Pío was born in 1882 near Valladolid, studied medicine and is recognized as the discoverer of microglia and oligodendrocytes, which are two of the three types of glial cells in the brain. And besides, he was also an expert on tumors of the nervous system. His work with microglia and oligodendrocytes brought him international fame and recognition, and if he was not given the nobel it was partly because glial cells were an undervalued field at that time.
Pío was one of the many scientists who were forced to flee when the dictatorship of Francisco Franco was established in Spain and he died in Argentina in 1945: at his request he was shrouded with his honorary professor's robe from the University of Oxford; and the republican insignia that he always carried in his wallet was also put on his lapel.
You can see all the chapters of the Neuropill series by entering here
About Neuropills:
Created, directed and presented by Pablo Barrecheguren (@pjbarrecheguren), Neuropíldoras (2018) is a scientific dissemination project made by Big Van Ciencia in collaboration with Muy Interesante and carried out with the collaboration of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology – Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (FECYT).
