Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Puerto Rico at Cayey received a $246,733 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), awarded July 3, 2026, with completion targeted for July 2, 2027. The award funds the acquisition of a Phenom XL G2 Desktop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with integrated Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) capabilities. This analytical instrumentation will enable high-resolution imaging and elemental analysis of biological and synthetic materials, directly supporting ongoing NIH- and PRINBRE-funded research in antimicrobial peptide-polymer coatings for urinary catheters, microbial biofilm analysis, biomedical device surface characterization, particle analysis, environmental microbiology, and advanced drug delivery materials design.

The SEM-EDS system will function as a shared core resource accessible to investigators across the institution and external academic collaborators, thereby enhancing regional research infrastructure. The instrument will be integrated into upper-level undergraduate courses in microbiology, experimental physics, and organic chemistry, as well as capstone research experiences and faculty-led certification training programs covering SEM/EDS principles, sample preparation, and data analysis. This acquisition restores critical microscopy capabilities at the institution and strengthens its capacity to generate high-quality biomedical and materials research data aligned with National Institutes of Health priorities while providing enhanced research training opportunities for a predominantly Hispanic undergraduate student body.