Departures of note

Leonardo Calderon was a Brazilian public health researcher and professor of medicine at the Federal University of Rondônia (Unir). He earned a bachelor's degree and doctorate in biological sciences from the University of Brasília (UnB) before joining the Institute for Research in Tropical Pathologies (Ipepatro) in 2008, where he took part in the transition that created Fiocruz Rondônia, serving as a public health researcher there from 2012. He held academic leadership roles including vice-director of research at Fiocruz Rondônia from 2012 to 2014 and pro-rector of post-graduation and research at Unir from 2017 to 2018, and was a member of the Center for Studies of Biomolecules Applied to Health (Cebio). A renowned scientist, he published articles in specialized journals around the world and championed public access to information, contributing as a science-communication columnist for CBN Amazônia radio in Porto Velho. He died at his home in Rondônia on 3 October 2026 at age 50, leaving a wife and a son.