Wanda Vélez-Torres

Professional academic leader with extensive experience in higher education administration. Collaborative and adaptable in diverse team environments and evolving institutional contexts. Experienced in teaching, research, curriculum development, faculty support, and student success initiatives.

• Admissions Committee Member of the School of Medicine, 2022-01-01, 2023-12-31
• Executive Committee Member of the School of Medicine, 2019-01-01, 2024-12-31
• Director of the Department of Biochemistry, 2019-01-01, 2024-12-31
• Curriculum Committee Member of the School of Medicine, 2019-01-01, 2021-12-31
• Admissions Committee Member of the Graduate Program, 2018-01-01, 2024-12-31
• Faculty Evaluation and Promotion Committee Member, 2018-01-01, 2024-12-31
• Interim Director of the Department of Biochemistry, 2017-01-01, 2018-12-31
• Admissions Committee Member of the School of Medicine, 2009-01-01, 2014-12-31
• Faculty Affairs Committee Member, 2009-01-01, 2011-12-31
• Graduate Program Committee Member, 2003-01-01, 2018-12-31

• Faculty Development Office: We don’t talk about Bruno series 2. 'Inteligencia Artificial en la Educación'., 2024-05-16
• Faculty Development Office: We don’t talk about Bruno series 1. 'Assessment and Curriculum'., 2023-01-01
• Lab-to-Market: Life sciences accelerator online course. PR-EnTrust and Columbia University., 2023-01-18, 2023-03-22
• Faculty Development Office: 'Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the classroom'., 2023-11-09
• Faculty Development Office: Effective teaching-learning strategies and experiences at the university., 2021-11-04
• Entrevista con la revista de Medicina y Salud Pública de Puerto Rico., 2021-01-01
• Hispanic Educational Technology Services: Mejores practices para la retención en línea: Elementos básicos de un diseño instructional efectivo., 2020-07-20, 2020-08-20
• Basic Online Teaching Certificate., 2020-07-31
• Guest Faculty, American University of the Caribbean Medical School, Sint Maarteen., 2021-01-01
• Guest Faculty, Nova School of Pharmacy, San Juan, PR., 2021-01-01

• The antiinflammatory role of the alpha 7 receptors in diet-induced obesity., Vegas-de Paramo P, Vicenti-Pérez A, Rivera-Rosado N, and Vélez-Torres W., Discover BMB 2024, San Antonio, Texas, 2024
• 4R cembranoid reduces LPS-induced neuroinflammation in mice., Rojas-Colón LA, Morales-Vías FA, Dash PK, Lebrón-Dávila M, Maldonado-Martínez G, Ferchmin PA, and Vélez-Torres W., Annual Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference, Bayamon, PR, 2019
• The anti-inflammatory role of 4R-cembranoid., Vélez-Torres W, Morales-Vías FA, Lebrón-Dávila M, Rojas-Colón LA, Washington V, Ferchmin PA, and Eterovic VA., Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, California, 2016
• A multi-institutional collaborative effort to increase diversity in clinical and translational research through multidisciplinary training and career development (MTCD)., ES Estapé, L de Jesus-Ojeda, G Pereles, W Vélez-Carrasco, C Luciano, M Cruz, J Torres, R Hunter., Health Disparities Summit, Maryland, 2012
• The effect of cysteine-to-alanine mutations on the expression and function of the alpha 7/5HT3A chimeric receptor in TsA201 cells., Soto-Soto C, Eterovic VA, Hann RM and Vélez-Carrasco, W., 38th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C., 2008
• Torpedo acetylcholine receptor gamma-subunit residues that affect d-tubocurarine affinity., Vélez-Carrasco W and Hann RM., 6th European Symposium of the Protein Society, Barcelona, Spain, 2005
• Pharmacokinetics of a nicotinic antagonist from tobacco., Eterovic VA, Vélez-Carrasco W, Meléndez OE, Olivero M, Silva JE, Rosado MV, and Ferchmin PA., Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, 2005
• Mapping the α-conotoxin binding domains on the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor., Hann RM, Valdés S, Agresar L, Lettich A, and Vélez-Carrasco W., CMBC/CMBN Combined Annual Symposium, Rincón, PR, 2004
• Tissue distribution of tobacco cyclic diterpenoids in male Sprague-Dawley rats., Silva JE, Meléndez O, Olivero M, Rosado MA, Romero MA, Quiñones E, Rodriguez AD, Vélez W, Ferchmin PA, and Eterovic VA., Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference, 2004

• The role of 4R-cembranoid in age-related cognitive decline., PRSTRT-Advanced Grant 2024-00196, 2024-03-25, 2026-03-31, $120,000-direct cost/2years
• Alpha-7 receptor-mediated activity of hypothalamic Mc4R neurons in obese mice., Title V UPR-RCM Pilot Project, 2024-02-01, 2025-07-31, $18,000 direct/18 months

