Eduardo Hernán Charreau was born on May 27, 1940, in San Fernando, Buenos Aires Province, and passed away on March 23, 2019, in the same city. He was a chemist specializing in endocrinology.
Charreau is especially remembered for his contributions in the field of chemical sciences, specifically in molecular endocrinology. Throughout his career, he maintained constant contact with other important Argentine scientists of his time and became president of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET).
Charreau and the chemical sciences
Charreau studied at the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). First, in 1962, he obtained his degree in Chemical Sciences, and in 1965, he completed his doctorate in the same field.
After his academic training in Argentina, he carried out postdoctoral studies at the Faculty of Medicine of Harvard University in the United States, specifically in the Department of Biological Chemistry. This science is defined as the study of living organisms and their structure, using chemical techniques and focusing on biological systems.
Throughout his career, Charreau maintained close contact with Luis Federico Leloir and Bernardo Houssay, two highly renowned Argentine scientists recognized for their contributions to science.
Charreau: his place in Argentina
In addition to completing his postdoctoral studies at Harvard University, Charreau also served as an Assistant Professor there. He was also part of a laboratory led by Bernardo Houssay, where he worked alongside other Argentine scientists who, at the time, were abroad.
The research conducted in that laboratory focused on steroid hormones. The importance of these hormones lies in their role in growth and metabolism. Their name comes from the chemical compounds known as steroids.
Upon returning to Argentina, Charreau continued his work both as a scientific researcher and as an academic. As a professor, he taught at the same institution from which he had graduated. In his scientific research, the Argentine chemist joined the Institute of Biology and Experimental Medicine (IBYME), founded by Houssay.
Charreau became the director of IBYME and was part of the group in charge of research focused on molecular endocrinology. Molecular endocrinology is understood as the medical discipline responsible for studying the functions of specific hormones. These hormones are secreted by glands at the molecular level. In addition to molecular endocrinology, another field of interest Charreau explored in his research was hormone-dependent tumors, described as the dependence certain tumors develop on specific hormones for their growth.
A distinguished career
In addition to his research at IBYME, Charreau held several positions throughout his scientific career. On one hand, he became president of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), the most important organization in Argentina for scientific and technological research. He was also named Emeritus Superior Researcher at CONICET.
Furthermore, the Argentine chemist served as president of the Argentine Association for the Advancement of Science (AAPC), an organization dedicated to the development of science within Argentina and the recognition of scientific and technological research. He also held the presidency of the National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences.
Charreau was a member of various organizations, notably the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), which is dedicated to promoting scientific research and the work of scientists from developing countries.
He received multiple awards during his lifetime, including the Konex Award on more than one occasion, granted by the Konex Foundation to highlight outstanding contributions within Argentina. Internationally, he was also awarded the Order of Knight of the Academic Palms by the French Government, one of France’s most prestigious honors in the fields of culture and education.
Throughout his career, Charreau served as a consultant for various international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the leading global health body. He is remembered for his commitment to research in molecular endocrinology and for having been part of numerous academic and scientific institutions, both national and international.
