Cuban Faces of 2016 - Ariel Ruiz Urquiola, Scientist (b. 1974)

Cuban Faces of 2016: Ariel Ruiz Urquiola, Scientist (b. 1974) / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 26 December 2016 – Cuban Faces of 2016: Ariel
Urquiola, a biologist and doctor of science, has participated in several
research projects on Cuban biodiversity, especially related to marine
and terrestrial species. He directed an international research project
carried out between the University of Havana, the Museum of Natural
History of Berlin and Humboldt University of Berlin on the origin and
settlement of the Sierra de los Órganos in Pinar del Río.

This year Ruiz Urquiola was expelled from the Marine Research Center
under the official charge of unjustified absences, but, according to the
biologist, it is a plot against him because the the authorities of the
scientific center do not consider him "trustworthy," because of his
political leanings.

In October of this year the biologist was arrested three times for
demanding the medicines needed by his sister, a cancer patient who
urgently needs te monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab, which must be
supplied every 21 days. After a hunger strike and a vigil outside the
Havana Oncology Hospital, Ruiz Urquiola managed to restart the
administration of the drug to his sister.

Source: Cuban Faces of 2016: Ariel Ruiz Urquiola, Scientist (b. 1974) /
14ymedio – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/cuban-faces-of-2016-ariel-ruiz-urquiola-scientist-b-1974/