• The neuroprotective role of 4R-cembranoid during systemic inflammation., NIH-NIGMS SC3GM130473, 2019-01-01, 2023-01-31, $75,000 direct/year
• NIH-Specialized Neuroscience Research Program Faculty Enhancement Core, 1U54NS08392401, 2014-08-01, 2017-05-31, $10,000 direct/year
• Mapping acetylcholine receptor structure with alpha conotoxin MI and SIA., NIH-NIGMS 2 S06 GM50695, 2003-01-01, 2005-12-31, $301,934 direct/year
• Model-driven mutagenic analysis of the role of individual subunit residues in ionotropic acetylcholine receptor assembly., NIH-NIGMS 2 S06 GM50695, 2006-05-01, 2010-04-30, $433,185 direct/year

• Determinants of human alpha 7 acetylcholine receptor expression., 2006, Collaborative Neurological Science Award Proposal
• The role of palmitoylation in surface expression of ionotropic serotonin receptors., 2008, RO3 Grant Proposal
• Regulation of type 3A serotonin receptor levels by cysteine acylation., 2010, SC2 Grant Proposal

• Gustavo A. Meza, UPR Bayamón, 2024-01-01, Present
• Tanlix M. Bartolomei, UPR Mayaguez, 2024-01-01, Present

• Andrea Vicenti-Pérez, 2023-01-01, Present
• Nitzangely Rivera-Rosado, 2023-01-01, Present

• Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Junior Research Mentoring Award
• Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Grantsmanship Training Seminar Award
• Pre-doctoral National Research Service Award by the National Institute of Health

• 4R-cembranoid suppresses glial cells inflammatory phenotypes and prevents hippocampal neuronal loss in LPS-treated mice., Rojas-Colón LA, Redell JB, Dash PK, Vegas PE, and Vélez-Torres W., J Neurosci Res., 2024, https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.25336
• 4R-cembranoid neuroprotection in LPS-induced hippocampus inflammation in mice., Rojas-Colón LA, Dash PK, Morales-Vías FA, Lebrón-Davila M, Maldonado-Martínez G, Ferchmin PA, and Vélez-Torres W., J Neuroinflammation, 18, 95, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-021-02136-9
• Novel KCNJ10 gene variations compromise function of inwardly rectifying potassium channel 4.1., Méndez-Gonzalez MP, Kucheryavykh YV, Zayas-Santiago A, Vélez-Carrasco W, Maldonado-Martínez G, Cubano LA, Nichols CG, Skatchkov SN, Eaton MJ., J Biol Chem, 2016, 291, 14, 7716-26
• Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of 4R-cembranoid., Vélez-Carrasco W, Green CE, Catz P, Furimsky A, O’Loughlin K, Ferchmin PA, and Eterovic VA., PLoS One, 2015, 10, 3, e0121540
• Dietary methionine effects on plasma homocysteine and HDL metabolism in mice., Vélez-Carrasco W, Merkel M, Twiss CO, and Smith JD., J Nutr Biochem, 2008, 19, 6, 362-70
• Α-Conotoxin residues that interact at close range with γ-tyrosine-111 and mutant δ-tyrosine-113 on the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor., Vélez-Carrasco W, Valdés S, Agresar L, Letich A, Guerra AY, and Hann RM., Biochemistry, 2004, 43, 39, 12700-8
• Fish consumption shifts lipoprotein subfractions to a less atherogenic pattern in humans., Li Z, Lamon-Fava S, Otvos J, Lichtenstein AH, Vélez-Carrasco W, McNamara JR, Ordovas JM, Schaefer EJ., J Nutr., 2004, 134, 7, 1724-8
• Dietary and plasma lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein profiles among elderly Hispanics and non-Hispanics and their association with diabetes., Bermúdez OI, Vélez-Carrasco W, Schaefer EJ, Tucker KL., Am J Clin Nutr., 2002, 76, 6, 1214-21
• Selective uptake from LDL is stimulated by unsaturated fatty acids and modulated by cholesterol content in the plasma membrane: role of plasma membrane composition in regulating non-SR-BI-mediated selective lipid transfer., Seo T, Vélez-Carrasco W, Qi K, Hall M, Worgall TS, Johnson RA, and Deckelbaum RJ., JPET, 2002, 41, 25, 7885-7894
• Compared with saturated fatty acids, dietary monounsaturated fatty acids and carbohydrates increase atherosclerosis and VLDL cholesterol levels in LDL receptor deficient, but not apolipoprotein E-deficient, mice., Merkel M, Vélez-Carrasco W, Hudgins LC, and Breslow JL., PNAS, 2001, 98, 23, 13294-13299
• Tissue-specific overexpression of lipoprotein lipase causes tissue-specific insulin resistance., Kim JK, Fillmore JJ, Chen Y, Chunli Y, Moore IK, Pypaert M, Lutz EP, Kako Y, Vélez-Carrasco W, Goldberg IJ, Breslow JL, and Shulman GI., PNAS, 2001, 98, 13, 7522-7527
• Enhanced fractional catabolic rate of apo A-I and apo A-II in heterozygous subjects for apo A-IZaragoza (L144R)., Recalde D, Vélez-Carrasco W, Civeira F, Cenarro A, Gomez-Coronado D, Ordovas J, and Pocovi M., Atherosclerosis, 2000, 154, 613-623
• Apolipoprotein A-I and A-II kinetic parameters as assessed by endogenous labeling with 2H3-leucine in middle aged and elderly men and women., Vélez-Carrasco W, Lichtenstein AH, Li Z, Dolnikowski GG, Lamon-Fava S, Welty FK, and Schaefer EJ., Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 2000, 20, 801-806
• Human apolipoprotein A-I kinetics within triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins., Vélez-Carrasco W, Lichtenstein AH, Welty FK, Li Z, Lamon-Fava S, Dolnikowski GG, and Schaefer EJ., J Lipid Res, 1999, 40, 1695-1700
• Dietary restriction of saturated fat and cholesterol decreases HDL apo A-I secretion., Vélez-Carrasco W, Lichtenstein AH, Welty FK, Li Z, Lamon-Fava S, Dolnikowski GG, and Schaefer EJ., Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 1999, 19, 918-924
• Impact of gender on the metabolism of apolipoprotein A-I subclass Lp A-1 and Lp A-I/A-II in older subjects., Tilly-Kiesi M, Lichtenstein AH, Joven J, Vilella E, Carrasco W, Ordovas JM, Dolnikowski GG, and Schaefer EJ., Arteriosclerosis Thromb Vasc Biol, 1997, 17, 3513-3518
• Hypercholesterolemic effect of dietary cholesterol in diets enriched in polyunsaturated and saturated fat., Lichtenstein AH, Ausman LM, Carrasco W, Gualtieri LJ, Jenner JL, Ordovas JM, and Schaefer EJ., Arterioscler Thromb, 1994, 14, 168-175
• Rice bran oil consumption and plasma lipid levels in moderately hypercholesterolemic humans., Lichtenstein AH, Ausman LM, Carrasco W, Gualtieri LJ, Jenner JL, Ordovas JM, and Schaefer EJ., Arterioscler Thromb, 1994, 14, 549-556
• Short term consumption of a low-fat diet beneficially affects plasma lipid concentrations only when accompanied by weight loss., Lichtenstein AH, Ausman LM, Carrasco W, Gualtieri LJ, Jenner JL, Ordovas JM, and Schaefer EJ., Arterioscler Thromb, 1994, 14, 1751-1760
• Relationship of body mass distribution with cardiovascular risk factors in healthy Chinese., Lyu LC, Shieh M-J, Bailey SM, Dallal GE, Carrasco WI, Ordovas JM, Lichtenstein AH, and Schaefer EJ., Am Epidemiol, 1994, 4, 434-444
• Hydrogenation impairs the hypolipidemic effect of corn oil in humans., Lichtenstein AH, Ausman LM, Carrasco W, Jenner LJ, Ordovas JM, and Schaefer EJ., Arterioscler Thromb, 1993, 13, 154-161
• Effects of canola, corn, and olive oils on fasting and postprandial plasma lipoproteins in humans as part of a National Cholesterol Education Program Step 2 Diet., Lichtenstein AH, Ausman LM, Carrasco W, Jenner LJ, Ordovas JM, and Schaefer EJ., Arterioscler Thromb, 1993, 13, 1533-1542

