Welcome to Our Annual Event Archive

This page serves as a central hub for information from our past annual events. Each year brings new ideas, experiences, and updates—making it essential to keep a record of what has come before. Here, you’ll find key details, agendas, presentations, participant feedback, and more-to offer a valuable resource for understanding the development and impact of the event over time.

PR Neuro 2024

PR Neuroscience 2024 took place at the Hotel La Concha Resort in Los Cabos, PR on Saturday, December 7, 2024.

The conference featured a variety of engaging activities designed to foster learning, collaboration, and professional development. Attendees had the opportunity to present and share their research during the Poster Session, while also networking with students and neuroscientists from institutions across Puerto Rico. The event included insightful scientific lectures delivered by leading neuroscience researchers, as well as a special panel featuring former NeuroID participants who shared their experiences and career paths. Select posters were recognized with prizes, and all participants received certificates of participation to acknowledge their involvement.

Lectures

Poster Presentations

Panels

Neuroscience Community

2024 Itinerary

2024 Speakers

2024 Gallery

PR Neuro 2024 Logo

The PR Neuroscience 2024 logo was inspired by the Passiflora edulis flavicarpa or more commonly known as passion flower. This flower, although native to Central and South America, can be found in tropical climates such as Puerto Rico. Just as the neurons with its dendrites are fundamental units of the brain, the passion flowers has its corona filaments and petals. This beautiful logo, which seamlessly unites neuroscience and Puerto Rican nature, was designed by Anatomiko.

Artist Bio - Anatomiko

Ivana Tarraza (n. 1995) es una artista multidisciplinaria de San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ivana se graduó Magna Cum Laude de la Universidad Internacional de Arte y Diseño de Miami en 2018 con un Bachillerato en Bellas Artes con concentración en Diseño de Moda. 

Desde el 2015, Ivana comenzó a crear ilustraciones que estudian la anatomía humana, las cuales más tarde incorporaron la flora y fauna. Con este concepto, creó “Anatomiko” y lanzó formalmente el proyecto en 2018. Durante su tiempo en Miami trabajó como asistente del artista puertorriqueño Alexis Diaz, ayudándolo en comisiones privadas, murales y piezas para exhibiciones. Ha tenido la oportunidad de exhibir en Puerto Rico, Nueva York, y Barcelona y ha hecho residencias de artista en Finlandia y Barcelona. Su meta a través del arte es reinventar la anatomía humana con una nueva perspectiva. Puede conseguir su trabajo en su página web ivanatarraza.com y en su tienda online shopanatomiko.com, y seguirla en las redes: @ivanatarraza y @anatomiko.design

President’s Message for the 32nd Puerto Rico Neuroscience Annual Conference

Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, PhD

Dear Colleagues, Researchers, and Students,

Welcome to the 32nd Puerto Rico Neuroscience Annual Conference! It is both an honor and a privilege to gather with so many distinguished minds, united by a shared commitment to advancing our understanding of the brain and nervous system. Neuroscience is more than a scientific field—it is a profound journey into the depths of human experience, health, and resilience. This conference is an opportunity for us to explore these frontiers together, fostering collaboration and innovation that will shape the future of our discipline.

This year’s program is an exciting blend of keynotes, panels, and poster presentations covering the latest research across a spectrum of topics, from molecular neuroscience and neurogenetics to cognitive neuroscience and behavior. Our agenda reflects the diversity and dynamism of our field, and we are thrilled to host a distinguished lineup of speakers, whose pioneering work promises to inspire and challenge us.

As the neuroscience community, we bear the responsibility not only to push scientific boundaries but also to ensure that our discoveries translate into tangible benefits for society. The impact of our work—on healthcare, technology, education, and beyond—underscores the importance of both rigorous research and societal impact. Together, we continue to strive for insights that will alleviate neurological disease, enhance mental health, and improve the lives of individuals and communities worldwide.

I encourage each of you to take full advantage of this gathering: engage with colleagues and students, exchange ideas, and find inspiration in both the familiar and the unfamiliar. It is through these shared experiences that we cultivate the spirit of curiosity, collaboration, and mentorship essential to our field’s growth.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the organizing committee and our sponsoring institutions for their support and commitment for making this event a successful one. Special thanks go to TEAM NeuroID/NeuroGRAD  for their amazing work in tackling all the logistics, behind the scene preparations and last-minute details of this Conference. Marimar y Natalia you are one of a kind!

Thank you for being part of this conference and for your dedication to the advancement of neuroscience in Puerto Rico. I am confident that this event will be a rich and rewarding experience for all, sparking ideas and connections that will shape our work for years to come.

Cordially,

Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, PhD
President

Dra. Carmen Maldonado, Marimar Velazquez & Natalia Figueroa