Manel Esteller, Director of the Program for Epigenetics and Cancer Biology of IDIBELL, ICREA Research Professor and at the University of Barcelona has been awarded the Josep Trueta Medal of Heath Merit of the Generalitat of Catalonia. This award was created to honor individuals and entities who have excelled significantly for services rendered in order to progress and improving health.

Manel Esteller degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Barcelona and a doctorate with a specialization in molecular genetics of endometrial carcinoma at the same university. He was a postdoctoral researcher and associate professor with the Faculty of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, USA), where he studied DNA methylation and its relationship to cancer in people. He led the Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory of the National Cancer Research Centre and returned to Catalonia in October 2008 to continue his research at the Institute of Biomedical Research of Bellvitge.

The award ceremony of Josep Trueta Medal of Health Merit will take place at the Palau de la Generalitat, on Tuesday, April 21, under the chairmanship of Hon. Mr. Artur Mas i Gavarró, president of the Generalitat of Catalonia