Av. Libertador Lavalleja 2074
Aguada CP 11800
Montevideo, Uruguay
Tel: (2) 924-6316
Fax: (2) 924-6308
Email: raulco@adinet.com.uy

1. Studies and Diplomas

Post-Graduate Studies

• Administration and Management, Getulio Vargas Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1979).
• Post-doctoral training in Immunology and Vaccine Production and Quality Control, Wellcome Research Laboratories, Kent and Pirbright, England, UK (1963 & 1968).
• Veterinary Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Msc, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York, USA  (1964).
• Microbiology, Institute of Hygiene, College of Medicine at the University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay (1956-1959).

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay  (1948-1952).

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Science, Instituto Alfredo Vazquez Acevedo, Montevideo, Uruguay (1946-1947).

2. Professional and Academic Experience       
    
A. Academic Experience

Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay

• Direct Advisor in Animal Health (2001-present) to the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay.
• Representant in Uruguayan National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICYT)  (1968-1971).
• Senior jury member on merit boards for University of the Republic Colleges of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Public Health (1960-1970).

• President of the commission of Ministry of Education and Culture created for the organization of the National Academy of Veterinary Science and nomination of the first nucleus of fellow members.  Founding member since 1992.
• President (1997-1998, 1999-2001).

• Senior member of Institutional Evaluation Comission of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Colleges (1999-2002).
• Member of comission for evaluation of national and international researchers (1997-2000).
• Senior jury member on merit and examination boards of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Colleges (1960-1970, 1992-present).
• Head of microbiology department of veterinary medicine college (1958-1971).
• Professor of microbiology and infectious diseases (1958-1971).
• Elected member of council representing the professoral order (1967-1970).
• Elected senior member of veterinary college board (1965-1967).
• Elected senior member of the university board (1965).
• Elected member of council representing professional order (1956-1958).

Director of COOPER Veterinary Biological Vaccines and Reagents Production and Control Laboratories, Denver, Colorado, USA (1971-1973).

COOPER, Uruguay

• Technical Director (1969-1970).
• DVM in veterinary biological production (vaccines and reagents)  (1960-1968).

• Technical Secretary of Livestock Directorship (1962-1970).
• Chief of brucellosis and tuberculosis control programs / animal health services (1962-1970).
• Advisor in meat sanitary regulations (1960-1961).
• DVM and head of antigens and vaccine production and control of quality unit at the Veterinary Research Center Miguel C. Rubino,  Pando, Uruguay (1954-1960).

• Newcastle disease commission (1970).
• Importation of zebu and zebu semen (1968).
• Member of  Office of Agriculture and Livestock Policy and Programming of the Ministry of Agriculture (CIDE).  Diagnosis of situation and planning of sanitary programs in national agriculture and livestock development (1965-1967).
• Preparation of sanitary and hygene norms for the decrees that established conditions and requirements for dairy farmers of National Cooperative of Milk Producers (CONAPROLE) to adopt and receive milk stimulus price (1962, 1967).  
• Sanitary Agreement with Spain for bovine and meat trade (1966).
• Sanitary regulations for importation of sheep from Australia (1966).
• Law project for control of FMD in Uruguay (1961-1962).
• Law project for control of Brucellosis in Uruguay (1961-1962).
• Honorary Milk Commission (1956-1957).

3. International Experience

Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO)

• Director of the Pan American Foot and Mouth Disease Center (PANAFTOSA) (1976-1991).
• Scientist of Pan American Zoonosis Center Buenos Aires, Argentina (1973-1976).
• Executive Director of the Agreement for the Control and Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the River Plate Basin (1987-1991).
• Secretary Ex-Officio of the Hemispheric Committee for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the Americas (COHEFA)  (1987-1991).      
• Secretary Ex-Officio of the South American Commission for the Combat of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA)  (1977-1991).
• Member: “Steering Committee for the International Conference on the perspectives for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the Next Millennium and its Impact on Food Security and Trade”. PAHO / WHO – FAO - OIE, Rome, Italy (1994).

• Expert advisor: mission to “Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Epidemic Oubreak in Peru”, Rome and Republic of Peru (1994).
• Advisor / consultant in scientific and technical missions (Rome, Peru, Uruguay, Caribbean).
• Expert consultant: “Quality control of veterinary vaccines in developing countries”, Rome, Italy (1991).
• Expert consultant on “Application of biotechnology in livestock production and health of developing countries”, La Habana, Cuba (1988).
• Expert consultant on “Development of livestock production in Latin America and the Carribbean”, Montevideo, Uruguay (1988).

• Consultant to Pan American Food Protection and Zoonoses Institute (INPPAZ) / PAHO / WHO, Martínez, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina in several missions on Zoonoses (Brucellosis and Tuberculosis) and programming of INPPAZ (1993-1996).
• Secretary of Regional Technical Commission for Animal Health (COTERSA). Member Countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay (1968-1970).

