By Paula Hartman Cohen

In the U.S., more than 35 million people identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2000 Census.  To celebrate the important cultural, educational, and scientific contributions made by Hispanics, in 1988 President Gerald Ford declared the month beginning September 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month.  The date was chosen to coincide with Independence Day celebrations in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

A number of notable Hispanic scientists work in the U.S. today.  They include Nobel physicist Luis Walter Alvarez, chemist Mario Molina, biochemist Severo Ochoa, and astronauts Franklin Chang-Diaz, Carlos Noriega, and Ellen Ochoa.

Thousands of lesser known Hispanic or Latino scientists work every day in university labs and private industry.  They may not get national recognition, but the work they do impacts the lives of millions around the world.

Consider neurobiologist Alberto Rivera-Rentas.  He spent years in Puerto Rico teaching and researching aspects of asthma and related diseases.  He now is based at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he has expanded that research and, at the same time, helped hundreds of minority scientists expand their horizons through training and career development.

Rivera-Rentas serves as the program director for the Division of Minority Opportunities in Research (MORE) at National Institutes of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), which is part of the NIH, in Washington D.C. At one point in his career, he participated in a program that was sponsored by MORE, and now he works on the other side of the desk, overseeing similar projects.

When Rivera-Rentas arrived at the NIH three years ago from his native Puerto Rico, people noticed his accent and asked him where he was from.  Their curiosity gave him a chance to point out that perfect English is not a requirement for making a contribution to scientific knowledge.

“It’s the other way around,” he said.  Rivera-Rentas believes that the more diverse a research community is, the more fruitful the discussions, and ultimately the findings, will be.

Rivera-Rentas said the success of minority health research in the U.S. may depend on our ability to diversify our corps of researchers.  Working toward that end, his job at MORE allows him to step outside the lab to mentor and guide students, and act as team leader on research projects conducted at universities around the country.  As program director, he is determined to increase the number of minorities involved in science—especially in biomedical research—at every level.

Rivera-Rentas noted that minority scientists are not only sought after in the U.S., but are necessary to the success of ongoing research projects.  A cultural heritage is a great asset for a scientist to be able to bring fresh insights, he said, especially when that researcher is involved in studies into the cause and prevention of diseases that have taken a toll on minority populations.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Puerto Rico has a higher overall prevalence of asthma than any other region of the Americas, particularly among children living in the eastern part of the island.  In New York City, people of Puerto Rican descent are far more likely to suffer from asthma than those of other population groups.

“We need to do the research,” Rivera-Rentas said.  Recently, he guided work done at the University of Puerto Rico to isolate and indentify microbial fungi that may be linked to asthma.  These fungi could be a precipitating factor related to this debilitating condition.  Similar research involves ozone exposure and airborne particulate matter.  Rivera-Rentas also oversees epidemiological studies among asthma-affected communities.

When he’s not in the lab, Rivera-Rentas encourages students from the community college to postdoctoral level to consider a career in biomedical research.  He also initiates research projects and oversees grants offered by the NIGMS.

“We need people who love science, are interested in discovery, and are bent on becoming better at what they do,” he said.  He looks specifically for those who have mastered a broad range of skills in all sciences, are persistent in their work, and are not discouraged when things go wrong.  Failure is part of the process, he said.

Rivera-Rentas attended the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and earned a bachelor’s degree in general natural sciences.  He then immediately enrolled in medical school, in part, because he wanted to find ways to help his older brother, who had undergone cancer surgery.

He fully expected to be his family’s first physician.  The thrill of discovery drew him to research instead of clinical practice.  In 1988, he switched to a doctoral program in biology with a concentration in neurobiology, and received a Ph.D. in 1996. With a background in both basic science and medicine, he was able to teach at UPR and initiate research in biological, chemical, physical and environmental factors related to damage to the human nervous system.

As a youngster, Rivera-Rentas watched the television show Quincy, in which a tireless and clever medical examiner was able to unravel “unsolvable” crimes.  Today, he fully understands the appeal of shows like CSI, where scientists also take on the role of detective.

Part of what he likes most about research, Rivera-Rentas said, is the chance to follow a project through to the point where he discovers something entirely new.  He loves to be the pioneer, and gets a kick out of knowing he stands—even if only for a moment—where no one else has been.  Where else can you define your own project and follow your gut feeling, he said, and know that you’re able to contribute to your family, community, and society by applying the knowledge you gained in school.

Rivera-Rentas encourages others to follow his path.  He believes today is an excellent time to enter the sciences.  “There are lots of opportunities, many programs, and a lot of discoveries done in the last 10 years that are transforming the biomedical field.  This is the time to jump in.”