In memoriam
22 August 2025
The start of this academic year has been marked by profound sadness within the Coimbra Group community as we learned of the passing of two highly valued members of our Working Groups, Professors Marie-Alix Poul-Pearson (Montpellier) and Ferdinando Fava (Padua). Their dedication, expertise and friendship over the years enriched not only the activities of the Coimbra Group, but also the lives of all who had the privilege of collaborating with them. We remember them with gratitude and affection.
Marie-Alix Poul-Pearson
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Professor Marie-Alix Poul-Pearson, our dear friend and valued colleague in the Coimbra Group Life Sciences Working Group. Marie-Alix passed away earlier this month, and her loss is felt profoundly across our European community.
Marie-Alix was a dedicated and active contributor to the Coimbra Group’s Cancer Biology Master project, as well as to the Erasmus Mundus Master’s project on Cancer in preparation with the Universities of Pavia and Montreal. At our working group meetings, she consistently brought forward thoughtful proposals and played an important role in shaping the direction of these initiatives. As a Professor of Immunology at the University of Montpellier, Marie-Alix was a respected researcher and a passionate academic leader, notably coordinating the University’s Master’s degree in Cancer Biology. Her professional achievements were matched by her warmth, positivity, and unwavering commitment to advancing research and higher education.
She will be deeply missed within the Life Sciences Working Group and far beyond. On behalf of the Coimbra Group, we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and students, wishing them strength and comfort in this time of loss.
Ferdinando Fava
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Professor Ferdinando Fava, our dear friend and esteemed colleague in the Latin America Working Group. As a geologist and anthropologist, and Professor in the Department of Historical, Geographical and Antiquity Sciences at the University of Padua, Ferdinando brought remarkable knowledge and insight to our community.
A passionate scholar, he was deeply committed to the activities of the Latin America Group. His ideas and contributions shaped the way we worked together and inspired many of the projects we developed. His profound knowledge of Latin America -culture, literature, language, and politics- was a source of learning and enrichment for us all. Ferdinando will also be remembered for his gentle character and respectful, thoughtful way of engaging with others. He had a gift for listening, helping us move forward when we were overwhelmed with ideas, and always welcoming with his warm smile and kind presence.
He will be greatly missed, both as a colleague and as a friend. His legacy will remain in the many initiatives he helped shape, and in the inspiration he gave to those who worked alongside him. The Coimbra Group community will carry forward his spirit of curiosity, generosity, and collaboration. On behalf of the Coimbra Group, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and students.