricans.
The main purpose of this supplement is to detect genomic sequences that influence the onset of asthma in Puerto Rico. The research involves searches of genes by DNA pooling and analysis of large families afected by asthma.
Pilot Project to MBRS program. (W.Hernandez, P.I.) 10/1/98 - 5/1/01. 10%.
MBRS, NIH. $75,000
Heparin Binding Peptides as Anticancer Drugs.
To continue the work of the ASCB Visiting Professorship, see below.
5G12RR\A103050-13 (Rivera Dueño, J. and JA Torres, P.I.) 9/30/95 - 8/31/98 15% reg. sem, 25% sum. NIH/RCMI $136, 842 Molecular Biology Core Laboratories.
The objective of this institutional grant is to provide the Ponce School of Medicine with a central facility to be able to do molecular experiments such as sequencing DNA, PCR, and others.
5S06GMO8239-13 ( Teresa Frazer and Torres Ruiz, J.A.) 6/1/97 - 5/31/98 10% time reg. sem.
NIH/MBRS (312) sub project # 9984 $180,617
Genetics of Diabetes in Puerto Rico.
The main goal of the project is to identify genetic influences on the reported high rate of diabetes in Puerto Rico.
Visiting Professorship Award 7/1/98 - 8/31/98 60% of summer
Am. Soc. Cell Biol. $15,000
Training Visit to the Laboratory of James San Antonio, in Philadelphia.
The main purpose of the award is to make an extended (two months) visit to San Antonio’s lab in Philadelphia to initiate a collaboration finding peptides that bind heparin. The main task in those two months was to use phage display technologies to find peptides that bind heparin, and to study peptide-heparin interactions.
PENDING
MBRS/NIH 7/1/2005 – 5/31/2009 ( Wilfredo Hernandez, P.I.) 50%
NIGM SCORE $587,382
Genetic Polymorphisms and Asthma in Puerto Rico.
The main purpose of this project is to detect genomic sequences that influence the onset of asthma in Puerto Rico.
PUBLICATIONS
Ruiz, E., Hernández Muñiz W., and Blumenthal MN. 2003. Asthma and associated phenotypes in Puerto Rico’s asthmatics. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 111(2):985 (abstract)
Hernández Muñiz, W., Banch, VR, and Blumenthal MN. 2001. Prevalence and mortality of asthma in Puerto Rico. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 107(2):916 (abstract)
