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• Science and Technology
• 11 / 03 / 2006

From November 13-16, Havana will host the international Havana 2006 Biotechnology forum following the preparatory meeting of Genomica 2006 on genetics.

Genomica vice president Gerardo Guillen said the Genomica workshops involve human genome knowledge in pharmacology from November 4-19 in Varadero, with 108 delegates from 20 countries.

The main topic on the forum program is medical use of biotechnology, especially recombinant vaccines like Heberpenta, developed by Cuba's Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.

Discussions at Havana Convention Center will focus on infectious maladies, growth and scar formation factors, cancer and bioinformatics, said science secretary Jose Cremata.

The guest list includes Nobel Prizewinners Robert Huber and John Fen, and collegues from Germany, France, Italy, Japan, China, Belgium, Canada, UK, Holland, Spain, Ireland, Switzerland and Mexico.

Despite interest in the event of 195 delegates from 54 countries, US scientists said the Department of State rejected their visa requests due to the blockade, added Guillen.

Cuba will show achievements in fighting infections like Hepatitis B and C, and its closed-cycle program (research, development and massive supply), said organizing committee member Verena Muzio.