• Invited observer: “Meeting of the OIE FMD and Other Epizootics Commission”, OIE, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2002).
• Member of Uruguayan delegation:  XVIth Conference of the OIE Regional Commission for the Americas, Puerto Montt, Chile (2002).
• Keynote speaker: “Nelore Symposium 2002”, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil (2002).
• Keynote lecturer: International FMD Control Strategies, organized by the Merieux Foundation, The International Association for Biologicals (IABs) and OIE,  Lyons, France (2002).  
• International Conference on Prevention of FMD organized by the Belgian EU Presidency, The European Commission, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, Brussels, Belgium (2001)
• XXth World Buiatrics Congress, Sydney , Australia (1998).
• President of the Scientific Committee organizing the XXIst World Buiatrics Congress, Punta del Este, Uruguay (2000).
• Senior Member: IIIrd Anatomy Pathology Uruguayan Congress and Ist Anatomy Pathology  French - Uruguayan Workshop, Montevideo, Uruguay (1997).
• Expert: International Conference on Perspectives for the Eradication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the Next Millennium and its Impact on Food Security and Trade: I. Focus on the Americas, Brasilia, Brazil (1996).
• Expert: VIIth International Symposium of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, organized by INPPAZ/OPS/OMS - OIE-ADRI-USDA-CPMV-INTA-SENASA-SMV, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (1994).
• Keynote Speaker: Livestock Universal Exposition on “Ruminant intensive exploration”. Mediterranean Federation for Ruminant Production and Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain and University of  Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain (1992).
• Member of the organizing committee: XXIVth World Veterinary Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1991)
• Lecturer: XXIIIrd World Veterinary Congress, Montreal, Canada (1987).
• Keynote Lecturer: Academy of Veterinary Sciences of Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain on “Development of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Oil Adjuvant Vaccine at the Pan American Disease Center”.
• Commemorative Academy Act of the XXIst Anniversary Foundation of Sobrino S.A. Laboratories (1980)

5. Contributions to the progress of the Veterinary Science

Summary:

• Contribution to national and international sanitation legislation.
• Development of microbiological diagnostics and knowledge of animal infectious diseases and zoonoses.
• Technical development, production and quality control of reagents for veterinary diagnostics and vaccines (bacterial and viral).
• Education and development of several generations of students and professionals of veterinary microbiology, infectious diseases and zoonoses.
• Developed and formed conceptual framework to support evolution of animal and public health programs and educational programs focused on prevention and control of vesicular diseases, zoonoses, and exotic diseases.

• Created and directed extense teaching programs at PANAFTOSA for 5000 profesionals of the Americas.  Courses in veterinary epidemiology and virology, planning and administration of animal health programs and zoonoses.

• Coordination, promotion and implementation of the scientific publication of  the BOLETIN of the Pan American Foot and Mouth Disease Center. (1976-1991).

• Established  regional strategies for control of animal epidemics based in characterization of FMD ecosystems and management of animal production systems.

• Developed methodologies for risk evaluation and characterization of endemic diseases.

• Developed methodology for creation of FMD-free zones and for the consolidation of FMD-free zones and countries.

• Developed and consolidated  bilateral and multilateral agreements between countries for the prevention and control of infectious diseases and zoonoses.    Formed and implemented regional and national committees dedicated to surveillance, prevention and control of transmissible animal diseases and zoonoses.

• Developed and implemented at PANAFTOSA  a continental system of surveillance and information of FMD and other animal vesicular diseases for the Americas.  Expanded  system for hog cholera and equine encephalomyelitis.

• Cooperated in the development of a network of reference laboratories for identification, characterization and tracing of FMD virus strains as well as other vesicular diseases in the region, and for FMD vaccine quality control.

• Industrial development and production and control systems of FMD oil adjuvant vaccine.  Promotion and mass application of vaccine in FMD control programs in South America.

• Cooperated towards development, adoption and application of measures for prevention of escape of viruses from private and public laboratories into the environment.

• Maintained continuous research and development programs at PANAFTOSA for development of modern biotechnology and for dissemination of this technology to the countries of the region.

• Helped achieve recognition by FAO and OIE of PANAFTOSA as reference laboratory for control of FMD and other vesicular diseases (1987).

• Management and execution of study on physical losses of FMD in beef and dairy cattle project between the  Interamerican Development Bank (IDB), Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform and PAHO/PANAFTOSA (1980-1981). 

• Proposed and helped achieve recognition of PANAFTOSA as reference laboratory for control of FMD vaccine for the Americas (1979).

• Development of methodology for cost benefit studies applied in disease control in countries of the Americas.

• Development, management and implementation of Agreement for Control and Erradication of FMD in the River Plate Basin. Participation from governments of Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay and Uruguay and PAHO / WHO (1987-1991).

• Preparation and implementation by PANAFTOSA  of  Hemispheric Plan for Erradication of FMD and creation of FMD Hemispheric Committee (COHEFA) featuring active participation of private production sector (1987-1991).

• Cooperated in development and execution of plans for control and erradication of FMD in  countries of the Agreement of the Cartagena Junta (JUNAC)in Andean region.