• Faculty Development Office: We Don’t Talk About Bruno series 2. “Inteligencia Artificial en la Educación”. Dr. José Ferrer López. May 16, 2024.
• Faculty Development Office: We Don’t Talk About Bruno series 1. “Assessment and Curriculum”. Drs. Díaz, Marrero, Parrilla, Spilker. May, 2023.
• Lab-to-Market: Life Sciences Accelerator Online Course. PR-EnTrust and Columbia University. January 18-March 22, 2023. Drs. Gulley, Baéz, and Rahmany.
• Faculty Development Office: “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the classroom”. November 9, 2023. Drs. Díaz and Pérez
• Faculty Development Office: Effective Teaching-Learning Strategies and Experiences at the University. November 4, 2021. Drs. Díaz and Mejía.
• Entrevista para la revista de Medicina y Salud Pública de Puerto Rico. Estudio demuestra que compuesto de tabaco pudiera beneficiar la future medicina contra la neuroinflamación. February 22, 2022.
• Hispanic Educational Technology Services: Mejores Practicas para la Retención en Línea: Elementos Básicos de un Diseño Instructional Efectivo. July, 20-August 20, 2020. 20 credit hours. Dr. Milena Lucumi.
• Basic Online Teaching Certificate. 15 credit hours. July 31,2020.
• Guest Faculty, American University of the Caribbean Medical School, Sint Maarteen. 2017-2019.
• Guest Faculty, Nova School of Pharmacy, San Juan, PR. June, 2018.
• UCC Co-leader of the Multidisciplinary Training and Career Development Core of the PR Clinical and Translational Research Consortium. 2011-2018.