The excellent science carried out at the PRBB’s centres continues to receive recognition. In recent months, seven researchers have received important awards or appointments.
Appointments in the field of evolution
Tomàs Marquès Bonet, who leads the Comparative Genomics Group at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE:CSIC-UPF), has been appointed Corresponding Member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences (RAC, as abbreviated in Spanish). Within the RAC, he will be in charge of the area of Genomics and Evolution. As a Corresponding Member, he will participate in the meetings and activities of the academy. Marquès Bonet has been nominated for his contribution to the knowledge of primate evolution. In his acceptance speech, he spoke about the primate genome in biomedicine, evolution and conservation.
Also from the IBE, Marc de Manuel has been appointed European Research Council (ERC) Ambassador by the Association of ERC grantees (AERG) and the European Research Council itself. The job of the 32 ambassadors will be to mediate with policy makers, the media and scientific communities to promote cutting-edge research in Europe. De Manuel received an ERC Starting Grant to set up his Mutation Dynamics Lab, where he studies the mutations that accumulate as we age and their role in evolution.
María Mittelbrunn, Ángela Nieto and Tomàs Marquès. Picture by RAC 
Marc de Manuel
A boost to health research
Eva Novoa has received the National Research Award for Young Talent ex aequo from the Government of Catalonia and the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI). Novoa is the head of the Epitranscriptomics and RNA Dynamics Group at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), where she researches how RNA modifications affect gene expression and has pioneered the development of new technologies for their detection. This is the 35th edition of the National Research Award for Young Talent, which recognises scientific achievements in Catalonia and the work and international impact of researchers at an early or mid-career stage.
In addition, the CRIS Cancer Association, on its fifteenth anniversary, has awarded one of the two CRIS Translational Medical Talent grants to Jenniffer Linares (Hospital del Mar Research Institute) to search for mechanisms of resistance derived from the tumour microenvironment in colon cancer. The 400,000 euros over 5 years will allow her to identify the key biomarkers of this resistance and develop new therapies.
Summary-video of the CRIS award ceremony on Science Day
Lives devoted to global health
Cathryn Tonne, researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Utrecht for her scientific and social contribution to a healthier planet. In particular, her studies on the impacts of air pollution on health and the inequalities that exist in this area have been mentioned.
In its tenth edition, the Anesvad Foundation, whose mission is to fight neglected diseases, has awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award ex aequo to Rafa Vilasanjuan Sanpere, director of ISGlobal’s Translation and Impact area. The foundation has recognised his dedication to bringing health to where it is most needed, first as secretary of Médecins Sans Frontières and now for his work at ISGlobal and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
In addition, Alberto García-Basteiro, also from ISGlobal, has been recognised as a Fellow by the European Respiratory Society, one of the most prestigious distinctions in the field of respiratory medicine. The researcher has been recognised both for his training and clinical leadership and for his research on tuberculosis and its treatment.
Alberto García-Basteiro. Picture courtesy of ISGlobal 
Eva Novoa. Picture courtesy of CRG 
Rafa Vilasanjuan Sanpere receiving the award. Picture courtesy of ISGlobal
