Under Secretary Paula Dobriansky Announces U.S.-funded Cancer Research Program in Uruguay
Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky presented to Uruguay’s Foreign Minister
Gonzalo Fernandez a number of initiatives for expanded scientific cooperation with the Republic of Uruguay during
consultations held in New York on September 22, 2008. Foremost is an initiative by the National Cancer Institute to
establish an extensive cancer research program in Uruguay. Under Secretary Dobriansky also presented a Statement of
Mission for increased science and technology cooperation with the Republic of Uruguay. Representatives from government
technical agencies, research institutions, and the nongovernmental scientific community participated in the
consultation.
In April 2008, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Fernandez signed a Science and Technology
agreement outlining the mechanism through which the United States and Uruguay can broaden cooperation in all scientific
and technological fields. Taking advantage of this opportunity, in July 2008, Under Secretary Dobriansky led a science
and technology fact-finding mission to Montevideo, Uruguay.
During today’s meeting, the two delegations reconfirmed their intention to further scientific cooperation and
collaboration in the following priority areas: biofuels and alternative energy; biomedical and behavioral health
research; experimentation, response tools, and advanced technologies; agriculture; measurement standards; basic and
cross-cutting science; meteorology and hydrology; fisheries and marine science; and other capacity building
opportunities.
The U.S. Statement of Mission for Science and Technology Cooperation with Uruguay reaffirms the objectives of the
bilateral Agreement and outlines U.S. government agency support for joint cooperation.
ENDS