Paula González Maya (5 May 1975 – 26 March 2020)

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is saddened by the passing of Dr Paula González Maya, a former IARC staff member, who died of cancer on 26 March 2020.

Paula, a Colombian/Costa Rican medical doctor, started her scientific career in Costa Rica, where she worked on several epidemiological studies on cervical cancer, particularly on the Costa Rica Vaccine Trial (CVT), one of the first trial to evaluate the efficacy of a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

At IARC, Paula was part of the Prevention and Implementation Group (PRI), where she spent one year as a postdoctoral researcher, another year as a visiting scientist, and was then a staff scientist from October 2013 to July 2014. She contributed to setting up the ESTAMPA study of HPV screening and triage techniques for cervical cancer in Latin America and the ENIGMA study to investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in high- and low-risk areas for gastric cancer around the world. Both of these studies are still continuing.

On her return to Costa Rica, Paula took the lead in the ESCUDDO study to determine whether one dose of HPV vaccine will be sufficient; these important results are awaited worldwide. She took on the challenge to set up and lead, both scientifically and logistically, the study, which involves the randomization of 20 000 adolescent girls around the country.

Paula was a very talented scientist and a warm and generous person, an example for many Latin American female scientists. She will be greatly missed, both professionally and personally, by all who worked with her. Our deepest sympathy is with Paula’s family and friends.

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