Concepción Campa Huergo

General Director of the Instituto "Finlay", Research and Production Center for Vaccines and Serums of Ciudad de La Habana. She is one of the architects of vaccine work in the Western scientific hub in Cuba, creators of VA-ñMENGOC-BC, the first and only vaccine in the world with proven efficacy against meningococcus type B. This scientist is from Sagua La Grande, in Villa Clara.

She studied Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of La Habana and throughout this entire period demonstrated her inclination toward research and her high spirit of collaboration and assistance to others.

She began her work life in 1976 at the Biological Products Company "Carlos J. Finlay", in the Vaccine Quality Control Department. She obtained the category of First Level Technologist Specialization. In 1982, for her outstanding merits in the field of sciences, she was selected to be part of the Special Group for the Development of the Antimeningococcal Vaccine.

In 1987 the field efficacy test was conducted which proved that this important product had been obtained for the first time. She was proclaimed author of the BC antimeningococcal vaccine, for which she was awarded the Gold Medal of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

She has held the following positions: Head of the Quality Division at the Biological Products Production Company "Carlos J. Finlay", Researcher of the Vaccine Development Group and subsequently Head of that Group, Director of the National Antimeningococcal Vaccine Center of MINSAP and General Managing Director of Instituto "Finlay" to date.

Throughout her extensive career she has presented numerous publications and scientific works and has participated in different congresses and events both in Cuba and abroad.

She was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Innovators and Rationalizers (ANIR). She is a full member of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and a member of the Expert Committee on Human and Veterinary Vaccines of CITMA, member of the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Public Health.

She has been an official delegate in the Program for the Initiative of Childhood Vaccination of the WHO, candidate member of the Council of Directors of the International Institute of Vaccines and Advisors of the Advanced Study Center of Mexico for the Multidisciplinary Biomolecular Medicine Program.

She holds the honorary title of Distinguished Visitor of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina; she was awarded the Order of Merit "Pedro Ernesto" of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; rank of Commendator granted by the Council of the Rio Branco Order of Brazil, Annual Prize of the Hispanic Festival of London.