Dr. Jesús San Miguel, director of Clinical and Translational Medicine at the University of Navarra, received today in Barcelona from King Felipe VI the National awardof research"Gregorio Marañón" in the areaof Medicine.

According to the Ministry of Science and Innovation, this awardrecognises Dr San Miguel's pioneering contribution to biomedical research, "which has produced, among others, a paradigm shift in the conception of pathologies such as multiple myeloma and its treatments".

Dr. San Miguel, a specialist in Haematology and Haemotherapy, acknowledged that "as a doctor it is an honour to receive the awardNacional de research, which represents one of the most emblematic figures in medicine for his impact, not only scientifically but also humanistically".

The director doctor of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra has remembered the professionals and hospitals with whom he has shared his professional degree program: "This recognition, more than the reflection of a story staff, represents the stories of a group of people closely linked to my professional career and staff, who have lent me their ideas, their intelligence and their willingness to work to improve the future of myeloma patients, both during my time at the University Hospital of Salamanca and now at Clínica Universidad de Navarra".

At the event held in the auditorium of the Barcelona International Convention Centre, the King pointed out that the pandemic has conveyed "the enormous importance of Science and its application internship", stressing that the vaccine against COVID-19 "would not have been possible without the professionals who dedicate their lives to exploring the frontiers of knowledge".

His Majesty also insisted that "it is necessary for public policies to be based on scientific evidence so that the best, most informed and contrasted decisions can be taken, placing "people at the centre of them; in other words, with values".

For her part, Diana Morant, Minister of Science and Innovation, stressed that "we go further when we cooperate", highlighting the importance of partnershipbetween administrations and companies to create "a Economicsof knowledge".

The importance of the early approach in multiple myeloma

Dr. San Miguel's workat researchhas focused on the treatment of multiple myeloma, where an early approach to the disease leads to a significant increase in the survival of these patients. This cancer, subject, is caused by the proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow, which spread to other organs. The laureate recalled that, at the beginning of his degree program, "hardly anyone was working on myeloma, it was an incurable disease and there was only one active drug", which explains that - as a young specialist - he believed that "there was a lot to be done".

The proposalof the awardNational underlines that Dr. San Miguel has set up "a translational for patients". San Miguel has put on internship"a modelof researchtranslational for the patient" and summarises his contributions to researchand clinical internshipin "the approval of four drugs by the European and US drug agencies, including the first CAR-T therapy for myeloma, the change in the diagnostic criteria for multiple myeloma to include early diagnosis, the developmentof the International Staging System and minimal residual disease detection techniques, the establishment of centralised diagnostic and monitoring units, the creation of several cooperative groups and networks at national and international level", underlining "his submissionand dedication to patients and society."

Although there is still no effective treatment for multiple myeloma, the researchhas come a long way in recent years with the introduction of new therapies. In 2021, the results of an international study, also led by Dr San Miguel, were released, showing encouraging results with a new CAR T therapy for patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

One of the world's most cited researchers

The proposalat awardNacional de researchpointed out that Dr. San Miguel is the Spanish clinician with the highest impact index H (116), an index that measures the impact of a scientist's publications -more than 950 in his case- of agreementwith the citations they generate -almost 63,000-. He also appears on Clarivate's 'Highly Cited Researches 2021' list, which includes him among the 6,600 most cited scientists in the world.

Dr. San Miguel, in addition to the medical direction of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, is the scientific director of the Cima University of Navarra and is Full Professor of the School of Medicine, of which he is also Associate Dean. Previously, he was head of the Hematology and Hemotherapy Service of the University Hospital of Salamanca and scientific director of high school Biosanitario de Salamanca.