{"id":2024,"date":"2023-03-27T10:23:28","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T14:23:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/?post_type=dt_team&#038;p=2024"},"modified":"2023-09-25T13:47:21","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T17:47:21","slug":"yancy-ferrer-phd","status":"publish","type":"dt_team","link":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/dt_team\/yancy-ferrer-phd\/","title":{"rendered":"Ferrer Acosta, Yancy, PhD"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]<div id=\"ultimate-heading-286469dea6e34ad86\" class=\"uvc-heading ult-adjust-bottom-margin ultimate-heading-286469dea6e34ad86 uvc-6883 accent-subtitle-color\" data-hspacer=\"no_spacer\"  data-halign=\"left\" style=\"text-align:left\"><div class=\"uvc-heading-spacer no_spacer\" style=\"top\"><\/div><div class=\"uvc-main-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-286469dea6e34ad86 h2'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"desktop:30px;mobile_landscape:34px;\",\"line-height\":\"desktop:40px;mobile_landscape:44px;\"}' ><h2 style=\"font-weight:bold;color:#0a0a0a;margin-bottom:10px;\">Dra. Yancy Ferrer, PhD<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"uvc-sub-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-286469dea6e34ad86 .uvc-sub-heading '  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"desktop:18px;mobile_landscape:20px;\",\"line-height\":\"desktop:34px;mobile_landscape:30px;\"}'  style=\"font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:30px;\">Assistant Professor<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;]<div class=\"ult-content-box-container \" >\t\t<div class=\"ult-content-box\" style=\"background-color:#545454;box-shadow: px px px px none;border-style:solid;border-width:5px;border-radius:5px;border-color:#545454;padding:10px;-webkit-transition: all 700ms ease;-moz-transition: all 700ms ease;-ms-transition: all 700ms ease;-o-transition: all 700ms ease;transition: all 700ms ease;\"  data-hover_box_shadow=\"none\"     data-bg=\"#545454\"  data-border_color=\"#545454\" ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-type=\"the7_shortcodes-inline-css\">.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-a204d32d851271f27e9b9c79ee0874b3.enable-bg-rollover .rollover i,\n.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-a204d32d851271f27e9b9c79ee0874b3.enable-bg-rollover .rollover-video i {\n  background: -webkit-linear-gradient();\n  background: linear-gradient();\n}\n.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-a204d32d851271f27e9b9c79ee0874b3 .rollover-icon {\n  font-size: 32px;\n  color: #ffffff;\n  min-width: 44px;\n  min-height: 44px;\n  line-height: 44px;\n  border-radius: 100px;\n  border-style: solid;\n  border-width: 0px;\n}\n.dt-icon-bg-on.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-a204d32d851271f27e9b9c79ee0874b3 .rollover-icon {\n  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.3);\n  box-shadow: none;\n}<\/style><div class=\"shortcode-single-image-wrap shortcode-single-image-a204d32d851271f27e9b9c79ee0874b3 alignnone  enable-bg-rollover dt-icon-bg-off\" style=\"margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; width:300px;\"><div class=\"shortcode-single-image\"><div class=\"fancy-media-wrap  layzr-bg\" style=\"\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"preload-me lazy-load aspect\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D&#39;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#39;%20viewBox%3D&#39;0%200%20300%20300&#39;%2F%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2023\/03\/yancy-ferrer.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2023\/03\/yancy-ferrer.jpg 300w\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\"  data-dt-location=\"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/dt_team\/yancy-ferrer-phd\/yancy-ferrer\/\" style=\"--ratio: 300 \/ 300;\" alt=\"Yancy Ferrer, PhD\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Contact Info<\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<div class=\"uavc-list-icon uavc-list-icon-wrapper ult-adjust-bottom-margin   \"><ul class=\"uavc-list\"><li><div class=\"uavc-list-content\" id=\"list-icon-wrap-7647\">\n<div class=\"uavc-list-icon  \" data-animation=\"\" data-animation-delay=\"03\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><div class=\"ult-just-icon-wrapper  \"><div