Julio C. Aguilar-Rubido PhD
Biochemist with a doctorate in biology. Dr Aguilar is affiliated with the Hepatitis B Group in the Vaccine Department at the Biomedical Research Division of the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center in Havana, Cuba, where he is the main specialist on the Hepatitis B Vaccine Project. He is the lead author on seven research projects awarded the Cuban Academy of Science’s Annual Prize.
Raymed A. Bacallao-Méndez MD MS
Nephrologist with master’s degrees in emergency medicine and diagnostic methods. Dr Bacallao heads the Teaching and Research Department at the Dr Abelardo Buch López Nephrology Institute, Havana, Cuba, where he is associate researcher and associate professor. He was twice awarded Cuba’s National Health Prize. His current research focuses on the pathology, prevention and treatment of urinary stones; renal disease in Central America; and COVID-19 kidney complications.
Roberto Cañete MD PhD
Physician specializing in microbiology with a master’s degree in parasitology and a doctorate in medical sciences. Dr Cañete is full professor and senior researcher at the Medical University of Matanzas, Cuba, where he also chairs the bioethics committee. He is a member of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities.
Marlen Ivón Castellanos-Fernández MD PhD
Gastroenterologist with a doctorate in medical sciences. Dr Castellanos chairs Cuba’s National Gastroenterology Group and is full professor and senior researcher at the Gastroenterology Institute. Her research concentrates on hepatology, particularly fatty liver disease, viral and autoimmune hepatitis, and hepatic cirrhosis. In 2011, she was awarded Cuba’s National Health Prize.
Elba Cruz-Rodríguez MD MS
Physician specializing in family medicine and epidemiology, with a master’s degree in epidemiology. Dr Cruz is assistant professor and adjunct researcher in the Epidemiological Surveillance and Research Department at the Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute, Havana, Cuba. Her research has historically centered on pediatric diarrheal disorders with a change of focus during the COVID-19 pandemic to asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. In 2020, she was awarded the Cuban Academy of Science’s Annual Prize for her work on vaccine safety.
Fernando Domínguez-Dieppa MD PhD
Neonatologist with a doctorate in medical sciences. Dr Domínguez is full professor and senior researcher at the Medical University of Havana, Cuba, and head of the neurodevelopment section at the Ramón González Coro Women’s Hospital. He is a member of the National Ethics Commission of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) and has volunteered internationally as a physician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Marité García-Llano MD MS
Physician with dual specialties in family medicine and neurology, and
a master’s degree in emergency medicine. Dr García heads the Neurology Department at the Abel Santamaría Cuadrado Provincial Clinical-Surgical Hospital in Pinar del Río, Cuba, where her research focuses on Parkinson disease and the neurological impact of arbovirus infections.
Kenneth W. Goodman PhD
Bioethicist. Dr Goodman is founder and director of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy, a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center. He is also professor of medicine at the University of Miami. His research focuses on the intersection of medical ethics and information technology. Dr Goodman chairs the Ethics Committee of the American Medical Informatics Association, and was co-founder of its Ethical, Legal and Social Issues Working Group.
Elena Kokuina MD PhD
Immunologist. Dr Kokuina is full professor and senior researcher at the Hermanos Ameijeiras Clinical-Surgical Teaching Hospital in Havana, Cuba, and adjunct faculty at the Medical University of Havana. She has published extensively on immunologic diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. With numerous awards for her achievements including recognition from the Cuban Academy of Sciences, her current research addresses the clinical value of autoantibodies in autoimmune disease.
Eduardo Pentón-Arias MD PhD
Physician specializing in clinical biochemistry with a doctorate in biology. Dr Pentón is senior researcher and adjunct professor at the Latin American School of Medicine and the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center (CIGB) in Havana, Cuba. He is a member of CIGB’s Experts Committee and Scientific Council. His early work on interferons has earned him the ‘Founder of Cuban Biotechnology’ distinction, and he currently serves on the Editorial Board of Biotecnología Aplicada.
Yamilé Peña-Quián MD PhD
Physician specializing in internal medicine and nuclear medicine, with a doctorate in medical sciences. Dr Peña is senior researcher in the Clinical Research Department at the Isotopes Center in Havana, Cuba. Her research focuses on immunotherapy and immunoscintigraphy and she has been the principal investigator on nine projects on advanced techniques in nuclear medicine since 2001. She has headed the Clinical Research Department at the Cuban Isotopes Center (CENTIS) since 2003.
Solangel de la Caridad Riesgo-Rodríguez MD MS
Physician with dual specialties in pediatrics and family medicine and a master’s degree in comprehensive child health. Dr Riesgo is full professor and associate researcher in the Teaching and Research Department at the Medical University of Matanzas, Cuba where she also chairs the Pediatrics Department.
Gerardo R. Robaina-Castellanos MD PhD
Neonatologist with a doctorate in medical sciences. Dr Robaina is full professor and senior researcher in the neonatology service at the José Ramón López Tabrane Provincial Women and Children’s Hospital, Medical University of Matanzas, Cuba. He chairs the province’s Scientific Council on Health. His current research focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child health.
Teresa Rodríguez-Rodríguez MS PhD
Psychologist with both a master’s degree and a doctorate in the field. Dr Rodríguez heads the Behavioral Medicine Group in Cuba and is full professor and senior researcher at the Dr Gustavo Aldereguía Lima University General Hospital, Cienfuegos, Cuba. Her research focuses on the intersection of chronic disease and psychology, particularly cardiopsychology. In 2019, she was awarded Cuba’s Annual Health Prize.
Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava MD MS
Epidemiologist and a public health expert with a master’s degree in community medicine; fellow of the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research. Dr Saurabh is a distinguished professor and researcher with more than 950 research publications at Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry, India. His research focuses on medical education, recent advances in public health and infectious diseases.
Prateek Saurabh Shrivastava MD MS
Physician specializing in public health with a master`s degree in community medicine. Dr Shrivastava is professor at Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry, India. Her research focuses on epidemiology, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases and medical education.
The remaining authors in the following pages are members of the journal’s editorial team.
