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The renowned Uruguayan scientist and virologist Gonzalo Moratorio died this Thursday at the age of 44 after suffering from glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor.
The doctor was a fundamental pillar in his native Uruguay in the fight against Covid-19 during the pandemic. Specifically, he was at the forefront of the development of diagnostic kits in the country, something that helped detect cases and save lives.
The government declared two days of national mourning for his death.
"Uruguay will be eternally grateful to you," said the President of the Republic, Yamandú Orsi, on his X account.
Moratorio was responsible for the Experimental Virus Evolution Laboratory of the Pasteur Institute of Montevideo and professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of the Republic, but it was thanks to his role as a government advisor during the pandemic that he acquired national and international fame.
His specialty was the experimental evolution of RNA viruses, a specialty where he sought to understand how these molecules generate and tolerate mutations. And how this can be used for new treatments.
Therefore, her role during the pandemic was fundamental along with scientist Pilar Moreno. Together they developed low-cost national tests that were key to epidemiological control in Uruguay.
In addition, he was part of the country's Honorary Scientific Advisory Group. Where, highlighted by the Uruguayan press, their participation was key to risk management and advice in political decision-making.
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In December 2020, Nature magazine included him among the 10 people who had played a prominent role in the year's scientific events. He was the only Latin American.
In his country, he was recognized and last May the House of Representatives named him Contemporary Hero of the Bicentennial for consolidating himself as an international reference in Uruguayan science.
A long career
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Before coming to the fore during the pandemic, he completed a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences and a master's degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology.
His international projection took a definitive leap when he served as a postdoctoral researcher in Molecular Virology at the Institut Pasteur in Paris (2012-2018).
Upon his return to Uruguay, he was in charge of directing the Experimental Virus Evolution Laboratory of the Institut Pasteur of Montevideo, shortly before the health crisis.
From that laboratory, Moratorio sought to develop an agenda that went far beyond SARS-CoV-2.
One of its main lines studied how to restrict the evolutionary potential of emerging arboviruses through synthetic biology and experimental evolution, with special interest in viruses such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever and Mayaro.
It also explored the use of genetically modified viruses as potential anticancer agents.
When he received recognition from the prestigious Nature magazine, they highlighted that his test "helped his country evade a cascade of infections and deaths."
Help for your own illness
After being diagnosed with glioblastoma, he had to resort to fundraising for his treatment.
In an initial phase, it was treated in Uruguay and Brazil, and was financed with family funds and donations from institutions and individuals. But the immunotherapy he received later required the importation of expensive medications.
To solve them, the virologist went to the relevant state institutions, such as the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), which denied his request. After going to court, a magistrate ordered the authorities to provide the medication.
The ruling was appealed by the MSP, alleging among other reasons "equity and social justice" with hundreds of patients in a similar situation.
In an interview with BBC Mundo journalist Alejandra Martins last June, Moratorio said that, in parallel with his treatment, he continued to investigate with his colleagues ways to defeat "one of the most difficult cancers that exists", which is precisely glioblastoma.
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