class=\"align-icon\" style=\"text-align:center;\">\n<div class=\"aio-icon none \"  style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:32px;display:inline-block;\">\n\t<i class=\"icomoon-the7-font-the7-mail-03\"><\/i>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><span  data-ultimate-target='#list-icon-wrap-7647 .uavc-list-desc'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  class=\"uavc-list-desc ult-responsive\" style=\"\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><a style=\"color: #ffffff;\" href=\"mailto:yancy.ferrer@upr.edu\">yancy.ferrer@upr.edu<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/li><li><div class=\"uavc-list-content\" id=\"list-icon-wrap-2546\">\n<div class=\"uavc-list-icon  \" data-animation=\"\" data-animation-delay=\"03\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><div class=\"ult-just-icon-wrapper  \"><div class=\"align-icon\" style=\"text-align:center;\">\n<div class=\"aio-icon none \"  style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:32px;display:inline-block;\">\n\t<i class=\"icomoon-the7-font-the7-map-05\"><\/i>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><span  data-ultimate-target='#list-icon-wrap-2546 .uavc-list-desc'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  class=\"uavc-list-desc ult-responsive\" style=\"\"><span class=\"uavc-list-desc ult-responsive\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\" data-ultimate-target=\"#list-icon-wrap-2984 .uavc-list-desc\" data-responsive-json-new=\"{&quot;font-size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;line-height&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">Medical Sciences Campus<br \/>\nDr. Guillermo Arbona Irizarry Bldg.<br \/>\n5th Floor, Lab A573 Office A573<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div><\/li><li><div class=\"uavc-list-content\" id=\"list-icon-wrap-4778\">\n<div class=\"uavc-list-icon  \" data-animation=\"\" data-animation-delay=\"03\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><div class=\"ult-just-icon-wrapper  \"><div class=\"align-icon\" style=\"text-align:center;\">\n<div class=\"aio-icon none \"  style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:32px;display:inline-block;\">\n\t<i class=\"icomoon-the7-font-the7-phone-071\"><\/i>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><span  data-ultimate-target='#list-icon-wrap-4778 .uavc-list-desc'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  class=\"uavc-list-desc ult-responsive\" style=\"\"><span class=\"uavc-list-desc ult-responsive\" style=\"color: #ffffff;\" data-ultimate-target=\"#list-icon-wrap-2984 .uavc-list-desc\" data-responsive-json-new=\"{&quot;font-size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;line-height&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">787-758-2525 x-2169<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;]<div id=\"ultimate-heading-224269dea6e34bade\" class=\"uvc-heading ult-adjust-bottom-margin ultimate-heading-224269dea6e34bade uvc-2040  uvc-heading-default-font-sizes\" data-hspacer=\"no_spacer\"  data-halign=\"left\" style=\"text-align:left\"><div class=\"uvc-heading-spacer no_spacer\" style=\"top\"><\/div><div class=\"uvc-main-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-224269dea6e34bade h3'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}' ><h3 style=\"font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:30px;\">RESEARCH INTEREST<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uvc-sub-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-224269dea6e34bade .uvc-sub-heading '  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  style=\"font-weight:normal;\">Neuroprotection and cancer therapeutics using natural products and nanotechnology<\/p>\n<p>Our laboratory has several research projects in Neuroprotection and Lung cancer.<\/p>\n<p>Within the field of neuroprotection, we have three main research projects:<\/p>\n<p>1) A synthetic strategy for neuroprotection using smart nanoparticles with protective drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier. In these studies, we use a pilocarpine epilepsy mouse model, ex vivo, and in vitro methodologies to test the drug&#8217;s effectivity.<\/p>\n<p>2) A natural strategy for neuroprotection using tobacco-derived cembranoids, which naturally cross the blood-brain barrier. In these studies, to test our neuroprotective compound&#8217;s effect in decreasing stroke infarct size, we use a stroke rat model called the tMCAO method. We also use ex-vivo and in-vitro methods to understand the drug&#8217;s molecular mechanisms.