Award in China for Pedro Valdés Sosa for his Contributions to Brain Research

June 26, 2024

Cuban professor Pedro A. Valdés Sosa received the China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award, a distinction granted after evaluating his contributions to brain research.

In exclusive statements to Prensa Latina, the director of the China-Cuba Joint Laboratory of Neurotechnology, Sichuan Province, expressed the honor and commitment that such a high distinction from this country's government entails.

This is a recognition "that also corresponds to the collective of researchers from Cuba's Center for Neurosciences at BioCubaFarma and to the Chinese collaborators who over the years cooperated in the study of the brain and to the concrete results that benefit the population."

Valdés Sosa emphasized that since 2015 the joint laboratory has contributed to the training of students from both countries and from other members of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in addition to serving as a center for the work of the Global Brain Consortium that brings together more than 30 nations.

"The Center for Neurosciences of Cuba and the University of Science and Electronic Technology of China created this laboratory that has dedicated itself to sharing knowledge for the use of diagnosis and prevention of brain diseases," he commented.

He added that among the most outstanding results in this regard are those that reflect the effects of early malnutrition on brain development throughout life.

Furthermore, the facility contributes to understanding how to diagnose brain alterations and learning disorders, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, as well as to observe the effects of infections on the brain.

The Cuban neuroscientist received a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping late last year for his achievements in the research he conducts as part of the cooperation between both nations.

On that occasion, the leader noted that international collaboration in science and technology is an important trend.

Xi emphasized "the strong friendship" between the two nations, "forged by the leaders of the old generation."

"I sincerely hope that cooperation between China and Cuba in various areas, including technology, will continue to deepen in this new era, benefiting our respective peoples even more," he wrote.

At another point, he stated that countries of the world need to collaborate through technological innovation to jointly promote peace and the development of humanity.

Likewise, he emphasized the contributions that the BRI, proposed by him in 2013, has provided in this regard.

Valdés Sosa expressed his willingness to contribute to strengthening bilateral friendship and to the broader deployment of the Belt and Road Initiative.

He stressed that the laboratory in Chengdu already has very high scientific productivity and maintains a very close collaboration link with the national science and technology program.