José Tubío from CiMUS-USC, Biologist of the Year

• The Official College of Biologists of Galicia recognizes his work on mobile DNA and cancer.
• He will be honored, along with the other award winners, at a commemorative event on May 15, Biologist Day.

The Official College of Biologists of Galicia (COBGA) has just awarded the Biologist of the Year prize to José M. C. Tubío in recognition of his pioneering work on mobile DNA and cancer, and for discovering new mutational processes caused by retrotransposons in human tumors.

He has received the ASEICA Young Investigator Award (2020), the 11th National Cancer Research Award “Doctores Diz Pintado” (2021), and the 3rd International Award for Young Talents in Oncology “Ramiro Carregal” (2022). Recently, his work on mobile DNA and cancer (carried out entirely in Galicia) was published in the journal Science.

The CiMUS researcher at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), who leads the Mobile Genomes group, considers this distinction “one of the most desired and important awards of my career and a great honor, as it represents recognition from fellow professionals.”

COBGA will celebrate Biologist Day at the Hotel Louxo La Toja (A Toxa – O Grove) next Friday, May 15. This occasion provides an opportunity to share experiences and, especially, to recognize and thank members who have been part of the association for 25 years.

This year, the following awards will also be presented: Biologist of the Year to the CiMUS researcher; Woman Biologist of the Year to Mónica Fernández-Aceytuno; Company of the Year to the biotechnology company LONZA; Institution of the Year to CRDOP Arzúa-Ulloa; SME of the Year to the Viña Costeira Cooperative; Startup of the Year to ODS Protein; the COBGA Communication Proposal Award to Raúl Romar, journalist at La Voz de Galicia; and finally, a special distinction will be awarded to Francisco Juan Martínez Mojica as a key figure in modern microbiology, recognizing him as an Honorary Member.