Cuba
This is an Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility project of Leiden University Medical Center with the University of Havana.
Project details
Leiden University applicant:
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Leiden University Medical Center, project coordinator: Luis Cruz
Partner institution:
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University of Havana
Type of mobility:
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Student and staff exchange
Project duration:
2019-2022
Project summary
For several years, LUMC has shared knowledge and offered long and short-term stays to incoming Cuban master and PhD students, especially in the field of Biomaterials, Nanotechnology and Medical Imaging. LUMC has also shared exchanged staff with the institutes in Havana, resulting in a unique and concrete network of experiences, knowledge and results. This project aims to continue and extend this cooperation by means of staff mobility from Leiden to Havana. The main goal is to build and expand medical investigation, collaboration and exchange between Cuba and the Netherlands.
Leiden University is developing a strategic long-term collaboration policy for a small number of priority countries/regions including Latin-America & the Caribbean. This is intended to strengthen cooperation and establish structural relationships with universities, organisations and governmental bodies in these priority regions. A strong and unique collaboration exists between Leiden University and Havana University/Havana Medical Sciences University.
LUMC has a strong interest in maintaining and improving internationalisation strategies with Cuba. It strongly believes in the relevance and impact of this shared approach. On the one hand, Cuban students gain access to high-level research facilities and techniques in the Leiden laboratories; on the other hand, Leiden researchers have the opportunity to broaden their horizon and to grow scientifically thanks to the Cuban experiences in the field of Medical Research. The overall aim is to establish an interdisciplinary environment for PhD and master students training in the field of Nanomedicine, Biomaterials and Medical Imaging.
The way forward is the implementation of several ongoing investigations for therapy and imaging, bringing together a number of different processes in order to design novel delivery and molecular imaging systems strategies. Molecular imaging allows identification of diseases and helps us to acquire specific knowledge in animal models. This data then forms the basis for translation into clinical and diagnostic tools. Moreover, this nanomedicine and imaging platform provides a foundation for commercial opportunities of novel therapeutic tools and new (diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic monitoring) assay formats.
This project network will be critical for strengthening the science and technology capacity in the study of drug delivery system and medical imaging as well as to leverage research excellence and create value. This will be achieved through molecular and chemical innovation with a beneficial outcome for the entire research and development community.