Iliana del Carmen Valdés Hernández, Doctor of Health Sciences. Photo: Adian Acevedo
On January 15, the Cuban Science Day is celebrated on the Island since 1990. The celebration extends throughout the month with conferences, exhibitions, award ceremonies, recognitions and other activities. On the occasion of the anniversary I present an interview with Iliana del Carmen Valdés Hernández, Doctor of Health Sciences, who works at the Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute.
What career did you graduate from?
I have a degree in Microbiology from the Faculty of Biology, University of Havana. I graduated in 1998 with Golden Diploma.
Why did you study Microbiology?
Since my childhood I liked the fascinating life of the laboratories. Many times I changed the traditional toys for scalpel and syringes. Later, studying at the Pre-University of Exact Sciences Mártires de Humboldt 7, I did a research work on Recurrent Giardiasis at the Bacteriology Center of San Antonio de los Baños with the tutoring of Dr. Nidia Cabrera, parasitologist. The research was presented at the student scientific conferences, obtaining National Award. This was the culmination of my decision to study Microbiology.
In what scientific center do you work?
Since my graduation I work at the Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kouri" (IPK), where I had previously done my work practices and developed my Diploma Thesis. From 1998 to 2005 I worked at the National Laboratory of Mycology, where I developed my Master's Thesis and obtained the academic degree of Master in Bacteriology-Mycology in 2003. I am currently the principal investigator of a maximum containment laboratory (Level 3 of Biosecurity) ) acquired by the IPK for the fight against epidemics.
You have participated in several national and international events, tell me about it.
I have participated in National Congresses of the Cuban Society of Microbiology and Parasitology, Cuban Society of Immunology, Society of Hygiene and Epidemiology, in forums of Science and Technology, in the contest "Annual Health Prize", in Congresses of the International Society of Infectious Diseases, Latin American Society of Immunology, International Society of Human and Animal Mycology, International Society of Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Diseases, as well as in international workshops for the design and conduct of clinical tests.
Constant improvement is a fundamental premise for the workers of science, in which have you participated and what benefits has it contributed to your professional performance?
I participated in the Laboratory Animals Course of the FELASA (European Federation for the Science and Care of Laboratory Animals), in Sao Pulo, Brazil, 2005. In 2010, in the International Course of Good Laboratory Practices, in Lima , Peru. In the International Course of Biotechnology and Vaccines against Tuberculosis, Lausame, Switzerland, in 2010; the International Laboratory Management Course (Level 3 Biosecurity), Winnipeg, Canada, in 2013; the International Course on Biosecurity in Laboratories BSL-3, in Galveston, Texas, United States, in 2017 and the International Course on Transport of Hazardous Biological Substances, in Havana, in 2017.
You have had a quite exhaustive and enriching preparation. What awards have you received in your actions?
I am the main author of a work of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba in 2013, as well as author and co-author of the work Relevant Results of the IPK during the years 2004, 2013 and 2017. I obtained the Annual Health Prize in 2014 and the Prize to The Best Doctoral Thesis of the Biometric Sciences in 2016.