Pedro Alonso Fernández is Professor of Global Health at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona and consultant at the Department of International Health at the Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona.

Pedro was Director of the Global Malaria Programme at the World Health  Organization (WHO) between 2014 and 2022. He was also Founding Director of the Barcelona Global Health Institute and played an active role in the establishment of the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).

During his time at WHO he coordinated global efforts to control and eliminate malaria, leading the creation of technical recommendations for endemic countries. His focus on the study of diseases affecting the most disadvantaged populations has led him to work for more than 30 years in Africa, both in research and training. His main scientific research has focused on the epidemiology of malaria and the development and evaluation of innovative tools against this disease, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, vaccines and drugs.

In 1996, he fostered the creation of the Health Research Centre in Manhiça, Mozambique, an institution that received the 2008 Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation, together with three other African scientific centres.

Alonso Fernández holds a PhD in Medicine from the University of Barcelona. He has received the Ross Medal from the University of London, the Carlos IV Award from the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain and the Frontiers of Knowledge Award from the BBVA Foundation.