Dr. Ángel Carracedo, Chair of IR Sant Pau’s External Scientific Committee, Receives the 2026 National Research Award

Dr. Ángel Carracedo, chair of the External Scientific Committee of the Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau), has received the 2026 Gregorio Marañón National Research Award in the field of Medicine and Health Sciences. The award ceremony took place on October 27 at the Europa Conference Center in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the presence of the King and Queen of Spain. The Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities announced the award on July 30 in recognition of his outstanding career in forensic medicine and genomics.

Dr. Carracedo has chaired IR Sant Pau’s External Scientific Committee since March 2023. This advisory body, composed of internationally renowned experts, oversees the scientific quality of the Institute’s research activities and helps promote excellence by evaluating its work and providing guidance on its strategic research priorities.

A professor of legal medicine at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Dr. Carracedo was one of the pioneers in applying molecular genetics to forensic identification. His team has contributed to thousands of expert reports and participated in investigations of international significance, including those related to the March 11 terrorist attacks in Madrid and the identification of victims of the Southeast Asian tsunami, both in 2004.

In recent decades, his research has expanded into clinical genomics, with a particular focus on the genetic basis of complex diseases, rare diseases, and neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as its application to personalized medicine. He leads the Genomics and Bioinformatics Group at the Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS) at USC, has directed the Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica, and has coordinated the IMPaCT-Genomics program, in which IR Sant Pau research groups participate. This initiative aims to facilitate access to genomic diagnosis within Spain’s National Health System. In 2015, he received the National Genetics Award.

“This is great news for Spanish science and a source of pride for IR Sant Pau that Dr. Carracedo has received this recognition. His judgment and experience help us improve the quality of our research, and we are grateful for his commitment to the Institute,” said Dr. Jordi Surrallés, scientific director of IR Sant Pau.

In this edition, the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities has presented ten National Research Awards and ten National Research Awards for Young Researchers. Considered Spain’s most prestigious honors in scientific research, these awards recognize both established careers and the contributions of researchers in the early stages of their careers across different fields of knowledge.