Investigators – ENG - PRCCI - Puerto Rico Consortium for Clinical Investigation

Our Investigators

PRCCI Leadership

Dr. Amarilys Silva, Pharm. D

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) with diverse experience working in Healthcare and global exposure in the Pharmaceutical Industry in the areas of Research, Medical Affairs, Global Product Safety/Pharmacovigilance, Regulatory Affairs. Dr. Silva holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, School of Pharmacy, and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville. Proficient in multiple Therapeutic Areas, Academic partnerships, Compliance, GxPs, Auditing (FDA, EMEA, etc.) along with strong managerial and clinical experience.

Dr. Silva is recognized as a leader in Clinical Research by the Puerto Rico medical community, Academia, government institutions, and pharmaceutical industry. She is also recognized as a partner of excellence and has developed relationships of mutual trust and respect with many internal and external stakeholders in US and Puerto Rico. Dr. Silva is passionate about diversity and inclusion. She is focused on innovation to help improve patient outcomes.

Amarilys Silva-Boschetti, PharmD

Executive Director

PRCCI Investigators

PRCCI is proud to collaborate with a network of exceptional investigators. Learn more about their research areas and how they contribute to our mission of advancing healthcare.

Full Bio

David E. Barreto Bermonty, MD

Dr. David E. Barreto Bermonty was born and raised in the island of Puerto Rico. From a young age, he developed a passion for the sciences, which guided his educational path. He pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedics at the Universidad de Puerto Rico in Aguadilla. Following his undergraduate studies, he completed his medical education in Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Mexico. After medical school, he worked as a scribe for an Infectious Disease Doctor and an Internist in Arizona. This position allowed him to gain invaluable insights into patient care and clinical practices, further honing his skills and reinforcing his commitment to the medical profession. After returning to Puerto Rico, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Bayamon, Puerto Rico. This training was pivotal in shaping his clinical abilities and enhancing his knowledge in various medical disciplines. Currently, he serve as a Research Fellow in Pneumology and Critical Care, where he is engaged in exploring complex respiratory conditions and contributing to advancements in patient care. This role aligns with his passion for research and clinical excellence, allowing him to make a meaningful impact in the field of medicine. As he continue his journey, he remain dedicated to furthering his knowledge and skills while contributing to the health and well-being of the community.

David E. Barreto Bermonty, MD

Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellow

Sub-Investigator in Uncontrolled Asthma and Bronchiectasis Studies

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Maribel Campos Rivera, MD MSc MBA-HCM FAAP Dipl ABOM and ACLM

Dr. Maribel Campos Rivera is a Physician scientist, Board-Certified in Pediatrics, Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine, with degrees in Health Care Administration and Clinical Research. A Robert Wood Johnson Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Alumni with over 20 years of experience implementing studies representing a broad range of research designs. Her commitment to scientific discovery has been demonstrated by her participation in all stages of clinical trials as a researcher, but even more so by assuming the role of the legally assigned representative and participant whenever possible. She has served as a member of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus Institutional Review Board for almost a decade. However, her lived experience addressing the consequences of non-communicable diseases like obesity, infertility, and cancer heightened her appreciation and awareness of the burden participants bear to make a new solution become the standard of care. Her engagement as a site investigator for industry-sponsored clinical trials was initiated under the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Clemente Diaz. Since then, she has transitioned to an independent career in research as Founder of the Center for Community Outreach for Health Across the Lifespan, a division of the Office of the Dean of Research at the School of Dental Medicine. As a professor at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, she has mentored trainees at different stages and fields of training, guiding them to meet the community they aim to serve and be better equipped to address the social determinants of health. Her investigator-originated work focuses on the effects of fetal and early childhood exposures on health across the lifespan. Her trajectory includes community action projects fostering a culture of health through system alignment, science education, and interdisciplinary care. Her team collaborates with community-based and professional organizations to develop and implement evidence-based, place-based, and community-informed solutions. Her role within the Voices for Healthy Kids community, supported by the American Heart Association, is just one example of their contributions towards health equity. She is also a past member of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico College of Physicians and Surgeons as President of the Research and Technological Development Institute up to her appointment as a member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. She is a member of the Nutrition Sub Committee of the Council. Her commitment to improving the adoption rate of healthy lifestyles fueled her transition from NICU Medical Director to Founder of Emerge, a public benefit corporation dedicated to family-centered integrated healthcare.

