downtown location and on the former Pruitt-Igoe site. Research The Ponce Research Institute (PRI) at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) performs research in the basic, behavioral, public health, and clinical sciences. Research areas include non-communicable diseases (cancer, women's health, gastrointestinal disorders), health disparities, infectious diseases (HIV, dengue), neurosciences and behavioral sciences, genetics, and community health outreach (obesity, smoking). In 2002, an academic partnership was established with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, with involvement of the National Cancer Institute. A grant awarded to the Oregon Health & Science University Neuro-Oncology Blood Brain Barrier Program has given many PHSU students the opportunity to participate in research and clinical fellowships. On 4 December 2014, Andreas Charalambous, executive dean of the University of Nicosia Medical School (UNMS), and David Lenihan, president and CEO of PHSU, signed an agreement to promote academic cooperation and collaboration in research. Licenses and accreditation The Ponce Health Sciences University is accredited by the following entities: Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico (CHE-PR) Middle States Commission on Higher Education Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) American Psychological Association (APA) Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) The university is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". Notable alumni and members Admiral Joxel García, USPHS, MD, MBA - Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service, former Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, and representative of the United States of America on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization. Charles Cuprill Oppenheimer - Trustee Emeritus References External links Official website Medical schools in Puerto Rico Educational institutions established in 1977 Universities and colleges in Ponce, Puerto Rico 1977 establishments in Puerto Rico Education in Ponce, Puerto Rico