<\/p>\n<p>3) The study of a platelet-abundant immunoreceptor called Trem-Like Transcript-1 (TLT-1) and its role in brain cells after neuroinflammation. For these studies, we use brain tissue histology, TLT-1 knockout mice, cell culture, and Molecular Biology techniques to start understanding the role of this enigmatic receptor and its soluble fragment in brain cells.<\/p>\n<p>In our lung-carcinoma-related projects:<\/p>\n<p>1) We use a syngeneic mouse model called the Lewis Lung Carcinoma, which is an immune-competent mouse system to study tumorigenesis. To target NSCLC, we are testing several strategies, such as using natural products to decrease tumor growth via nicotinic inhibition, or designing targeted nanoparticles delivering drugs that induce cell death into the tumor cells. Using non-toxic drugs such as cembranoids, or bio-compatible, targeted drug delivery systems, we aim to improve treatments against lung carcinoma which can be used alone or as adjuvant therapies.<\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space]<div id=\"ultimate-heading-903369dea6e34bb51\" class=\"uvc-heading ult-adjust-bottom-margin ultimate-heading-903369dea6e34bb51 uvc-838  uvc-heading-default-font-sizes\" data-hspacer=\"no_spacer\"  data-halign=\"left\" style=\"text-align:left\"><div class=\"uvc-heading-spacer no_spacer\" style=\"top\"><\/div><div class=\"uvc-main-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-903369dea6e34bb51 h3'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}' ><h3 style=\"font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:30px;\">Present Funding<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uvc-sub-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-903369dea6e34bb51 .uvc-sub-heading '  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  style=\"font-weight:normal;\">PR-INBRE, RCMI, R01 Supplement<\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space]<div id=\"ultimate-heading-330469dea6e34bbb0\" class=\"uvc-heading ult-adjust-bottom-margin ultimate-heading-330469dea6e34bbb0 uvc-2875  uvc-heading-default-font-sizes\" data-hspacer=\"no_spacer\"  data-halign=\"left\" style=\"text-align:left\"><div class=\"uvc-heading-spacer no_spacer\" style=\"top\"><\/div><div class=\"uvc-main-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-330469dea6e34bbb0 h3'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}' ><h3 style=\"font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:30px;\">Selected Publications<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uvc-sub-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-330469dea6e34bbb0 .uvc-sub-heading '  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  style=\"font-weight:normal;\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Crespo MJ, Rom\u00e1n M, Tirado G, Martins AH, Ferrer-Acosta Y, Martinez-Jimenez SM. Dantrolene Significantly Improves Cerebral Blood Flow in a Rat Model of Hemorrhagic Vasospasms. Pharmacology. 2023 Mar 6:1-9. doi: 10.1159\/000529243. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36878192.<\/li>\n<li>Ferrer-Acosta Y, Rodriguez-Mass\u00f3 S, P\u00e9rez D, Eterovic VA, Ferchmin PA, Martins AH. Memantine has a nicotinic neuroprotective pathway in acute hippocampal slices after an NMDA insult. Toxicol In Vitro. 2022 Oct;84:105453. doi: 10.1016\/j.tiv.2022.105453. Epub 2022 August 6. PMID: 35944748.<\/li>\n<li>Sabeva N, Pag\u00e1n OR, Ferrer-Acosta Y, Eterovi\u0107 VA, Ferchmin PA. In Vivo Evaluation of the Acute Systemic Toxicity of (1S,2E,4R,6R,7E,11E)-Cembratriene-4,6-diol (4R) in Sprague Dawley Rats. Nutraceuticals (Basel). 2022 Jun;2(2):60-70. doi: 10.3390\/nutraceuticals2020005. Epub 2022 April 9. PMID: 35855209; PMCID: PMC9291268.<\/li>\n<li>V\u00e9lez LA, Delgado Y *, Ferrer-Acosta Y, Su\u00e1rez-Arroyo IJ, Rodr\u00edguez P, P\u00e9rez, D. \u201c Theoretical Prediction of Gastrointestinal Absorption of Phytochemicals.\u201d Int. J. Plant Biol. 2022, 13, 163-179. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijpb13020016<\/li>\n<li>Dominguez-Martinez I, Joaquin-Ovalle F, Ferrer-Acosta Y, Griebenow KH. Folate-Decorated Cross-Linked Cytochrome c Nanoparticles for Active Targeting of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC). Pharmaceutics. 