Developed the first anti-malaria vaccine against the Plasmodium falciparum parasite; director of Bogota Immunology instiute.

Dr. Patarroyo assigned the patent to the World Health Organisation so he wouldn't profit from it personally. Tests have shown the vaccine to be between 30 and 60 percent effective, and so could save over 100 million lives a year (300 million people die from malaria every year).