The jury of the XIV Manuel Clavero Award, established in 2012 by Diario de Sevilla and the Persán Foundation, highlighted the laureate's “extensive teaching and research career.” This trajectory positions him as a global key figure in embryonic stem cell research for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, particularly Parkinson's.
The award recipient, a doctor in Medicine and Surgery, has held significant academic and research positions, including general coordinator of Research at Hospital Virgen del Rocío and director of the Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IBIS) between 2006 and 2020. His primary research areas have focused on cellular responses to hypoxia, neurodegeneration, and cell therapy applied to Parkinson's.
Throughout his career, he has presided over the Spanish Society of Neurosciences and the Spanish Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, in addition to being the first director of the National Center for Biomedical Research Network on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED). He has also served as editor for prestigious scientific journals and as an advisor to numerous national and international institutions.
“"The laureate's extensive teaching and research career makes him one of the world's leading figures in the study of embryonic stem cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's."
This recognition adds to a long list of distinctions, including the Medal of Andalucía in 1993 and the Santiago Ramón y Cajal National Research Award in 2023, among others. He is a member of prominent scientific academies and has received research grants from foundations such as the Juan March Foundation and the Botín Foundation.
The jury also valued his consistent advocacy for “public education values” and his “intense work to enhance its recognition and quality,” deeming him worthy of joining the list of illustrious figures from Sevilla.
