The Max Planck Florida Institute recently hosted a breakfast reception for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County’s executive trustees and board of directors. Dr. Claudia Hillinger, Vice President for Institute Development, welcomed the chamber members and gave a presentation on the research now underway in the temporary facility on Florida Atlantic University’s MacArthur campus in Jupiter.
 
“We are pleased that the Institute has reached out to the Hispanic business community,” said Hispanic Chamber CEO André Varona. “And we’re proud to be the first chamber of commerce to tour the Institute’s laboratories. We look forward to a long relationship with the Max Planck Florida Institute and hope to facilitate diversity in the bioscience industry overall in Palm Beach County.”Guests included Juan Cocuy, Cocuy, Burns, & Co.; Michael Becker, BNY Mellon Wealth Management; Rita De Mier and Tim Pachis, South Florida Fairgrounds; Joanie Connors, The Honda Classic; Michelle Vogel, PNC Bank; Aimee Cernicharo, St. Thomas University’s Human Rights Institute; Theresa LePore, Woman's Chamber of Commerce; Yvette Trelles, Trelles Law, P.A.; Michael Athmer, Progressive Employer Services; and George Prueger, Pratt Whitney.
 
After the reception, Dr. Samuel Young, the newly appointed independent Max Planck Research Group leader of the Molecular Neurobiology Research Group toured the chamber members through his laboratories. He discussed his work devoted to understanding the function of synapses - highly specialized contact points in the brain where neurons pass electrical and chemical signals to one another. He also explained the different technologies and types of precision equipment used in his laboratory. Evidence has emerged that most mental health diseases are due to problems in the synapses’ ability to transfer information between neurons. His long-term goal is to apply the knowledge gained in understanding the basic mechanisms of synaptic function to better comprehend and hopefully treat neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and mental retardation. 
 
The Max Planck Florida Institute is currently operating in a temporary facility on Florida Atlantic University’s MacArthur Campus in Jupiter. The permanent 100,000-square-foot biomedical research center and laboratories is expected to be completed by early 2012.