Maribel Campos Rivera, MD MSc MBA-HCM FAAP Dipl ABOM and ACLM

Neonatologist, Pediatrician, Lifestyle Medicine

Principal Investigator in studies on obesity caused by genetic variants, pediatric migraine, and adult obesity.

Full Bio

Wihelma Echevarría Cortés, MD

Dr. Wihelma Echevarría Cortés is a pediatric gastroenterologist who did her basic medical training and pediatric residency in the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. She later subspecialized in pediatric gastroenterology at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, upon which she became an Associate Research Scientist at Yale University. Her research at Yale mainly focused on basic science, topics such as the transport of bile acids in the liver and the regulation of calcium signals in the nucleus. Among her numerous presentations and papers, this project culminated in a publication in Nature Cell Biology and a chapter in the book Molecular Pathogenesis of Cholestasis, cowritten with Dr. Michael H. Nathanson. The efforts of Dr. Echevarría Cortés have deserved several research awards, such as NASPGHAN/Mead Johnson Scientific Research Award, AASLD/Schering Plow Scientific Research Award, Glaxo SmithKline Scientific Research Award, and Yale Child Study Center Research Grant Award. As of recent, Dr. Echevarría Cortés is the Director of the Pediatrics Department at Hospital Pavia Caguas and Principal Investigator of two clinical studies. She also cares for patients in her private practice, lectures around PR on Ped GI topics, and is an active member of the board of Pediatric Gastroenterology Association of PR.

Wihelma Echevarría Cortés, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Full Bio

Ricardo Fernández, MD

Ricardo Fernández, MD, began his career as a subspecialist in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in 2007. Over the years, he has diversified into several areas, including private practice at one of the largest hospitals on the island and establishing his own office to provide care for patients with respiratory conditions. In addition, he has been deeply involved in the training of future specialists and subspecialists, serving as a speaker for various companies on different medical conditions and actively engaging in research work.

Since 2012, he has served as the director of the training program at San Juan Hospital, a role that inspired him to fully immerse himself in the field of research. He has participated in more than 30 research studies and contributed to over 30 publications, many of them in peer-reviewed journals both locally and internationally. This experience has been highly rewarding, as he has witnessed the impact of these efforts in the development of medications and protocols that enhance patient care and management.

Ricardo Fernández, MD

Pulmonology and Critical Care

Principal Investigator in a clinical study for the treatment of uncontrolled asthma and bronchiectasis.

Full Bio

Nicolas Rosario-Matos, MD, MSc, MTh

Nicolas Rosario-Matos, MD, MSc, MTh is a highly experienced pediatrician and clinical investigator with over 14 years of involvement in clinical research. He holds a medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) School of Medicine and a master’s degree in clinical research from the UPR Medical Sciences Campus. Dr. Rosario is a collaborator in the Puerto Rico Consortium for Clinical Investigation, serves as Director and Principal Investigator at the Clinical Research Investigator Group, and is an investigator at the San Juan Hospital Research Center. He leads clinical trials in a wide range of areas including HIV, vaccines, and new treatments in rheumatology, endocrinology, dermatology, neurology and gastroenterology, across diverse populations ranging from infants to adults. His research interests also include the impact of natural disasters on infant health and microbiome studies.

Throughout his career, Dr. Rosario has collaborated on numerous clinical trials funded by the NIH, pharmaceutical industry and other research networks, and he has co-authored multiple publications on pediatric health outcomes. His work has contributed to understanding how prenatal exposure to events like Hurricane Maria affects infant microbiomes. Dr. Rosario is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly in populations impacted by social and environmental challenges.

Nicolas Rosario-Matos, MD, MSc, MTh

HIV, Vaccines, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Dermatology, Neurology & Gastroenterology