The RS Brain Institute deeply regrets the passing away of the doctor, professor and researcher Elisaldo Luiz Araujo Carlini, the biggest reference in the country in relation to the medical and scientific use of cannabis. The specialist was interned and died yesterday (16/09), at the age of 90, of multiple organ failure due to cancer

He was one of the leading narcotics experts in Brazil, and one of the most respected internationally, having studied the effects of marijuana and other drugs on an experimental level throughout his professional life. Emeritus professor at Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM / Unifesp), where he graduated, he was the founder of the Psychobiology Department of EPM, in addition to having founded and directed the Brazilian Center for Information on Psychotropic Drugs (Cebrid). He was a supervisor of several graduate programs, having trained generations of researchers and scientists. Until his death, he was acting as a master's and doctoral advisor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Unifesp.

During his 90 years, he was twice decorated by the Presidency of the Republic for his work as a researcher, being cited 12,000 times in national and international scientific research. He was president of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) and member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC / UN).

Internationally, Elisaldo Carlini received the honorary doctorate award at different universities, and did postdoctoral studies at Yale University. He was a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Advisory Panel on Drug Dependence and Alcohol Problems. In addition, he was a researcher emeritus at the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

His trajectory shows the affection and tireless dedication for the academic area, having embraced as a flag of his entire career the medicinal use of marijuana, mainly for patients with epilepsy.

Carlini leaves his wife, daughters and grandchildren. One of her daughters, Célia Carlini, is a researcher at the Brain Institute of RS and a professor at the School of Medicine at PUCRS and a graduate student in Cellular and Molecular Biology and in Medicine and Health Science.

Photo: Adriana Toffetti / A7 Press / Folhapress