Maria Pilar Aguar Fernandez is the Director 'People: Health and Society' Directorate at the European Commission’s DG Research and Innovation since September 2025. She leads EU research and innovation to address health, well-being, and democratic challenges amid environmental and socio-economic shifts.
Previously, she headed DG SANTE’s Health and Food Audits and Analysis Directorate (2021–2025), ensuring compliance with EU legislation on food safety, animal/plant health, animal welfare, and human health protection. From 2017 to 2021, she supervised health, environment, and innovation research programmes at DG Research & Innovation, representing the Commission at the Innovative Medicine Initiative board.
Between 2012 and 2017, she led the Joint Research Centre’s Chemical Assessment and Testing Unit, developing methodologies for EU chemicals, consumer products, nanomaterials, and health technologies. Earlier, she managed European research programmes in industrial technologies (2005–2012), focusing on nanotechnology safety and new materials. She began her EC career in 2001, auditing national food safety control systems.
Ms. Aguar holds degrees in Pharmacy and Food Science, specialising in toxicology and public health. Before the EC, she worked at Spain’s Ministry of Health.