Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2 (2014) 453-469 The History of Pharmacokinetics in Cuba: Role of Universities Eduardo Manuel Fernandez-Sánchez 1 and Jorge Duconge 2 1. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and Foods, Havana 17100, Cuba 2. Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, School of Pharmacy, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, Puerto Rico 009365067, United States Abstract: A university is a higher academic institution with a mission to educate individuals in order to help nations reach their developmental goals. It implies teaching innovative disciplines through the most advanced scientific and pedagogical methods, in harmony with recent international standards and national needs. Some of these innovative disciplines turn out to be a valuable driving-force of the transformation in a country. An example of such transforming disciplines is the PK (pharmacokinetics) in Cuba, considered by many as exclusive of developed countries, it shows significant contributions to the current success of the local biopharmaceutical industry, and particularly to the scientific achievements of several biotechnological centers. Noteworthily, the academic activities and scientific work performed at the UH (University of Havana) and other colleges across the Island are closely related to this success. While passing through the different stages of transformation at academic institutions in the country, we discuss herein the most significant milestones in the history of the Pharmacokinetics in Cuba. Key words: University, pharmacokinetics, biopharmaceutics, teaching, biotechnology. 1. Introductory Remarks Science is the means by which a conscious control over nature and society is attained. Science examines not only those phenomena that human beings have to cope with in their daily activities, but also the various attributes of the science itself in the course of its own development, hence the nature of the dialectical transformation of any scientific discipline [1]. Given their transforming role of the society to propel the progress, universities worldwide have become the driving-force to achieve the highest developmental goals, including fostering scholarly activities across academic institutions, the implementation of novel scientific paradigms, the adoption of innovative methods at both industry and cutting-edge scientific centers, and ultimately, the socio-economic advancement of a country [2]. Corresponding author: Jorge Duconge, Ph.D., associate professor, research fields: pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics. E-mail: jorge.duconge@upr.edu. PK (pharmacokinetics) is closely related to pharmaceutics and biomedical sciences, particularly to the experimental and clinical pharmacology, arising as a self-expression of the creative thrust over the last years of the 20th century that gave rise to the development of new therapeutic agents. It quickly became a necessary requirement of multiple regulatory policies for a proper approval and further widespread introduction of prescription drugs into medical practice, as part of the healthcare programs. The interplay of scientific and socio-economic needs has set the pace for the rapid evolution of the PK principles and procedures, shaping its current level of clinical application. This review paper is aimed at addressing the history of PK in Cuba, revisited throughout the different stages of its existence, from the perspective of the educational and investigational work conducted at our academic institutions. The role that this discipline played in current development of the national D DAVID PUBLISHING