The II Cuba-United States Joint Scientific Meeting "Addressing Global Health Challenges through Scientific Innovation and Biomedical Research" was held in Havana from February 14 to 16.
Scientists and researchers from both countries exchanged on pandemic preparedness; research on arbovirus diseases, cancer and neurological disorders; advances and trends in health technologies and data science; and chronic conditions and risk factors across the lifespan, among other topics.
The "Pedro Kourí" Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK), authorities from the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (Minsap) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the United States were the organizers of the event.
Cuba's Minister of Public Health, Dr. José Angel Portal Miranda, inaugurated the event and gave a keynote speech on the Cuban health system and biomedical research in our country.
During the conference, the work and contribution to Science of Dr. Christopher Manuel Gómez, M.D., PhD. and Stephen Whitehead, PhD., outstanding American scientists and researchers who were granted the category of Corresponding Academician of the Cuban Academy of Sciences, were recognized.
NIAID Principal Deputy Director Hugh Auchincloss, MD, led the large U.S. delegation, made up of representatives from 23 U.S. health institutions, which also included experts and officials from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Also attending on behalf of Cuba were officials from the BioCubaFarma business group, the Cuban Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The participants stressed the importance of sustained exchanges and the need to increase joint scientific work to face the global challenges of human health.