Cuban delegation visits NIH

March 30, 2016

Dr. Jose Angel Portal Miranda shakes hands with Dr. Roger I. Glass on the NIH campus

Photos by Karin Zeitvogel for Fogarty

NIH Director Dr. Francis S. Collins (bottom photo, on left) and Fogarty International Center Director Roger I. Glass (right photo, on right) welcome Cuban Vice Minister of Public Health, Dr. José Angel Portal Miranda, at the start of a historic visit to NIH on Wednesday, March 30, 2016. The highest level Cuban official ever to visit NIH, Dr. Portal Miranda held talks with Collins and several institute directors, and toured the NIH Vaccine Research Center.

Dr. Francis S. Collins shakes hands with Dr. Jose Angel Portal Miranda on the NIH campus

The discussions focused on ways to strengthen scientific exchange between the two countries and expand research collaborations in areas of mutual interest, including cancer and infectious diseases such as chikungunya, dengue, flu and Zika. The visit occurred nine days after President Barack Obama paid a historic visit to Cuba - the first by an American President in nearly a century.