Pedro L. Alonso

Professor Pedro L. Alonso, MD, PhD, is a Spanish physician, epidemiologist, and globally recognised researcher in infectious diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. He completed his medical degree at the Autonomous University of Madrid and earned a Master’s in Epidemiology and Control of Communicable Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, followed by a PhD in Medicine from the University of Barcelona.
Professor Alonso’s early research in the Gambia in the 1980s included pivotal studies validating insecticide-treated nets as a key preventive tool against malaria—findings that contributed to World Health Organization recommendations for universal use and are credited with preventing millions of malaria cases in sub-Saharan Africa.
He founded the Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), where he led clinical development and impact assessment of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in infants and young children, laying the foundation for large-scale Phase 3 trials across multiple African research centres and eventual regulatory and policy endorsement of the vaccine.
Beyond his scientific contributions, Professor Alonso has been instrumental in strengthening research infrastructure and capacity in Africa, including founding the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM) in Mozambique and participating in key global initiatives such as the malERA (Malaria Eradication Research Agenda) and Malaria Eradication Scientific Alliance (MESA).
From October 2014 until March 2022, he served as Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, coordinating global efforts to control and eliminate malaria, develop technical guidelines, and support affected countries.
Professor Alonso has authored hundreds of publications in high-impact scientific journals, supervised numerous doctoral students across epidemiology and translational research, and contributed to global vaccine policy, including the Global Vaccine Action Plan adopted by the World Health Assembly.
His work has been recognised with multiple honours, including election to the US National Academy of Medicine—an acknowledgment of his visionary leadership in public health and malaria elimination.