The Government of Navarra has awarded the Cross of Carlos III the Noble to María José Calasanz, scientific co-director of Cima Lab Diagnostics at the University of Navarra. Professor of Genetics and lecturer at the academic centre, she is considered one of the most relevant national and international authorities in the genetic diagnosis of cancer, with a special focus on leukaemias. 

The Executive has awarded the award to Mª José Calasanz Abínzano, "for having always been involved in extending her activity to the entire population of Navarre, both through the training of specialists and student body, as well as partnership in the diagnosis of leukaemia with the Haematology, Oncology and Anatomy Pathology services of the Navarra Hospital Complex".

Dr. María José Calasanz (Tafalla, Navarra, 1959) studied Biology at the University of Navarra and also received her PhD from the same university in 1988. At Cima Lab Diagnostics, laboratory , which she co-directs, she has already performed more than 80,000 genetic analyses requested by hospitals and health centres. They currently receive more than 10,000 patient samples a year from all over Spain and other countries to carry out genetic diagnoses of leukaemia, lymphomas and other genetic diseases with the most advanced, precise and efficient technologies. 

This laboratory of the University of Navarra is a national centre of reference letter in haematological neoplasms and provides technical support to the groups of research national and Thematic Cancer Networks (RTICC). The availability of this laboratory in Navarra allows patients with cancer and leukaemia to have a rapid and accurate diagnosis that facilitates the success of their treatment and cure.

Professor María José Calasanz has taught Biostatistics, design Experimental, Genetics and Cytogenetics for more than 30 years to biologists, biochemists and physicians. He has directed more than a dozen doctoral thesis , has published more than 200 articles in international journals and has been invited to give more than 250 scientific conferences all over the world. issue He has four six-year periods of research and belongs to a large number of national and international Scientific Societies and Expert Commissions.

Distinction created in 1997

Together with the professor, the Government of Navarre has decorated four other people and organisations. They are the association Española contra el Cáncer-Delegación de Navarra (AECC Navarra), the philosopher and professor Gregorio Luri Medrano; the industrial engineer and entrepreneur, Ana Mª Monreal Vidal; and the philologist and professor Patxi Salaberri Zaratiegi. 

The Cross of Carlos III the Noble was created in 1997 to give public recognition to individuals and entities that have made an outstanding contribution to the progress of Navarrese society or to the projection of the Community abroad.