Dr Luis Valenciano Clavel, a member of the Foundation’s Advisory Council for more than fifteen years and advisor to the Jury of the Rei Jaume I Prizes, has died.

Dr. Valenciano, a medical expert in viral infections, promoted the introduction of the oral polio vaccine in Spain in the 1960s, which is why he was honoured by some of the last people affected by this infection at an event held at the Foundation’s headquarters in April 2017, during the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the human papillomavirus vaccine, in which the safety of vaccines was discussed.

In addition, Dr Valenciano was the first Director General of Public Health of the Ministry of Health, created by the first democratic government, and then Undersecretary of Health until the first government of Felipe González.

He returned to laboratory research, this time as Scientific Director of Wellcome Spain, where he contributed to the development of the first drug to treat AIDS, a virus he continued to study until his retirement in the search for a vaccine.

As a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, his integrative approach and profound knowledge brought an objective and up-to-date vision of immunological therapies and vaccine development, as well as his interest in science and improving the quality of life of patients.

May he rest in peace.