Report of activities for the International Day of Immunology in Cuba
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Report of activities for the International Day of Immunology in Cuba
INTRODUCTION
Cuban Society of Immunology (SCI in Spanish) is a scientific association founded on 15 June 1995, in order to promote
scientific research, teaching and dissemination of the specialty. It is integrated into the National Council of Scientific
Societies of Health, an organization through which it interacts with the Ministry of Public Healthcare of the country, in
its promotional and scientific advisory roles. The society brings together both professionals of the health, medical and
specialists from other disciplines as scientists engaged in research of immunology experimental from the biological
point of view. Among members, there are scientists from advanced research institutions in the country, including the
Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK); the Institute of Hematology and Immunology (IHI); the Molecular
Immunology Center (CIM), the Immunoassay Center (CIE), the Finlay Vaccine Institute (IFV), the National Center of
Bioproducts (BIOCEN) and the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), the latter belonging to the
biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector (BioCubaFarma), an area recognized as advanced in the innovation and
development of immunobiological products and vaccines, at international scale. The Cuban Society of Immunology is
associated to the International Union of immunology Societies (IUIS) and is a relevant member of the Latin-American
and Caribbean Association for Immunology (ALACI). Cuba is currently holding the presidency and will celebrate this
year its Congress. The society has the following means as ways of dissemination and socialization, all of them offering
information in Spanish:
The official website: https://instituciones.sld.cu/sci/
The specialty website in the Cuban medical network Infomed : https://especialidades.sld.cu/inmunologia/
Channel on Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCYzOLBLc7HwuPwKfC3tz7w
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sociedad-Cubana-de-Inmunologia-103985838134159/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/CubanaFor
Immunology as a scientific and clinical discipline has played a key role defying COVID-19 worldwide and specifically in
Cuba. In our country the therapeutic protocols have been based mainly on immunobiological innovative products of
domestic production, among them, recombinant alpha-Interferon, Heberferon® (combination of alpha and gamma
interferon), Itolizumab (anti CD-6 monoclonal) and JUSVINZA® (an anti-inflammatory peptide derived from HSP60). In
addition, Nasalferon (formulation of IFN-alpha for the nasal route) has been used successfully as a preventive
approach. Remarkable results have been achieved in the prevention of acute respiratory infections and COVID-19 in
elder residents in nursing homes with the use of Biomodulina T®, a product based on Thymus polypeptides with an
immunorestoring action. Members of the Cuban society of immunology have played a leading role in the clinical
studies that have supported the introduction of these innovative approaches and, properly, in the design of the
national protocol of action against COVID-19. 1
Also, in the field of diagnosis and epidemiology, our basic and clinical immunologists have had a decisive influence.
The most current molecular diagnostic methods were implemented immediately, taking the IPK as the national
reference center. The network of PCR laboratories rapidly expanded from a few to 27, located throughout the country.
In vitro diagnostic reagents and devices have been developed in record time reagents (Sample transport media, PCR
extraction kits) allowing technology sovereignty for the nation. The network already reaches 27 000 daily PCR tests,
1
Osier F et al. The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic: how have immunology societies contributed? Nat Immunol Rev
Oct 2020 20(10):594-602 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-020-00428-4.
1
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which is equivalent to one test for every 415 inhabitants.2 Immunoassay Kits were developed for the determination of
anti SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG, and more recently, for the determination of the viral antigen, based on the SUMA
analytical technology available on the network of primary health care throughout the country.3,4
A special place in immunology, in general, and particularly in battle
against the COVID-19 pandemic is occupied by the vaccine research
and development. The Cuban science and biopharmaceutical
industry already have a well-earned prestige and tradition in this
field. Cuba is perhaps the only developing country with its own
strategy and concrete results in the development and application
of own vaccines against COVID-19.5 There have been developed five
candidate vaccines that have reached clinical phase: Soberana 1,
Soberana 2 and Soberana Plus6 (by the Institute Finlay Vaccine
jointly with the Center of Molecular Immunology) and Abdala and
Mambisa7 (by the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology).
These vaccines are all based on recombinant proteins, specifically
and on the SARS-CoV 2 Receptor Binding Domain. In the first case (the Soberana platform) a conjugate using a carrier
protein (Tetanus Toxoid)8 and in the second case (Abdala and Mambisa), a particulate glycosylated protein expressed
in Pichia Pastoris.9 The accelerated development of vaccines has been possible thanks to the highly qualified human
resources trained in the country, an aspect in which the Cuban Society of Immunology has contributed. The already
traditional partnership bonds between scientific institutions and clinics have been renewed and tightened. Innovative
methodologies have been applied, particularly in the field of protein modeling and development of bioanalytical
methods to evaluate the neutralizing capacity of antibodies.
Clinical trials with Soberana 2/Plus and Abdala have progressed to Phase III, including in this phase intervention studies
in healthcare personnel and in populations at high epidemic risk. Recently Cuba has exceeded one million inhabitants
vaccinated using exclusively these vaccines.10 Both products are expected to reach the full Market Authorization in
few weeks and it is expected to immunize 70% of the population before the end of August. 11 The activities for the
International Day of Immunology have granted a privileged place the protagonists of this scientific feat of high social
impact.
2
https://covi19cubadata.github.io/#cuba
3
Cuban News Agency May 7, 2020 http://www.acn.cu/salud/64394-logra-cuba-montaje-de-sistema-diagnostico-para-detectar-
anticuerpos-generados-por-la-covid-19
4
Granma Newspaper http://www.granma.cu/cuba-covid-19/2020-05-13/tecnologia-suma-una-muestra-de-soberania-
tecnologica-13-05-2020-23-05-11
5
Can Cuba beat COVID with its homegrown vaccines? Nature talks to vaccine designer Vicente Vérez Bencomo about the
country's efforts to produce its own coronavirus jabs - and set a record. 29 April, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-
01126-4
6
Stands for “sovereign” in Spanish.
7
“Abdala” is a name of a patriotic poem written by the Cuban national hero Jose Martí and “Mambisa” refers to the Cuban
rebels that fought in the 19th century for the independence against the Spanish colonial power.
8
Valdes-Balbin, Yuri et al…. Verez-Bencomo, Vicente. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 RBD-Tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine induces a
strong neutralizing immunity in preclinical studies. 10.1101/2021.02.08.430146.
9
Cuban News Agency. April 26, 2021. Glay Chinea: Protein engineering at the service of life. http://www.acn.cu/especiales-
acn/194-rostros/78929-glay-chinea-ingenieria-de-proteinas-al-servicio-de-la-vida-
fotos?fbclid=IwAR38c9jhTYM2mmPTT6qEBTiMoEQ2FFPzrUaQ36ECz4KyIe
10
Prensa Latina press agency: Cuba surpassed a million people with doses of anti-Covid-19 candidates https://www.prensa-
latina.cu/index.php?o=rn&id=450430
11
Cuban News Agency May 7, 2021 http://www.acn.cu/salud/79417-preven-que-en-agosto-cuba-tendra-el-70-por-ciento-de-su-
poblacion- immunized-against-covid-19
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OVERVIEW OF THE ACTIVITIES FOR THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOLOGY DAY
Program to celebrate the International Immunology Day in Cuba
Dedicated to Dr. Jorge Gavilondo Cowley12
1. Call of abstracts to the ALACI21 Congress and the 7th Cuban Immunology Congress
2. Call for the 2021 Annual National Immunology Prize
3. Presentation of the book Basic-Applied Neuroimmunology , by Cuban authors . Thursday April
29. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCYzOLBLc7HwuPwKfC3tz7w
4. Constitution of the Multidisciplinary Chair of Immunology “Dr. Antonio María Béguez César” at the Medical
Sciences University of Santiago de Cuba.
5. Opening of the I National Student Scientific Conference on Immunology "INMUNOCIEN 2021" at the Medical
Sciences University of Santiago de Cuba.
6. Webinar Advances of Cuban Vaccines against Covid19 Thursday April 29. 2 pm
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCYzOLBLc7HwuPwKfC3tz7w
7. National Television Show "La Pupila Asombrada" dedicated to the Molecular Immunology Center Thursday
April 22, 10 pm Cubavisión https://www.youtube.com/Lapupilaasombrada
8. National Television Show “La Pupila Asombrada” dedicated to the Finlay Vaccine Institute, Thursday, April
29, 10 pm Cubavisión https://www.youtube.com/Lapupilaasombrada
9. Interview with members of the National Board of the Cuban Society of Immunology in the National TV Show
"Afternoon at Home" Thursday, April 29 5:30 pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= zrnHcnSroI0
10. Dissemination of achievements of Immunology in Cuba in internet: Facebook, Twitter, Websites, Youtube
Channel of the SCI.
The program was published on internet and distributed by email to members of the society as of April 22:
https://instituciones.sld.cu/sci/2021/04/22/jornada-nacional-por-el-dia-mundial-de-la-inmunologia/
https: //especialidades.sld.cu/inmunologia/2021/04/28/jornada-nacional-por-el-dia-mundial-de-la-inmunologia/
12
Jorge Gavilondo Cowley. Cuban scientist who passed away in January 2021. Founder of Biotechnology in Cuba. Expert in the
fields of Cancer Immunology, Monoclonal and Recombinant Antibodies, Immunodiagnostics, Therapeutic Vaccines, Academic of
the Cuban Academy of Sciences, Member of the Board of Directors of the Cuban Society of Immunology (1996-2010), President
of the Latin American Immunology Association (1999-2002).
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4
The Webinar "Progress of Cuban vaccines against SARS-Cov2" was held on April 29 at 2 pm, with a duration
of 1 hour and 15 minutes. It featured two keynote speeches: first, Dr. Dagmar García (Director of Research
at the Finlay Vaccine Institute) and then, Dr. Gerardo Guillén (Director of Biomedical Research at the Center
for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology). Dr. García reviewed the progress of the clinical trials with the
vaccine candidates Soberana 01 and Soberana 02/Plus and Dr. Guillén the results with the vaccine candidates
Abdala and Mambisa. The Webinar was moderated by Dr. Belinda Sánchez, Director of immunobiology and
Immunotherapy at the Center for Molecular Immunology and Secretary of the Cuban Society of Immunology.
The presentations showed the results of these strategies in terms of antibody induction and cellular response
with two or three doses, which was comparable to other international vaccines. The clinical studies with
Soberana 02/Plus and Abdala are already in Phase III showing encouraging results and constitute the basis
of the Cuban strategy for mass vaccination of the population. The webinar had an online audience of 35
participants who posed questions to the speakers. Subsequently, the video has been placed on the Society's
YouTube channel, where it has already had more than 600 views.
4
5
The presentation of the book "Applied Basic Neurology" (Editorial LIBROMED Panamá ISBN 978-9962-9061-3-1) was
carried out online by the group of Cuban authors headed by Dr. María de los Ángeles Robinson. The book featured a
foreword by Prof. Gustavo Sierra (who passed away on April 27, 2021) and Prof. Miguel Ángel Macías Islas. The video
of the presentation can be found on the Society’s YouTube channel. The book contains 11 chapters covering a
comprehensive range of topics: Innate and Adaptive Immunity and Central Nervous System; Gut-Brain Axis and
Immunity; Inflammatory mechanisms in Pharmacoresistant Epilepsy; Multiple Sclerosis; the Immunology of
Neuromyelitis Diseases; Parkinson Disease; the participation of Immune Response in neuronal death; the Huntington
disease, neuroinflammation in Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease, Autoimmune Diseases with impact on the nervous
system and Psychoneuroimmunology.
In Cuban provinces
The activities for the Immunology Day were extended to other provinces of the country where the society has chapters,
particularly, in the city of Santiago de Cuba, the second in importance in the country, two activities were held: The
constitution of the multidisciplinary chair in Immunology “Dr. Antonio María Béguez César” and the First National
Student’s Scientific Conference on Immunology “INMUNOCIEN 2021” , both events were held at the University of
Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba (UCMSC).
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The Chair pays tribute to Dr. Antonio Maria Béguez César, a pediatrician born in Santiago de Cuba, that did the first
description of a primary immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the gene that regulates lysosomal function, the
same received the name of "Béguez-Steinbrinck-Higashi Syndrome" (though still often erroneously referenced as
Chediak-Higashi syndrome). The Cuban Society of Immunology together with the Cuban Society and Hematology have
promoted a project to increase the visibility of the scientific discovery of Dr. Antonio María Béguez César, considered
the first immunologist in that city. It was achieved that the Children's Hospital, where he worked all his life, were
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named after him. It has promoted the correction of the denomination of the syndrome in the Cuban Hematology and
Immunology Journal.13
The First National Student’s Scientific Immunology Conference "INMUNOCIEN 2021" was organized by the movement
of Immunology assistant graduate students, in the Faculty No 1 at the Medical Sciences University of Santiago de Cuba,
jointly with the Teaching Department of Immunology, and sponsored by the Institute of Basic and Preclinical Sciences
“Victoria de Girón” at the Medical Sciences University of Havana, and with the support of the local chapter of the
Cuban Society of Immunology. The Conference had 18 attendees, and 4 scientific papers were presented.
13
Castro Castro , B., Ballester Santovenia , JM, Peña Sánchez, MA, Batista Duharte , A., Robinson Rodriguez , RJ (2019).
Syndrome Béguez-Steinbrinck-Higashi : a new eponym for the syndrome Chediak-Higashi . Cuban Journal of Hematology,
Immunology and Hemotherapy, 35 (2).
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SCI Chapter of the province of Camagüey celebrating the International Day of Immunology.
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Workers of the Institute of Hematology and Immunology in Havana celebrating the Immunology Day.
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Workers of the National Center of Medical Genetics in Havana celebrating the Immunology Day.
The immunology day in national TV shows
In the Cuban national television three shows were devoted to the international day of immunology, each lasting 1 h.
The first two (April 22 and 29) were in the popular show "La Pupila Asombrada"14, a space dedicated to current socio-
political and cultural issues with a high audience in the country directed by the well-known journalist and blogger Iroel
Sánchez (host of the blog La Pupila Insomne15 ). Both programs were dedicated to Cuban vaccines against COVID-19.
The first of them "Cuba and its vaccines, how is it possible?" included an interview with Prof. Agustín Lage , founder of
the Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM) and the main protagonist of the development in Cuba of monoclonal
antibodies and therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of cancer. The mammalian cell culture technology developed
at CIM, is used for the production of the RBD antigen, the active ingredient in Cuban vaccines of the Soberana platform.
The second show "Beyond Cuban vaccines against Covid 19" collected interviews with prominent players in the
development of health sciences and biotechnology in Cuba, and particularly, with the Director of Research at the Finlay
Institute, a leading institution in the development of vaccines in Cuba, Dr. Dagmar García. The full videos of both
programs are available on the SCI YouTube channel.
14
Stands for “the astonished pupil” in Spanish
15
Stands for “the sleepless pupil”, a poem title from the X20th century Cuban writer and social leader Ruben Martínez Villena
1011
On the 29th of April, the popular television show “In the afternoon at home” which lasts for 1 hour, hosted by Raquel
Mayedo, was dedicated to the International Day of Immunology. It is a show usually dedicated to the cultural field and
entertainment oriented to general audience. In it, interviews were conducted with Dr. Ana Beatriz Pérez, SCI President
and IPK researcher, Dr. Consuelo Macías, SCI vice-president and director of the Institute of Hematology and
Immunology, and Dr. Belinda Sánchez, SCI secretary and Director of Immunobiology and Immunotherapy at the Center
of Molecular Immunology. An edited version of the program with the three interviews can be found on the SCI
YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrnHcnSroI0.
Scene from the show “La Pupila Asombrada" named “Cuba and its vaccines, how is it possible?" filmed at the Center
for Molecular Immunology. The picture shows the interview with the eminent Cuban immunologist Prof. Agustín
Lage.
Scene from the TV show “La Pupila Asombrada” named “Beyond Cuban vaccines against Covid 19" filmed at the
Finlay Vaccine Institute. Interview with the Director of Investigations of the IFV Dr. Dagmar Garcia.
1112
Interview with the Immunologist Dr. Danay Saavedra, researcher at the Center of Molecular Immunology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U35RSvLJNyM
1213
Interviews with the Board members of the Cuban Society of Immunology Dr. Ana Beatriz Pérez (President), Dr.
Consuelo Macías (Vice President) and Dr. Belinda Sánchez (Secretary) in the popular show of the Cuban Television
"Afternoon at home" dedicated to the international day of Immunology.
1314
Reach of the activity as assessed by on-line visits to the SCI channel at Youtube
Videos Impact on YouTube by number of views on
the Society's channel (date May, 31 2021)
TV show “La Pupila asombrada” “Cuba and its vaccines, how is it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v 3529
possible?” (April 22, 2021) =i-6-0N-- eIY
TV show “La Pupila asombrada” "Beyond the Cuban vaccines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v 714
against Covid 19 " (April 29, 2021) =Giz7GvEF13U
Webinar "Progress in Cuban Vaccines against Covid19 " (April 29, https://www.youtube.com/channel/ 619
2021) UCCYzOLBLc7HwuPwKfC3tz7w
International Immunology Day (Interview with Dr. Danay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v 311
Saavedra, Center for Molecular Immunology; April 28, 2021) =U35RSvLJNyM
Presentation of the book Basic-Applied Neuroimmunology (April https://www.youtube.com/watch?v 66
29, 2021) =D8GhlKJ3mig
Total 5239
Reach of the activity as estimated by the National TV audience.
Shows Estimated audience (Open signal TV viewers in
Cuba)16
TV show “La Pupila asombrada” Canal Cubavisión 4 million
TV show “De tarde en casa” Canal Educativo 2
16
https://www.tvcubana.icrt.cu/destacados/5022-el-consumo-televisivo-en-tiempos-de-la-covid-19
1415
OBITUARY
The program to celebrate the International Immunology Day was initially dedicated to Dr. Jorge Gavilondo, a
prominent immunologist with relevant results in cancer research and the development of monoclonal antibodies, who
passed away on January 14, 2021. Just two days before April 29, the Cuban scientific community suffered another
great loss, that of the beloved Professor Gustavo Sierra, the founder of the Cuban Society of Immunology and creator
of the first international vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis B, this time a victim of COVID-19.
The Cuban Immunology Society pays profound tribute to both.
Prof. Gustavo Sierra González
A great loss for Cuba: the immunologist and pioneer of biotechnology in our
country Dr. Gustavo Sierra has died from COVID-19. He was the initiator of
the first steps of biotechnology in Cuba in the late 1980s, founder of the
Finlay Institute and the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology,
and was a member of the group of founding leaders of the BioCubaFarma
Holding Group.
The Cuban Society of Immunology has lost its Founding President, the
Professor of Cuban Immunologists of several generations, a great scientist,
a man of integrity, fairness, incredible humility and modesty, with a great
sense of humanity.
He was one of the leaders responsible for the development in 1989 of the
world first effective vaccine against serogroup B meningococcus, the patent
of which earned the Gold Medal of the World Intellectual Property
Organization. He was previously part of the group of researchers that
produced the first interferons in Cuba.
It was one of the main author or co-author of other vaccines developed at the Finlay Institute, some are already in
clinical use or in development: anti-Leptospirosis, Anti-Salmonella tiphy, Anti-Cholera, Anti-Amoeba, Anti-TB. inventor
of vaccine adjuvants including various derivatives of the Proteoliposome technology of which he was the creator.
He tutored 45 doctoral dissertations as part of his responsibilities as a teacher, mentor, and guide to generations of
physicians and scientists. He was adjunct professor at several universities, appointed Caribbean Founder Professor by
the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and the Caribbean and Central America Brain Research
Organization (CARBRO); WHO and PAHO Advisor.
He was also decorated with the “José Antonio Echevarría” Order of Merit, “Lázaro Peña” First Degree Order, “Juan
Tomas Roig” Distinction, and Commemorative Medal for the XXX Anniversary of the Cuban Academy of Sciences
among other numerous distinctions. He was Deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power (the Cuban
Parliament) and member of the Parliament Science Commission. He was elected as Academician of Merit of the Cuban
Academy of Sciences since September 17, 2011. His achievements earned him the highest distinction awarded in the
country to scientists: The “Carlos J. Finlay” Order.
Dr. Sierra was a man very appreciated and loved by his family and by his disciples and colleagues due to his modesty,
wisdom, good humor and infinite solidarity. Let’s serve his example for all those who make science in Cuba. His legacy
will always be a model of altruism and dedication to Science.
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Dr. Jorge Gavilondo Cowley
Dr. Jorge V. Gavilondo Cowley was one of the main Cuban scientists of the
second half of the 20th century and one of the protagonists in the
construction of the biotechnology sector. Expert in the fields of
Immunology of Cancer, monoclonal and recombinant antibodies,
immunodiagnostic therapeutic vaccines, member of the Cuban Academy
of Sciences, Member of the Board of Directors of the Cuban Society of
Immunology (1996-2010), President of the Latin American Immunology
Association (1999-2002)
From his hands came the first monoclonal antibodies obtained in Cuba in
1981, including ITOLIZUMAB, well known today for its success in treating
seriously ill patients with COVID-19. He graduated in Biological Sciences
at the University of Havana in 1972 and began his professional life as a
scientist at the Havana National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology
(INOR) where he was promoted from the Radiobiology Laboratory, to the
direction of the Department of Biology, and was a very active member of the Scientific Council of that institution.
His first investigations were on lymphomas, and on the proliferation of higher cells in culture. He was the author of
the first articles published by the INOR in journals with high international impact. He had the perspective of identifying
monoclonal antibodies as one of the main areas of development in biotechnology. That is the reason why, at such an
early date and before the technique became generalized throughout the world, antibodies were obtained in Cuba as
early as 1981 and were tested in clinical trials for therapeutic use. His professional experience included a broad field
spanning cell and molecular biology, experimental immunology, monoclonal and recombinant antibodies, cancer
vaccines, experimental oncology, cell radiobiology, cell culture, diagnostic systems. Especially the assimilation of
technologies for the culture of mammalian cells had a lot to do with Gavilondo's knowledge and experimental skills.
He was an excellent experimenter and at the same time a profound theorist.
When the Havana Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology was founded in 1986, he was invited to join the
Center as Head of the Immunotechnology and Diagnosis Division and later, Head of Cancer Immunotherapy. Under his
direction, the therapeutic cancer vaccine HeberSaVax®, based on the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, was
obtained and today is in clinical trials.
He was awarded with the “Carlos J. Finlay” Order by the Council of State. He was author of more than 150 scientific
articles, seven patents and five books, and obtained 23 awards from the Cuban Academy of Sciences, of which he was
member. In his extensive teaching work, he trained 14 doctors of science.
He was president of the Latin American Association of Immunology, intensely disseminated in the world the results of
Cuban biotechnology and cancer research, and represented Cuba in many international organizations and events.
Jorge Gavilondo always believed in science and in the possibilities of doing world-class science in Cuba. And he did. His
footprint remains in the dozens of scientists he trained and in each immunotherapy product, especially in each
monoclonal antibody that comes out of Cuban laboratories, his work will be present.
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