18 September 2025, Ankara — Within the scope of the scientific cooperation process carried out by Health Institutes of Türkiye (TÜSEB), meetings were held among research institutions affiliated with BioCubaFarma. At the meetings organized at TÜSEB Aziz Sancar Research Center (ASAM) in Ankara, detailed technical-level assessments were conducted between Türkiye Biotechnology Institute (TBE) and Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) in Cuba, and between Türkiye Cancer Institute (TKE) and the Center for Immunology (CIM). To ensure that the assessments are results-oriented and comprehensive, officials from Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TITCK) also participated in the meetings.

The meetings were attended from Türkiye by Prof. Dr. Duygu Özel Demiralp, President of TBE; Prof. Dr. Burak Civelek, President of TKE; Assoc. Dr. Demet Akdeniz Ödemiş and Assoc. Dr. Osman Sütcüoğlu from TKE; staff of TÜSEB Foreign Affairs Department; and, representing TITCK, Dr. İbrahim Muaz Yaradılmış, Deputy Chair of Economic Assessment and Laboratory Services and Deputy Chair of the Agency, as well as Specialist Pharmacist Cihan Görgün, Head of Units of the Department of International Relations and Advisor to the Chair of the Agency. From the Cuban delegation, participants included Cuban Ambassador Alejandro Díaz Palacios; First Deputy President of BioCubaFarma and Member of Parliament Eulogio Pimentel Vázquez; Deputy President of CIGB Jorge Valdés Hernández; Commercial Director of CIM Liliet Matech Hernández; Deputy Head of the Cuban Embassy Oscar Redondo Ramos; Yalily Tieles Lopez from CIGB; and Selin Su Korkmaz, interpreter at the Cuban Embassy.

In the engagements between TBE and CIGB, vaccine development and advanced biotechnology applications were highlighted, while in the meetings between TKE and CIM, potential collaborations in oncology research and immunotherapies were discussed.

As part of the program, technical sessions, laboratory presentations, and a tour of TÜSEB Aziz Sancar Research Center (ASAM) facilities were organized throughout the day. The parties also held an evaluation meeting to determine the strategic steps to be taken in the upcoming period.

Within this framework, the aim is to develop long-term and sustainable scientific partnerships between TÜSEB and the institutions affiliated with BioCubaFarma; to promote joint projects, knowledge and experience sharing, and alignment in regulatory processes.

As a result of the meeting, a roadmap for the mutual activities was established, and it was decided to form working groups for technical discussions.