The National Research Awards ceremony took place yesterday in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Considered Spain's most prestigious awards in scientific research, they are presented by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities in recognition of researchers' outstanding careers and contributions to science.

Among this year's recipients was Dr Biola M. Javierre, researcher at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute. Dr Javierre received the Gabriella Morreale National Research Award for Young Researchers in the field of Medicine and Health Sciences, in recognition of her scientific career in epigenetics and functional genomics.

The National Research Awards for Young Researchers recognise scientists aged 40 or under who have made significant contributions to research in the early stages of their careers. Through these awards, the Ministry seeks to acknowledge their work and encourage scientific vocations.

At the ceremony, presided over by King Felipe VI and attended by Spain’s Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, Dr Javierre emphasised that the award was a recognition of her entire research team:

"Receiving the Gabriella Morreale National Research Award is a tremendous honour, but above all, I want this recognition to go to my team. This award reflects the hard work, dedication and talent of everyone in my research group, without whom none of this would have been possible. Together, we work every day to understand how the three-dimensional organisation of the genome influences the development of blood cancers, and this achievement belongs as much to them as it does to me. I also hope it will inspire more young people, especially women, to pursue careers in science."

Dr Biola M. Javierre, Group Leader of the 3D Chromatin Organisation group at the Josep Carreras Institute

About Dr Biola M. Javierre

Dr Biola M. Javierre completed her PhD at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) in Madrid, followed by postdoctoral research at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge (UK), where she studied how the three-dimensional organisation of the genome influences the development of various diseases. In 2019, she established her own research programme at the Josep Carreras Institute. Throughout her career, she has received several distinctions, including the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award (2018), the International Rising Talents Award (2019), the PharmaMar Young Researchers Award (2024) and the Scientific Talent Award from the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of Spain (2025).

She currently leads the 3D Chromatin Organisation group at the Josep Carreras Institute, which studies the three-dimensional organisation of chromatin in immune cells and how changes in this organisation may contribute to the development and relapse of blood cancers. By investigating these alterations and the mechanisms linking them to disease, her team aims to identify new biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets that could help improve diagnostic precision and advance personalised treatments.