The awarded scientifics are the IDIBELL researcher, Manel Esteller, and the professor of genetics at the University of Seville, Enrique Cerdà, in the categories of applications to genetics and basic genetics, respectively.

The jury, headed by the president of the association, Montserrat Aguadé, Professor of Genetics at the University of Barcelona, has rewarded Esteller for his “outstanding research work has highlighted the importance of epigenetic modifications in regulation of gene expression in both physiological and pathological processes. The results of their pre-clinical research are contributing to the development of new drugs for use in the treatment of cancer”.

In his speech, Esteller has praised “the role of private entities in projects that promote scientific research in Spain” and said that “society involvement is essential where there is no public funding enough.”

In addition to the president of the SEG, the jury has been joined by María Jesús Gallego and Nicolas Jouve Puertas de la Barreda, SEG ex-presidents and professors of Genetics at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Universidad de Alcala de Henares, respectively, in addition to Juan Jiménez Martínez, Professor of Genetics and Director of the University Pablo de Olavide de Sevilla and Genetics National Awards 2010, Montserrat Baiget Bastús Toro and Miguel Angel Ibáñez.