The Birth of the Cuban Biotechnology Research Effort: A Bench Scientist’s Perspective

The Cuban government has made a significant investment in biomedical research, resulting in important accomplishments unparalleled by other countries of comparable population size and gross domestic product. This development, however, has been undermined by a continuous exodus of professionals to other countries. What factors drive the decision of many scientists to abandon an apparently thriving research and development environment? This article provides a view of the rise of the Cuban biotechnology research effort from the bench scientist’s perspective. Cuban biotechnology was born with intrinsic obstacles: politicization, secrecy, and the absence of safeguards against conflicts of interest. Guiding principles to counteract these limitations and rationally manage brain drain are discussed.