UNESCO awards Carlos J. Finlay prize for microbiology

HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 16 (ACN) The Carlos J. Finlay prize for microbiology, sponsored by the Cuban government, was awarded today by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the framework of the 41st General Conference of that organization.

The opening remarks, according to a publication of the Cuban foreign ministry's website, Cubaminrex, were made by Cuban minister of science, technology and environment, Elba Rosa Perez Montoya, who sent a message of gratitude to the Organization for the joint work and congratulated Japanese professor Kenya Honda, winner of the 2020 edition of the award.

The ceremony was also attended by UNESCO's Deputy Director-General for Natural Sciences, Shamilla Nair-Bedouelle, who recognized Cuba's commitment to the development of science and highlighted the importance of the Finlay Prize and its contribution to global efforts to achieve sustainability by strengthening scientific research and knowledge sharing.

The winner of the 2020 edition of the Finlay Prize, professor and researcher Kenya Honda, from the department of microbiology and immunology of the Faculty of Medicine of Keio University (Tokyo) was awarded for his studies of the microbiota and its impact on the immune system.