Juan Salcedo Jr. was a Filipino physician and scientist who specialized in biochemistry, nutrition and public health. [1] He was secretary of health from 1950 to 1953 and chairman of the National Science Development Board (now reorganized as the Department of Science and Technology) from 1962 to 1970. [2] He was also one of the original board of trustees and incorporators of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement. [3] Following his government service, he became dean of the University of the East Medical College and president of Araneta University. [2]
He is known as the developer of a rice variety fortified with thiamine which helped reduce the cases of beriberi in the Philippines and in other countries. [4]