MIAMI, FL, Apr 07, 2014 (Marketwired via COMTEX) — Caribbean International Holdings (pinksheets:CIHN) is excited to announce that it has appointed Rafael Gonzalez, Ph.D to its Advisory Board.

Dr. Gonzalez is currently responsible for the development of clinical stem cell applications for several disease/trauma states for DaVinci Biosciences as their VP of Research & Development. Dr. Gonzalez is responsible for the design and execution of all pre-clinical and clinical experiments involving adult (bone marrow, menstrual blood, adipose) and pre-natal stem cells (neural, bone marrow, liver, gonadal).

Steven Swank, Chairman and CEO of Caribbean International Holdings, stated, “We are extremely excited to have Dr. Gonzalez join our Advisory Board. This will help us achieve our goals of bringing science and medicine together to improve the well-being and future of patients. His knowledge in stem cell research and development and implementing standard operating procedures will be a tremendous benefit to our Company.”

In addition to his experience in stem cell culture and biology from human embryonic, pre-natal and adult sources, he has extensive knowledge in degenerative disorders involving the spinal cord. Prior to joining DaVinci Biosciences, Dr. Gonzalez served as a Research Scientist at PrimeGen Biotech where he was responsible for the design and execution of experiments involving adult (bone marrow, menstrual blood, adipose) and pre-natal stem cells (neural, bone marrow, liver, gonadal) for potential clinical application. Dr. Gonzalez was also responsible for developing PrimeGen’s pre-clinical stem cell/spinal cord injury model.

Dr. Gonzalez developed his thesis at the Reeve-Irvine Research Center, University of California, Irvine, under the advisory of Dr. Hans Keirstead, titled: “The Role of the Chemokine CXCL10 in Secondary Degeneration Following Spinal Cord Injury.” Pre-clinical studies conducted during this time lead by Dr. Gonzalez were aimed at reducing secondary degenerative effects. The studies conducted by Dr. Gonzalez precipitated the start-up of Ability Biomedical, a company that developed anti-IP10 antibody, an antibody which can be used to treat several degenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and SCI. Ability Biomedical was purchased by Medarex in 2007, which was purchased by Bristol-Myers Squibb that sponsors a phase II clinical trial using anti-IP10 antibody (MDX-1100). He also was involved with preclinical studies in the development of the use of human embryonic stem cells into spinal cord injury.

Dr. Gonzalez has several scientific publications in the field of stem cells, spinal cord injury and the immune system.

Dr. Gonzalez received his BS in Biological Science and his Ph.D in Anatomy and Neurobiology from the University of California, Irvine, CA.

Dr. Gonzalez will join Frank Leiber, Ph.D on the Advisory Board.

Dr. Leiber’s first degree is in Economics and Business Administration from HEC at the University of Lausanne. He earned his Ph.D in Financial Econometrics at HEI – University of Geneva, and he studied Economics and Finance on a Postgraduate Fulbright Scholarship at the University of Chicago. Dr. Leiber is a citizen of Luxembourg and Switzerland, and worked as a senior investment banker on market and credit derivatives in Chicago, New York, Zurich, Geneva and London for Morgan Guaranty, Mitsubishi Finance International, and as a credit risk management expert for Moody’s-KMV. He consults independently on tax efficient vehicles in Luxembourg and Switzerland, on alternative investment funds, exit planning and business valuation, and in wealth management. He advises on life-insurance linked structured products for HNW individuals and families. He regularly teaches at banks around the world and is an adjunct professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business as well as at the University of Luxembourg School of Finance. Dr. Leiber also serves as a non-executive member on boards of directors for several commercial and non-profit entities.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation.

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