The ceremony, presided over by King Felipe VI, was attended by the Rector of the USC, Rosa M. Crujeiras. Ángel Carracedo, winner of the Gregorio Marañón National Research Award in Medicine and Health Sciences, is recognized for his career in forensic medicine and genomics. Carmen Álvarez, recipient of the Blas Cabrera National Research Award in Physical Sciences, Materials, and Earth Sciences, is honored for her research in biomedical materials science.
During the event, Professor Carracedo emphasized the importance of scientific outreach, stating that scientific personnel "must strive to communicate what they do" due to the crucial link between science and society. Professor Álvarez, in turn, focused on "curiosity and perseverance," highlighting that listening to other perspectives fosters collaboration across different fields of knowledge.
These awards recognize the merit of Spanish researchers with outstanding scientific careers. Minister Diana Morant noted that they also "demonstrate the strength of the public science system, which drives talent, fosters excellence, and places Spain among the countries leading international research".
Carmen Álvarez Lorenzo (Santiago de Compostela, 1970) is a professor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology at USC and has extensive research in drug delivery systems and regenerative medicine, with over 300 published articles and twenty patents.
Ángel Carracedo (Santa Comba, 1955) is an internationally renowned geneticist for his research in cancer genetics, psychiatric disorders, and pharmacogenomics. He directed the Institute of Legal Medicine at USC, positioning it at the forefront of forensic medicine through molecular genetics.
