Yesterday evening, the Modernista venue of Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona hosted the Eleventh Edition of the Banc Sabadell Award for Biomedical Research. The winner, Dr. Salvador Aznar Benitah (IRB Barcelona), was selected by the jury from among 65 candidates for his contributions in the field of stem cells and their involvement in the treatment of ageing and cancer. Dr. Aznar praised “the support of institutions like Banc Sabadell in assisting scientific researchers to continue progressing in their projects at a time when these are of particular importance”.
The event was attended by important members of Catalan and Spanish political circles, including Xavier Trias, Mayor of Barcelona, who emphasised the “importance of Barcelona” as a city of reference in the field of biomedicine, attracting researchers like Dr. Aznar to work in the city, and the “firm commitment” of Banc Sabadell to promote research in Catalonia; Andreu Mas-Colell, Minister of the Economy and Knowledge of the Government of Catalonia, pointed out the prestige that the award was gaining “year after year”; and Carmen Vela, Secretary of State for R+D+i of the Spanish Ministry of the Economy; who referred to the awards as a “benchmark” in the world of scientific research, and highlighted its importance due to the “real impact of biomedicine on Spanish society”.
The event and subsequent dinner brought together over 200 people, from scientific and health circles as well as representatives of institutions, research centres and universities throughout Spain, including doctors Joan Massagué, Joaquím Barraquer, Joan Guinovart, Santiago Dexeus, Josep Sánchez de Toledo, Eduard Estivill and Josep Maria Gatell, among others.
Dr. López-Otín, chairman of the jury, introduced the winner, lauding the role of research, “although our society is not aware that the future lies in research, and economic restrictions must not be allowed to limit its projection”.
Banc Sabadell Chairman, Josep Oliu, handed over the award for 50,000 euros to Dr. Aznar (1975, Montreal, Canada), and wished to point out the example given by scientific researchers these days due to the “tenacity, willpower and passion with which they do their work”. Oliu also explained that biomedical research shows that “something that seems difficult can always be possible, with effort and passion”.
The winner, Salvador Aznar Benitah
Since 2013, Dr. Salvador Aznar has been principal researcher of the “Stem Cells and Cancer” laboratory of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona (IRB). Dr. López-Otín, Chairman of the jury who chose the winner of this eleventh edition, emphasised that “although a young researcher, he already has behind him an admirable professional career” and praised him “for his work on research in the treatment of ageing and cancer”.
Dr. Salvador Aznar’s research focuses on identifying the molecular mechanisms that permit the proper functioning of adult stem cells and how they influence the appearance of tumours. This involves studying how human tissues are regenerated, why they age, and why they develop tumours over time, mainly in the skin and oral mucosa, the second and fifth most common types of cancer in industrialised societies.
Graduate in biochemistry from McGill University, Montreal, his PhD is from the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Autonomous University of Madrid. After a four-year period as post-doctoral researcher at the London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, in 2006 he joined the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) as ICREA Junior Researcher, and since September 2013 is at the IRB, now as ICREA Professor. In recent years he has published 21 articles, 13 as the main author, in journals like Nature and Cell Stem Cell.
The Banc Sabadell Award for Biomedical Research is growing every year, consolidating its national and international renown. In this its eleventh edition, with 65 candidatures, it beat its own record for participation. According to Dr. López-Otín, chairman of the jury, the award has become “a benchmark in the scientific community for supporting talent and excellence in research, helping to improve the future for society in general”.
This year’s jury was made up of prestigious researchers:
- Dr. López-Otín, chairman of the jury and research professor, CSIC
- Dr. Eduard Batlle, principal researcher, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona (IRB);
- Dr. Jordi Camí, Director, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB);
- Dr. Francisco Fernández Avilés, Head of the Department of Cardiology, Gregorio Marañón Hospital, Madrid;
- Dr. Ramon Gomis de Barbarà, Director, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS);
- Dr. Isabel Illa Sendra, Head of Unit, Department of Neurology, Santa Creu i Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona;
- Dr. José López Barneo, Director, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS-CSIC);
- Dr. Óscar Marín, Director, MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology (CDN) at King’s College London.
- Dr. Alberto Muñoz Terol, Research Professor, Alberto Sols Biomedical Research Institute, Madrid;
- Dr. Elena Sancho, Researcher, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona (IRB);
About the Award
The objective of the Banc Sabadell Award to Biomedical Research is to recognise the work of a young scientist who has pursued his or her career in Spain and has a significant future projection. Worth 50,000 euros, the award is recognised in academic circles as one of the most important of its kind granted in Spain in a strategic sector like the Health Sciences.
Former award winners
- 2013: Dr. Almudena Rodríguez Ramiro, for her contributions in molecular and cellular immunology.
- 2012: Dr. Ben Lehner, for his work on genetic mutations and their impact on diseases like cancer.
- 2011: Dr. Óscar Fernández-Capetillo, for his contribution to finding the origin of cancer and in particular, the mechanisms of damage to DNA.
- 2010: Dr. Eduard Batlle, for his work on cancer of the colon.
- 2009: Dr. Joan Seoane, for his work in the field of oncology.
- 2008: Dr. Oscar Marín Parra, for his work on the origin of mental illnesses in the formation of the human brain.
- 2007: Dr. Benedicto Crespo-Facorro, for his many studies on the biological origins of schizophrenia.
- 2006: Dr. Manuel Serrano, for his contributions in the field of tumour suppression.
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