Dr. María Amparo Pascual, Founding Director of Cuba's Center for Clinical Trials, Has Passed Away

July 31, 2023

On the night of July 25, 2023, at the age of 78, after battling multiple myeloma for years, the distinguished Cuban researcher and public health specialist, Dr. María Amparo Pascual López, one of the most illustrious women scientists of her time, passed away. She was a pioneer of clinical trials in Cuba and Latin America since their inception at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology and the Ministry of Public Health.

Among her most distinctive achievements are having been Cuba's first specialist in Biostatistics and the founding director of the National Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials (Cencec), the only institution in the country dedicated exclusively to this activity.

When clinical trials in Cuba seemed like a utopia, it was her knowledge, vision, and persistence that led to the establishment of an institution like Cencec in 1991. This was her invaluable contribution to the growing national pharmaceutical and medical industry, which demanded strengthening the clinical evaluation of its products for registration, commercialization, and introduction into medical practice. She dedicated more than 30 years of her life to this institution, and undoubtedly her most enduring legacy was the implementation of the current clinical trials management system of the National Health System.

Under her direction and leadership, the national clinical trials network was created; leading products such as Recombinant Streptokinase, recombinant IFN alpha, Surfacén, Leukocim, Heberprot-P, among others, were evaluated and registered; an academic development strategy was designed and implemented; collaboration projects were carried out with countries in the Americas and Europe; the quality management system was implemented and internationally certified; a Program for Evaluation of Research Ethics Committees was established; and the Cuban Public Registry of Clinical Trials was created, the first WHO primary registry in the Americas; among other significant contributions.

It was no coincidence that the BBC recognized her as one of the most influential scientists in Latin America in 2013, or that in 2018 the MEDICC Review magazine conducted and published an interview with her as one of Cuba's most prominent women in science, technology, and medicine under the title "The Power of Persistence," referring to a quality that well defined her.

An excellent educator of new generations, she expressed to the BBC: "What I have achieved has been the product of effort and the ability to bring together a work collective, rather than any special talent"; and in doing so, she acknowledged the value of those who followed her in her professional success and to whom she imparted wisdom and confidence. "...Where other people see limitations and difficulties, I see an opportunity," were her words when MEDICC Review referred to the rarity of a woman leading a scientific institution at that time.

Born in the city of Matanzas on November 29, 1944, she graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Havana in 1967 and specialized in Biostatistics from the National School of Public Health of Havana in 1974. She was a senior researcher and assistant professor of Biostatistics at the University of Havana. Professor of the Master's Program in Bioethics at the University of Havana; of the Master's Program in Biotechnology in its Clinical Trials profile at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) of Cuba; of the Master's Program in Clinical Trials at Cencec, among others. Guest Professor at the Institute of American Phytotherapy, Peru (2003-2007) and guest professor at universities in different countries in her extensive work as a pre- and postgraduate educator.

She was a member of the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) group of the Pharmaceutical Regulations Harmonization Network of PAHO-WHO (2000-2010) where she later served as Regional Coordinator. She was also a member of the Cuban Society of Pharmacology; of the National Committee of the Drug Formulary of the Ministry of Public Health; of the Expert Group of the Scientific and Technical Program on medicines and vaccines of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA).

Author of numerous scientific publications, recipient of recognitions and awards, among which stands out the Annual Health Prize for the work: "The organization of clinical trials in Cuba: influence on the development of products from the pharmaceutical and biotechnological medical industry and on Cuba's Health System." She remained active in the pursuit of her passion for science, even when her health became her primary obstacle.

On behalf of the Ministry of Public Health and the workers of Cencec, the most sincere condolences are extended to her family, friends, colleagues, students, and coworkers throughout her long and fruitful career.