BioHabana 2022: Preventive and Immunotherapeutic Strategies Against COVID-19 and Cancer in Cuba

J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2023 Dec;43(12):571-580. doi: 10.1089/jir.2023.0141. Epub 2023 Dec 4.

Abstract

The convergence of life sciences with neurosciences, nanotechnology, data management, and engineering has caused a technological diversification of the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical technology industries, including the phenomenon of digital transformation, which has given rise to the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0). Confronting the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the outstanding response capacity of the scientific community and the biopharmaceutical industry, based on a multidisciplinary and interinstitutional approach that has achieved an unprecedented integration in the history of biomedical science. Cuba, a small country, with scarce material resources, has had remarkable success in controlling the disease, which also highlights the impact of social factors. This report presents a summary of the most relevant presentations of selected topics during the scientific meeting, "BioHabana 2022: Cancer Immunotherapy and the COVID-19 Pandemic," which was held in Havana Cuba in April 2022.

Keywords: COVID-19; immunotherapy; interferons; vaccines.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Cuba
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Neoplasms* / prevention & control
  • Pandemics / prevention & control