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

As Principal Investigator at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE)—a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Pompeu Fabra University (UPF)—he leads the Comparative Genomics Group, which specializes in genomic and evolutionary analyses, mainly in primates.

“His work has gone beyond expectations, establishing him as one of the world’s most renowned experts in the field,” said academician Ángela Nieto, highlighting his contributions, from his early research as an independent scientist describing “genetic differences between humans and apes” to his most recent studies.

In January of this year, his group published research on the influence of human activity and environmental factors on endangered lemur populations in Madagascar, expanding his work into ecological and anthropogenic areas. The study was published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

Upon receiving the award, Marquès expressed his gratitude to his collaborators: “This recognition is not mine alone, but belongs to all the people I’ve been fortunate to work with. Science is always a collective effort.”

He also shared a reflection on the current global context: “In difficult times, when the role of science is questioned in many parts of the world, I especially appreciate the Academy’s commitment to knowledge and this encouragement, which I receive with joy, but also with a sense of responsibility.”

The Ramón y Cajal Medal is awarded every two years to recognize the scientific trajectory of a researcher under the age of 50. Previous recipients include MIT physicist Pablo Jarillo in 2023 and UCM mathematician David Pérez García in 2021.

About Tomàs Marquès Bonet

Born in Barcelona in 1975, Tomàs Marquès Bonet is Principal Investigator at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), a joint center of the CSIC and UPF, where he leads the Comparative Genomics Group. He is an ICREA Research Professor at UPF and a full professor in the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS) at UPF. He is also an affiliated researcher at the National Center for Genomic Analysis (CNAG) and the Catalan Institute of Paleontology Miquel Crusafont (ICP).

About the RAC

The Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of Spain, as stated in its founding statutes approved by Royal Decree on February 25, 1847, is tasked with promoting the study and research of Mathematical, Physical, Chemical, Geological, and Biological Sciences and their applications, as well as spreading scientific knowledge. One of its main roles is advising the government on relevant matters, particularly those related to science policy that may impact the scientific and technological development of the country.