Dr. Carlos Manuel Mella Lizama, Distinguished Biotechnology Specialist in Cuba, Passed Away

March 1, 2025

Cuban biotechnology loses one of its most brilliant founders with the passing on February 26th of Dr. Carlos Mella, or Dr. Mella as his colleagues and friends called him. But his legacy will always remain with us.

Dr. Carlos Manuel Mella Lizama studied medicine at the University of Havana, working as a non-graduated instructor at the Victoria Girón Institute of Basic and Preclinical Sciences. He entered the National Center for Scientific Research (CNIC) where he completed a vertical internship in basic sciences.

He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1969, participated in postgraduate courses at CNIC and obtained his specialty in Clinical Biochemistry in 1971.

In 1973 he successfully defended his Master's thesis in Biological Sciences and continued his scientific research until defending his Doctor of Sciences thesis in 1976, joining the Agricultural Branch of CNIC which became the National Center for Animal Health (CENSA). He received the categories of senior researcher and associate professor of biochemistry.

He joined the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) since its founding in 1986 where he served as head of the Quality Department, contributing to establishing the analytical structure before the existence of regulatory authorities in Cuba, in 1991.

He was subdirector of the commercial area and participated in the creation of the company Heber Biotec S.A. with the participation of the presidency of CIMEX, remaining in the General Management for five years. Subsequently he held the position of general submanager of the firm and was in charge of the vice presidency of sales.

In 2003 he was appointed vice president of the Cuban-Chinese joint venture ChangHeber, created in the city of Changchun, Jilin province, where he worked as a representative for the Cuban side, concluding during that period the construction, assembly and certification of the first recombinant interferon plant before Chinese regulatory authorities and received the Changbai Mountain Friendship Award, granted to foreigners who through their work have contributed to the modern technological and industrial development of that province.

In 2006 upon his return to Cuba he was nominated the most outstanding foreign manager of the Chinese province of Jilin. He was reassigned to his work in the sales management of Heber Biotec S.A and qualified in the position of first-level biotechnologist.

Due to his accumulated experience, he was requested to dedicate himself to scientific and commercial intelligence work, establishing the foundations for this area of work for biotechnological activity and providing support to the growth of the economic impact of Cuba's biotechnology sector, a task he carried out until his retirement in 2016, with 51 years of service.

Among the distinctions received are: best Researcher of CENSA and ISCAH in 1985, and that same year, the special distinction from the Minister of Higher Education. He was a national vanguard of the science union in 1986. He obtained the medal of founder of the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) in 1996 and the distinction "Juan Tomas Roig" for more than 25 years of work in science, in 2004.

He was founder of the National Center for Agricultural and Livestock Health, and has received recognition for scientific activity in 50 years of research work, as well as recognition from the Minister of Public Health Dr. José Ángel Portal Miranda on the Fiftieth Anniversary of his graduation, for his dedication to the health of the people.