2015 National Award for research to professor Manel Esteller

Manel Esteller (Sant Boi de Llobregat, 1968), who is the Director of the Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and research professor in ICREA, is given this award for his pioneer research and international leadership in epigenetics (the study on hereditary changes on genes due to external or environmental factors non related to DNA sequencing) as a key factor in cancer development. The internationally distinguished expert in the study of methylation (DNA biochemical modification) as a mechanism which alters the human tumours’ suppressor genes, focuses his current research on establishing epigenomic maps of normal and transformed cells, studying epigenetic modifications and developing new epigenetic drugs to treat cancer.

He is the author of more than four hundred articles in the field of medical sciences, member of several international scientific associations, and critic of several scientific magazines. He has also been awarded the Rey Jaime I Prizes in basic research (2013), the 20th Severo Ochoa Award for Biomedical Research (2013), the Award Vanguardia de la Ciència (2014) and the Josep Trueta Medal for merit health (2015), among other honours.

In this edition the other awardees have been: Frank Koppens, ICREA Research teacher at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) (National Young Talent Award for Research); Catalunya – La Pedrera Foundation (National Award for Scientific Sponsorship); the Alicia Foundation (National Award for the Public-Private Partnership in Research and Innovation); and the TV program ‘Quèquicom’ from Televisió de Catalunya (National Award for Scientific Communication).

Image: Manel Esteller was awarded with the 20115 National Award for Research in an institutional event presided by Carles Puigdemont, President of Generalitat de Catalunya (image: FCRI)