In memory of Professor Francisco Carvalho Guerra (1932-2026)
It was with profound sadness that I received the news today of the passing of Professor Francisco Carvalho Guerra. There are people whose presence in our lives extends far beyond the meetings, conversations, and moments shared. They remain as moral, intellectual, and human points of reference. For me, Professor Carvalho Guerra was one of those people.
When I arrived in Portugal in 1987, at a time of discovery, adaptation and uncertainty, I found in him a rare generosity and, in the Centre for Experimental Cytology, which he helped to establish, a place of refuge. He supported me immensely, not only through institutional or academic assistance, but also through his trust, openness, and remarkable ability to recognise in people what they were still striving to become. That support left a deep mark on me, and I shall never forget it. I will always cherish the memories of the Advanced Courses in Biology which, together with many other researchers, we organised between 1988 and 1993.
Professor Carvalho Guerra possessed an uncommon vision of the future of science in Portugal, a strong personality, and unwavering determination. He never ceased to believe in Portugal’s future. Long before many others, he understood that modern research required strong institutions, critical mass, international engagement, and, above all, confidence in young scientists. It was this vision that helped create the conditions that transformed Porto into a place where biology, biochemistry, and biomedical research could flourish with international ambition.
His role in the creation of the IBMC was decisive. Long before the institute became an established reality, he helped open doors, create opportunities, bring people together, and sustain an idea that at the time seemed bold: that Portugal could and should pursue scientific excellence, in dialogue with the world, through its own institutions.
Today, that legacy is visible not only in the buildings, research centres, and university structures that he helped to envision and strengthen, but above all in the people he inspired. Professor Carvalho Guerra believed in science as a public service, in the university as a place of responsibility, and in education as a means of building the future.
I remember him with gratitude, admiration, and affection. Gratitude for the support he gave me at a pivotal moment in my life. Admiration for his intelligence, vision, and institutional courage. Affection for the simple and generous way in which he remained close to others, even while carrying immense responsibilities.
On this sad day, I would like to express my public tribute to a man who helped transform science in Portugal and who played a decisive role in my own journey. Professor Francisco Carvalho Guerra has left us, but he lives on in what he helped to build, in the institutions he strengthened, in the generations he inspired, and in the grateful memories of those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Claudio Sunkel
