Dublin, Ireland, November 27, 2023. Today the virtual meeting “Creating Bridges between Ireland and Cuba II” took place. Diabetes and Obesity”, held between Irish and Cuban researchers, from the University College of Dublin (UCD), for its acronym in English and the “Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology” of Cuba (CIGB, in Spanish), respectively, to explore potential synergies between the research from both renowned institutions.
Dr. Alfonso Blanco, Director of Flow at UCD Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, as president of the meeting, highlighted at its inauguration the strategy towards Latin America and the Caribbean that Ireland has put into effect since last year and until 2025, which includes greater cooperation between both regions in the areas of education, research, innovation and investment. In this regard, he referred to the importance of this meeting, not only for Ireland and Cuba, but also for the establishment of greater links between researchers dedicated to these topics from European, Latin American and Caribbean countries.
The exchange of scientific ideas and information between UCD and CIGB on novel therapeutic approaches for Obesity and Diabetes is a significant step in addressing these urgent global health problems.
The identification of mutual interests and potential areas of collaboration is crucial to foster future partnerships between Ireland and Cuba that can contribute to advances in research and development of effective treatments, all of which is framed, in the aforementioned Strategy and in the Memorandum of Bilateral Cooperation, signed in Havana, in 2017, during the visit of President Michael D. Higgins.
This type of international collaboration in diabetes and obesity is essential to addressing global health challenges, allowing researchers to leverage their expertise, share resources, and work collectively to improve the well-being of people around the world.