According to the nomination text, "Marquès-Bonet’s dedication to primate research has contributed to the understanding of our evolutionary origins and the origins of our diseases."

 

Tomàs Marqués is the Principal Investigator at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), and leads the Comparative Genomics Group at CNAG, specialising in genomics and evolutionary analysis, mainly in primates.

 

“His work has transcended, making him one of the world’s most renowned experts in the field,” said academic Ángela Nieto, who highlighted his contributions first as an independent scientist in a study describing “genetic differences between humans and apes,” and more recently through his latest research.

 

In January of this year, his group described the influence of human activity and the environment on the population of endangered lemurs in Madagascar, extending his work to ecological and anthropogenic aspects. This study was published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

 

The awardee expressed his gratitude to all his collaborators: “This recognition is not only mine, but also belongs to all the people I have been fortunate to work with. Science is always a collective effort.”

 

Marquès also made a comment on current times: “At a difficult moment, when the role of science is questioned in many parts of the world, I especially thank the Academy for its commitment to knowledge and for this encouragement that I receive with joy, but also with responsibility.”

 

The Ramón y Cajal Medal recognizes the scientific career of a researcher under 50 years old every two years. Previous recipients include MIT physicist Pablo Jarillo in 2023 and UCM mathematician David Pérez García in 2021.