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Dr. Núria López-Bigas, researcher at IRB Barcelona and ICREA Professor. Foto / IRB Barcelona
 06.06.2025

Dr. Núria López-Bigas, from IRB Barcelona, receives the 2025 Rei Jaume I Award for Medical Research

Dr. Núria López-Bigas, ICREA Professor and lider of the Biomedical Genomics lab at IRB Barcelona, located at the Barcelona Science Park, has been awarded the prestigious Rei Jaume I Award in the category of Medical Research. This award, one of the most important scientific honours in Spain, recognizes the outstanding career of researchers whose contributions have had a significant international impact in their field.

The jury, which includes 20 Nobel Laureates, highlighted Dr. López-Bigas’ “innovative research on the origin and evolution of cancer mutations and the development of tools to study them.” At IRB Barcelona, her research focuses on identifying cancer-driving mutations and understanding the mutational processes that lead to the accumulation of genetic alterations in tumour cells. Her work is key to understanding how tumours develop and evolve, paving the way for more precise and personalized approaches in oncology.

“Receiving the Rei Jaume I Prize for Medical Research is a great honour and a tremendous joy. It is also a recognition of the effort and dedication of my entire team over the years. Without their talent and commitment, we would not have advanced so much in understanding the mechanisms underlying cancer,” stated Dr. López-Bigas.

A distinguished career

This recognition adds to a series of accolades received by Dr. López-Bigas in recent years, including the Lilly Foundation Award for Preclinical Biomedical Research (2023) and her election as a full member of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences—the first expert in bioinformatics to join this institution.

The Rei Jaume I Prize for Medical Research has previously been awarded to other prominent scientists, such as Dr. Eduard Batlle, also a group leader at IRB Barcelona (2019), in recognition of both scientific excellence and contributions to society.

» Link to the news: IRB website [+]