91社区 Honors Student Receives NIH Diversity Grant
91社区's Wilkes Honors College senior Roberto Hernandez was awarded a research supplement from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Roberto Hernandez in the lab of Greg Macleod, Ph.D., where he will continue working for 12 months after graduation with support from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
91社区 Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College senior Roberto Hernandez, 22, recently was awarded a 鈥淩esearch Supplement to Promote Diversity鈥 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 聽Hernandez is currently working at the John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter under the direction of Greg Macleod, Ph.D., associate professor in 91社区鈥檚 Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, as a research assistant, and the grant will cover his salary and benefits for a full 12 months after he graduates from the Wilkes Honors College in May. Born in the small town of Caimito, Cuba, Hernandez came to the United States with his family at 6 years of age. He grew up in Miami and decided to attend 91社区鈥檚 Wilkes Honors College because of the many opportunities offered to study neuroscience and medicine.
鈥淭he most rewarding part of my work at 91社区 is being exposed to the vast amount of research within the field of neuroscience that facilitates my growth as a scientist,鈥 said Hernandez. 鈥淚 chose this college for the its focus on science and its many opportunities in the field, such as being able to intern in two of the most prestigious research institutions 鈥 Scripps and Max Planck.鈥
Hernandez will be working under Macleod鈥檚 existing NIH grant titled, "Neuronal Mechanisms Controlling Number and Function of Presynaptic Mitochondria.鈥 The research focuses on how the mitochondria, the power houses of the cell, influence the release of neurotransmitters from nerve endings. The release of neurotransmitters are affected when health deteriorates in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer鈥檚, and Huntington鈥檚.
聽鈥淭he sort of work that will be fueled by Roberto鈥檚 award has a greater potential for discoveries in neuroscience,鈥 said Macleod. 鈥淚t contributes to our research by allowing the lab to do more exploratory work. We will be able to conduct experiments that we wouldn't otherwise get a chance to attempt.鈥
This research is supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health, Diversity Supplement NS061914. For more information on 91社区鈥檚 Jupiter Life Science Initiative and related neuroscience programs, visit .
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