Luís Mendão completed Biochemistry studies in 1983 at Pierre et Marie Curie University. Diagnosed with HIV, AIDS, and HCV in 1996, he is Director of Advocacy, Health Policies, and External Relations at GAT, Portugal. Former EATG Chair and Portugal CSF representative, he is on the boards of Coalition PLUS and WHA, founded SOMA-APA and is on the VIHPortugal Steering Committee. Decorated as Commander of the Order of Santiago in 2015, he received the Gold Medal of Merit on Health in 2023.