Our Philosophy

At the Puerto Rico Center for Microbiome Sciences, we believe that scientific discovery thrives in a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and inclusion. Our philosophy is grounded in the understanding that microbiomes play essential roles in human health, disease, behavior, and environmental resilience—and that advancing this field requires interdisciplinary expertise and shared access to cutting-edge technologies.

We are committed to cultivating an environment where researchers at all career stages can innovate, learn, and grow. By fostering strong partnerships across clinical, basic, and computational sciences, we support rigorous, ethical research that expands knowledge and empowers the next generation of scientists. Our Center values diversity of ideas, mentorship, teamwork, and open scientific dialogue as the foundations of transformative microbiome research.

Our Vision

Our vision is to establish Puerto Rico as a leader in microbiome science within the Caribbean and the broader global research community. The PR-CMS aims to drive impactful discoveries, expand research capacity across the UPR system, and strengthen the scientific workforce through integrated training, state-of-the-art core facilities, and support for innovative investigators.

We aspire to create a sustainable, collaborative research ecosystem that accelerates microbiome-driven solutions to pressing biomedical challenges. As members of national microbiome research networks, we envision Puerto Rico as a hub for excellence, shaping the future of microbiome science through rigorous research, technological innovation, and community engagement.

Take a look at Dr. Godoy-Vitorino’s vision for what became the Puerto Rico Center for Microbiomes in a Trends in Microbiology ArticleTrends in Microbiology Article: