A Cuban scientist awarded by UNESCO

A Cuban scientist awarded by UNESCO
Fecha de publicación: 
1 June 2022
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Doctor of Science María Guadalupe Guzmán Tirado, director of the Reference Center for Research and Diagnosis at the Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute (IPK), was honored with the L'Oréal-UNESCO International Prize for Women and Science.

This award was granted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to the Cuban expert for her pioneering work, which has allowed a better understanding and treatment of dengue or tropical flu, a disease that affects mainly intertropical areas and annually infects 50 to 100 million people worldwide.

According to the UNESCO website, in the note where it communicates the five winners by geographical area, Professor Guzmán Tirado's research has allowed a better understanding of the pathogenesis of dengue, the treatment of its symptoms and its prevention.

In this 24th edition, the prize of that international organization is awarded in the category of life sciences and environment to five eminent scientists with exceptional careers, from the five regions of the world, the source refers.

The Cuban scientist is the first Caribbean woman to win the important award, whose delivery ceremony will take place next June, in Paris.

Since 1998, UNESCO, in cooperation with the French cosmetics company L'Oréal, has given the award to researchers who stand out for their contribution to life sciences and environment.

Yahima Esquivel, Cuba's ambassador to UNESCO, shared the photos of the poster on her social network Facebook, where she pointed out: The world needs science and science needs women.

“Cuban health and science have enormous potential in women, which has been invaluable support in these times of pandemic: our infinite admiration to all of them,” she stated.

Dr. José Ángel Portal Miranda, Cuba’s Minister of Public Health, highlighted: “Lupe is the first Caribbean woman to win this award. Our national health system is proud to have scientists of such high human and universal stature,” he pointed out.

Since the creation of the Women and Science program in 1998, a total of 122 scientists and 3,800-plus talented young women, doctoral students or post-doctoral students, have been awarded in more than 110 countries.

María Guadalupe Guzmán Tirado is the president of the Cuban Society of Microbiology and Parasitology; director of the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for the study of dengue and its control; Academician of Merit of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba; of the World Academy of Sciences and the Organization of Women Scientists for the Developing World.

She is also the author of more than 300 scientific articles and short publications, including two hypotheses, seven patents, and 20 book chapters.

She is also Lead Researcher of more than 70 national and international projects and Full Professor with 130-plus courses in Cuba, the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, among other achievements.

She was included in the new Scientific Advisory Group of the World Health Organization on the Origin of New Pathogens and, together with 25 experts, has the mission of continuing to investigate how SARS-CoV-2 emerged, which causes COVID-19. Another challenge for this woman of science.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff

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