Alberto Granado departed his home in 1951 on a Norton 500cc motorcycle named Poderosa II, embarking on a continental excursion that defined his outlook on medicine and society. Throughout this trek, his observations regarding the lack of medical access for native populations underscored the necessity of his later scientific pursuits in biochemistry and clinical education.
Formative Education and Early Research
Born in 1922 in Hernando, Granado studied chemistry, pharmacy, and biochemistry at the University of Córdoba, graduating with an MSc in 1946. His early professional focus centered on Hansen's bacillus, leading him to accept a position as a director of pharmacology at the San Francisco del Chañar Leprosarium. Between 1947 and 1951, he balanced laboratory clinical studies with his work in this facility, gaining foundational experience that preceded his international travels.
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During his motorcycle journey across South America with Ernesto Guevara, Granado encountered disparate economic realities, particularly at the Chuquicamata copper mine in Chile. The pair witnessed the hardships of migrant workers and indigenous groups, fueling a critique of capitalist structures. This tour concluded in Venezuela, where Granado practiced at the Cabo Blanco leprosarium before completing his medical training and pursuing research in Europe.
Academic Leadership in Cuba
Invited to Havana in 1960 by Guevara, Granado relocated his family to pursue a career in academia. He joined the faculty of the University of Havana as a professor of biochemistry and contributed to the establishment of the Institute for Basic and Pre-Clinical Sciences. In 1962, he founded the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Santiago de Cuba, where he remained a senior professor for over a decade. His later research included biological sciences and the development of Holstein Tropical cattle breeds.
Fast facts
- Born: 1922, Hernando
- Died: 2011, Havana
- Fields: Biochemistry, pharmacology, medicine
- Education: University of Córdoba, University of Havana
- Primary Transport: Norton 500cc motorcycle
- Publication: Con el Che por Sudamerica (1978)
- Professional Roles: Scientist, university teacher, biochemist
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the 1951 motorcycle trip?
It exposed Granado to systemic poverty and inadequate medical access in Latin America, shifting his perspective from middle-class life toward the application of practical science.
What were Granado's primary contributions to Cuban science?
He helped establish medical education infrastructure, including the Institute for Basic and Pre-Clinical Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Santiago de Cuba.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Havana and University of Santiago de Cuba
- Educated at University of Havana
- Fields of research: biochemistry
