Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine
Dr. Eduardo Álvarez Rivera earned his B.S. in Microbiology from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, and his Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the Universidad Central del Caribe (UCC), School of Medicine. He currently serves as a full-time Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator at UCC, where he leads an independent and highly student-centered research laboratory focused on cancer and immunology.
His laboratory investigates the anticancer and immunomodulatory properties of natural compounds, particularly Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP) from Coriolus versicolor and erinacines from Hericium erinaceus. His current project explores the anticancer potential of PSP and erinacines in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in a time- and dose-dependent manner, evaluating their ability to induce tumor cell death and suppress proliferation compared to current chemotherapeutic treatments. His research team has observed that long-term PSP exposure leads to overwhelming glioma cell death, highlighting its potential in novel integrative approaches to neuro-oncology.
Dr. Álvarez Rivera is deeply passionate about mentorship and research training. His laboratory actively integrates undergraduate, medical, and graduate students, offering them hands-on research experience and professional development opportunities that strengthen their scientific foundations and future career prospects. Having mentored over 30 undergraduate students, as well as numerous medical and graduate trainees, Dr. Álvarez Rivera is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages students to pursue scientific discovery and excellence in cancer and immunology research. Students under Dr. Álvarez’s mentorship have been accepted into Schools of Medicine, Schools of Pharmacy, Schools of Dentistry, and Graduate Programs, highlighting his full commitment to student growth and professionalism.