Salvador Moncada
Encyclopedia
Sir Salvador Enrique Moncada, FRS
, FRCP
, FRCS
(born 3 December 1944, Tegucigalpa
, Honduras
) is a Honduran
-British
physician
and pharmacologist. He is the husband of Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium, who is a member of the Belgian Royal Family.
at the University College London
. In El Salvador
, he qualified to be a doctor
because he was interested in cardiovascular science. His interest was triggered by working with the Peru
vian pharmacologist, Augusto Campos who, at that time, was visiting the University of El Salvador
.
In February 1971, he earned a fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
(FRCS) at the Laboratory of Sir John Vane
. In Sir John Vane's laboratory he was part of the team where it was discovered that aspirin
-like drugs inhibit prostaglandin
biosynthesis. In 1974, he went back to Honduras to do research. He returned to the UK where he joined the Wellcome research laboratories, again under the leadership of Sir John Vane.
Moncada is furthermore a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences
since 1994, a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) and an Honorary Fellow of UCL.
, in London
on 4 April 1998. They have a daughter, Alexandra Leopoldine (born in London
on 4 August 1998), and a son, Leopoldo Daniel (born in London
on 21 May 2001).
, prostacyclin
, and nitric oxide
.
Scientific and Technological Research Award"
In 1992 the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science awarded him the "Dr A.H. Heineken Prize
for Medicine"
Moncada received a British
knighthood
in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to science.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, FRCP
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
, FRCS
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
(born 3 December 1944, Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
) is a Honduran
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
-British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and pharmacologist. He is the husband of Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium, who is a member of the Belgian Royal Family.
Background
Moncada is the director of the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical ResearchUCL Wolfson Institute
The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research at UCL is an academic department of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of University College London located in London, United Kingdom...
at the University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. In El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, he qualified to be a doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
because he was interested in cardiovascular science. His interest was triggered by working with the Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian pharmacologist, Augusto Campos who, at that time, was visiting the University of El Salvador
University of El Salvador
The University of El Salvador or Universidad de El Salvador is the oldest and one of the most prominent university institutions in El Salvador. It serves as the national university of the country...
.
In February 1971, he earned a fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
(FRCS) at the Laboratory of Sir John Vane
John Robert Vane
Sir John Robert Vane FRS was an English pharmacologist and Nobel Laureate, born in Tardebigg, Worcestershire. His father was the son of Russian immigrants and his mother came from a Worcestershire farming family. He was educated at King Edward's School in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and studied...
. In Sir John Vane's laboratory he was part of the team where it was discovered that aspirin
Aspirin
Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was discovered by Arthur Eichengrun, a chemist with the German company Bayer...
-like drugs inhibit prostaglandin
Prostaglandin
A prostaglandin is any member of a group of lipid compounds that are derived enzymatically from fatty acids and have important functions in the animal body. Every prostaglandin contains 20 carbon atoms, including a 5-carbon ring....
biosynthesis. In 1974, he went back to Honduras to do research. He returned to the UK where he joined the Wellcome research laboratories, again under the leadership of Sir John Vane.
Moncada is furthermore a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences commonly refers to the academy in the United States of America.National Academy of Sciences may also refer to :* National Academy of Sciences of Argentina* Armenian National Academy of Sciences...
since 1994, a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) and an Honorary Fellow of UCL.
Personal life
He is married to Her Royal Highness Princess Maria-Esmeralda of BelgiumPrincess Maria-Esmeralda of Belgium
Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium is a member of the Belgian Royal Family.-Family:...
, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 4 April 1998. They have a daughter, Alexandra Leopoldine (born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 4 August 1998), and a son, Leopoldo Daniel (born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 21 May 2001).
Writings
He is the author or co-author of almost 600 papers, including his work on aspirinAspirin
Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was discovered by Arthur Eichengrun, a chemist with the German company Bayer...
, prostacyclin
Prostacyclin
Prostacyclin is a member of the family of lipid molecules known as eicosanoids.As a drug, it is also known as "epoprostenol". The terms are sometimes used interchangeably.-History:...
, and nitric oxide
Nitric oxide
Nitric oxide, also known as nitrogen monoxide, is a diatomic molecule with chemical formula NO. It is a free radical and is an important intermediate in the chemical industry...
.
Recognitions
In 1990 he was awarded with the Spanish "Prince of AsturiasPrince of Asturias
Prince of Asturias is the historical title given to the heir to the Spanish throne. It was also the title under the earlier Kingdom of Castile. The current Prince of Asturias is Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofía...
Scientific and Technological Research Award"
In 1992 the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science awarded him the "Dr A.H. Heineken Prize
Dr A.H. Heineken Prize
The Dr. A.H. Heineken and Dr. H.P. Heineken Prizes, named in honor of Alfred Heineken, former Chairman of Heineken Holdings, and Henry Pierre Heineken, son of founder Gerard Adriaan Heineken, are a series of awards bestowed by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences .-History:Alfred...
for Medicine"
Moncada received a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
knighthood
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to science.