2022 February 24;14(3):490. doi: 10.3390\/pharmaceutics14030490. PMID: 35335867; PMCID: PMC8951294.<\/li>\n<li>Delgado Y, Cass\u00e9 C, Ferrer-Acosta Y, Su\u00e1rez-Arroyo IJ, Rodr\u00edguez-Zayas J, Torres A, Torres-Mart\u00ednez Z, P\u00e9rez D, Gonz\u00e1lez MJ, Vel\u00e1zquez-Aponte RA, Andino J, Correa-Rodr\u00edguez C, Franco JC, Mil\u00e1n W, Rosario G, Vel\u00e1zquez E, Vega J, Col\u00f3n J, Batista C. \u201cBiomedical Effects of the Phytonutrients Turmeric, Garlic, Cinnamon, Graviola, and Oregano: A Comprehensive Review.\u201d Applied Sciences. 2021; 11(18):8477. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/app11188477.<br \/>\nTorres-Martinez Z, Delgado Y, Ferrer-Acosta Y, Suarez-Arroyo IJ, Joaqu\u00edn-Ovalle FM, Delinois LJ, Griebenow K. Key genes and drug delivery systems to improve the efficiency of chemotherapy. Cancer Drug Resist. 2021;4(1):163-191. doi: 10.20517\/cdr.2020.64. Epub 2021 March 19. PMID: 34142021; PMCID: PMC8208690.<\/li>\n<li>Barcelo-Bovea V, Dominguez-Martinez I, Joaquin-Ovalle F, Amador LA, Castro-Rivera E, Medina-\u00c1lvarez K, McGoron A, Griebenow K, Ferrer-Acosta Y. (2020) Optimization and Characterization of Protein Nanoparticles for the Targeted and Smart Delivery of Cytochrome c to Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel). 2020 May 13;12(5):1215. doi: 10.3390\/cancers12051215. PMID: 32413975<br \/>\nMartins AH, Zayas-Santiago A, Ferrer-Acosta Y, Martinez-Jimenez SM, Zueva L, Diaz-Garcia A, Inyushin M. Accumulation of Amyloid Beta (A\u03b2) Peptide on Blood Vessel Walls in the Damaged Brain after Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion. Biomolecules. 2019 August 8;9(8):350. doi: 10.3390\/biom9080350. PMID: 31398804; PMCID: PMC6723874.<\/li>\n<li>Ferrer-Acosta Y, Gonzalez-Vega MN, Rivera-Aponte DE, Martinez-Jimenez SM, Martins AH. Monitoring Astrocyte Reactivity and Proliferation in Vitro Under Ischemic-Like Conditions. J Vis Exp. 2017 October 21;(128). doi: 10.3791\/55108. PMID: 29155711<\/li>\n<li>Ferrer-Acosta Y, Gonz\u00e1lez M, Fern\u00e1ndez M, Washington AV (2014) Emerging Roles for Platelets in Inflammation and Disease. J Infect Dis Ther. 2(4): 149. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4172\/2332-0877.1000149<\/li>\n<li>Castillo-Pichardo L, Humphries-Bickley T, De La Parra C, Forestier-Roman I, Martinez-Ferrer M, Hernandez E, Vlaar C, Ferrer-Acosta Y, Washington AV, Cubano LA, Rodriguez-Orengo J, Dharmawardhane S.\u00a0 (2014) The Rac Inhibitor EHop-016 Inhibits Mammary Tumor Growth and Metastasis in a Nude Mouse Model. Transl Oncol. 7(5):546-55. PMID: 25389450. doi: 10.1016\/j.tranon.2014.07.004.<\/li>\n<li>Ferrer-Acosta Y, Rodr\u00edguez-Cruz EN, Orange F, De Jes\u00fas-Cort\u00e9s H, Madera B, Vaquer-Alicea J, Ballester J, Guinel MJ, Bloom GS, Vega IE. EFhd2 is a novel amyloid protein associated with pathological tau in Alzheimer&#8217;s disease. J Neurochem. 2013 Jun;125(6):921-31. doi: 10.1111\/jnc.12155. Epub 2013 February 14. PMID: 23331044; PMCID: PMC3676478<\/li>\n<li>Ferrer-Acosta Y, Rodr\u00edguez Cruz EN, Vaquer Adel C, Vega IE. Functional and structural analysis of the conserved EFhd2 protein. Protein Pept Lett. 2013 May;20(5):573-83. doi: 10.2174\/0929866511320050011. PMID: 22973849; PMCID: PMC3633529.<\/li>\n<li>Vega IE, Traverso EE, Ferrer-Acosta Y, Matos E, Colon M, Gonzalez J, Dickson D, Hutton M, Lewis J, Yen SH. A novel calcium-binding protein is associated with tau proteins in tauopathy. J Neurochem. 2008 Jul;106(1):96-106. doi: 10.1111\/j.1471-4159.2008.05339.x. Epub 2008 July 1. PMID: 18346207; PMCID: PMC3696493.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2025,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","dt_team_category":[36],"class_list":["post-2024","dt_team","type-dt_team","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","dt_team_category-assistant-professor","dt_team_category-36","description-off"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/dt_team\/2024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/dt_team"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/dt_team"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2024"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"dt_team_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/anatomyneurobiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/dt_team_category?post=2024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}