Dr. Francisco Santos was elected as academician in 1980 and conferred as National Scientist in 1983.
He was known because of his concern on the development of nourishment of the Filipinos. He made complete researches on the nutritive values and chemical content of Filipino foods, quantity of nutrients and vitamin of conventional Philippine food resources and Philippine nutrition harms.
He was also a receiver of numerous of awards together with the University of the Philippines Alumni award, 1979; the Andres Soriano award in chemistry in 195; and the Distinguished Service Medal for exceptional contribution in the field of nutrition among Filipinos in 1955.