Argentine cardiologist Luis de la Fuente, candidate for the Nobel Prize in Medicine

The Argentine cardiologist Luis de la Fuente (89) he was nominated as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Medicine. The project was voted on Friday by the Superior Council of the University of La Rioja (UNLaR).

The doctor, who is still operating today, is considered a “hero of the province.” In 2005 he had already been nominated for the award by Stanford University (California). This time, the University Hospital of that city gave the go-ahead to carry out the application project.

“Through this project it is intended to show the importance of the academic, professional and social life of Dr. Luis M. de La Fuente, who with great international prestige represents our province with great pride; for this reason, We believe it is extremely important to present this project, requesting the Honorable Superior Council of the House of Higher Studies UNLaR, propose the worthy Dr. De La Fuente as a pre-candidate for the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his relevant merits, and for his fruitful career, put to the service of science and world society “, The approved project reads.

“It is a timely proposal for an illustrious Riojan such as Dr. De la Fuente, a doctor internationally recognized for being the world pioneer in invasive cardiology (since 1962), interventional cardiology (in 1965) and biointerventional cardiology (1999). In addition to having collaborated directly with Dr. René Favaloro, another priest, to found the Model Cardiology Institute that operates in Buenos Aires, “said pediatrician Daniel Quiroga, promoter of the initiative.

How did the proposal come about? “This type of initiative can come from different places such as scientific societies, universities and in this case, being a Riojan with so many scrolls, with 400 scientific papers published in specialized magazines and more than 50 awards, it has occurred to us to promote it not only from the University of La Rioja, but from the University Hospital, where De la Fuente is unanimously admired and respected, “said Quiroga, who is a full professor of the Pediatrics department at the UNLaR.

The candidacy was sent in October to the Superior Council. With approval The next step is for the National Ministry of Education to give it the endorsement. From there he would begin his journey to the Karolinska Institute (in Sweden), responsible for naming the Nobel Prize in Medicine each year.

It’s a long way and De la Fuente, who is 89 years old, is considered for next year’s Nobel edition, whose winner will be announced in October 2022 and the delivery will take place on December 10, the day that Alfred Nobel (1895) died, a Swedish industrialist whose last wish, according to his testament, was that his fortune be used “to create a series of prizes for those who took to bring out the greatest benefit to mankind in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace. “

Quiroga, in an interview with Clarion, said that the proposal to De la Fuente “was made by his son Héctor, because first we needed his consent and from what I understand His reaction was that of someone who receives a very pleasant and unexpected surprise. But here the most important thing is that a whole people is supporting it unanimously, because De la Fuente is a Riojan who, as a premise, never stopped serving any Riojan“.

Quiroga thinks that there are not many people like De la Fuente, “a person loved by all sectors, who has always been a doctor at the service of the community and that is politically irreproachable, that is to say that he has not belonged to any political space nor has he been questioned. Luis is a scientist who has always worked for people. It is always a source of reference “.

MG