• Incorporation of FMD programs as part of economic and commercial agreements: JUNAC, CARICOM, Central-American Common Market and MERCOSUR (1989). 

• Creation and implementation of Central American, Mexican and CARICOM Subcommittees in Hemispheric Program for Erradication of FMD (1991). 

• Management and execution of program for establishing and teaching infrastructure for epidemiological control in Central America and Panama.  Financed by United Nations Central American Development project and  PANAFTOSA/PAHO/ WHO.

• Proposal and management of US$ 450,000 grant from European Union for the project studying unification of biotechnology techniques for the control of the FMD vaccine in the countries of the River Plate Basin and for transfer of this technologies to these countries (1990-1991).

• Promoted and helped incorporate direct participation of agricultural production industry (rural business and producers, biologial product industry, industrial processing and commercialization chain, public and private veterinary professionals) in the management and evaluation of animal health programs and in the financial and human resources framework. 

6. Contribution to the activities of OIE

• Linked PANAFTOSA to the Technical Cooperation Activities of OIE.

• Proposed and helped achieve approval of PANAFTOSA by OIE as the Americas regional reference laboratory for FMD and vesicular diseases (1987).

• Continuous contributions to Continental Epidemiological Surveillance and Information System of PANAFTOSA to the OIE World Animal Health System.

• Participated in promotion and execution of joint international meetings between COSALFA and OIE Regional Animal Health Commission for the Americas.   

• Represented PANAFTOSA / PAHO and Uruguay in meetings of the Annual International General Assembly of OIE and of the OIE Regional Animal Health Committee for the Americas.

• Contributed to the International Animal Health Code of the OIE.

• Published several scientific and technical articles in OIE journals.

7. Awards and Honors received

• Acknowledgement for Distinguished Services and Leadership awarded by the Regional Committee of the International Cooperation Agreement between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and PAHO for the erradication of FMD in the River Plate Basin. Montevideo, Uruguay (1992).

Various awards and honors from the following institutions:

• Award of the Presidency of “Republica Oriental del Uruguay,” 18 December 2003. 
• Foreign Academic of Royal Academy of Doctors, Madrid, Spain (2001-present).
• Foreign Academic of Spanish Royal Academy of Veterinary Sciences. Laudus presented by president of academy, Prof. Mariano Illera Martí. Title and Medal receipt in Ceremony at  the Salamanca University, Salamanca, Spain (1992-present).
• Brazilian Society of Veterinary Medicine (1990).
• Inter American Animal Health Commission and Inter American Institute of Cooperation for Agriculture (1989).
• PANAFTOSA (1989, 1991).
• PAHO (1985, 1986, 1991).
• Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture (1989).
• Honorary President of Cuban Council of Veterinary Sciences (1988).
• Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture (1987).
• Veterinary College of Peru (1987).
• “The James H. Steele International Service Award and Gold Cane Award”, from World Veterinary Epidemiology Society (1987).
• Paraguayan Ministry of Agriculture (1987).
• PAHO – “Best Manager” (1986).
• Bolivian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (1986).
• Uruguayan Veterinary Medicine Society (1986).
• Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay (1986).
• Brazilian Society of Veterinary Medicine (1985).
• Government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (1985).
• Brazilian National Society of Agriculture – “Destaque Lavoura” (1980-1981).
• Corrientes College of Veterinary Science, University of the Republic of Argentina (1980).
• Honorary advisor to Sobrino S.A. Laboratory, Olot, Gerona, Spain (1980).
• Awarded gold medal by the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of the Republic of Uruguay for highest qualifications obtained during his university carreer (1952).

• Member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners,  Georgia, Atlanta (1992-present).
• Plenary Member and Founder Member of the United Nations Ex-Staff Member Association in Uruguay (AFICS-URUGUAY), Montevideo, Uruguay (1992-present). 
• Member of the Association of Former PAHO/WHO Members (AFSM), Washington DC, USA (1992-present).
• Honorary member of the Society of Veterinary Medicine of Uruguay (SMVU) (1985-present).
• Member of Sociedade Paulista de Medicina Veterinaria, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil (1980-present).
• Member of the International Scientific Committee of the magazine “A Hora Veterinaria”, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (1980-present).
• Member of the United States Animal Health Association and ”Committee on Foreign and Emerging Diseases”, Richmond, Virginia, US (1980-present).
• Senior member of board of the Society of Veterinary Medicine of Uruguay (1966-1968).
• Founding member of Uruguayan Microbiology Society  (1964-present).
• Senior member of board of the Veterinary Students Association, College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of the Republic of  Uruguay (1950-1952).

• “Revista Mundial de Zootecnica,”   FAO (1997-present).
• “Revista Medica del Uruguay,” Sindicato Médico del Uruguay (1995-present).
• “ A hora Veterinaria,” Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil ( 1989-present).
• “ Revista Veterinaria”, Sociedad de Medicina Veterinaria del Uruguay ( 1992-present).