By MADEL R. SABATER
The nation lost another eminent scientist with the death of National Scientist Dr. Paulo Campos over the weekend due to multi-organ failure. He was 85.
According to the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) where Campos served as president for 10 years, Campos succumbed to heart complications and diabetes mellitus, resulting in multi-organ failure at the Medical Center Manila in Ermita, Manila, last June 2. He died at around 8 a.m.
Campos is survived by his wife, Dr. Lourdes Espiritu-Campos, and their three children - Jose Paulo, Paulo Jr., and Enrique Placido.
His remains lie in state at the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Sports Complex in Ermita, Manila, and will be transferred to his hometown in Dasmariñas, Cavite, tomorrow, Wednesday. Necrological services are scheduled on Friday, June 8. Campos was entitled to a state funeral under Executive Order 131.
According to NAST, necrological services and state funeral for the late National Scientist will be held at the Dasmariñas Parish Church, Poblacion, Dasmariñas, Cavite. Burial will be at the Holy Family Chapel, Campos Family Mausoleum, in Dasmariñas, based on the wishes of his family.
The demise of National Scientist Campos trims the number of living national scientists down to 10. The country, all in all, has 31 national scientists. Last January, National Scientist Dr. Jose Velasco died.
Born on July 27, 1921, Campos finished his doctor of medicine degree at the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1946 and attended postgraduate studies at the John Hopkins School of Medicine and Harvard School of Medicine from 1953 to 1958, and at the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Medicine in 1958.
He was elected as an academician in 1978 and was conferred the rank and title of National Scientist in 1989 by then President Corazon Aquino.
Campos was the founder of the Medical Center Manila and the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, formerly EAC in Cavite and the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) in Manila. The Emilio Aguinaldo College Science High School was also his brainchild.
Among his noted works are researches on the Observation on Some Parameter of Insulin Action; Chromium (Cr)-51 Tagged Red Cell Studies, and The Genetic Factor in Endemic Goiter, which all won first prizes in Research Award.
Campos was also known for establishing the first and best known Radioisotope Laboratory in the country, the first Research Laboratory in UP’s Department of Medicine, and the Thyroid Clinic of the UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Medical Center. He also established the UP Comprehensive Community Health Program and facilities in Bay, Laguna. His significant contributions earned him the honor, "Father of Nuclear Medicine" in the Philippines.
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