British chemists David Klenerman and Shankar Balasubramanian shared Spain’s leading science prize on Wednesday with French biophysicist Pascal Mayer for pioneering DNA sequencing research that played a key role in the fight against Coronavirus.
The jury for the Princess of Asturias Awards in scientific and technical research praised the three scientists for ‘driving clinical diagnosis and research in biology, biomedicine, forensic medicine and ecology’.
‘The sequencing of a complete human genome once required months and millions of euros. Now it can be done in a day and in a way that is thousands of times more cost-effective,’ the official statement said.
Their advances also enabled the rapid sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic, helping speed up the development of vaccines worldwide.
Klenerman and Indian-born Balasubramanian co-founded biotechnology firm Solexa, now known as Illumina, which created what the foundation described as ‘a commercial method for genome sequencing that is rapid, cheap and efficient’.
Their work built on research by Mayer, whose studies into ‘the surface amplification of DNA’ helped develop laboratory techniques that allow DNA to be copied on solid surfaces, paving the way for large-scale sequencing.
Last year’s award in the same category went to US scientist Mary-Claire King for her groundbreaking use of genetics in cancer prevention, work credited with ‘saving millions of lives’.
Established in 1981, the Princess of Asturias Awards are regarded as the most prestigious honours in the Spanish-speaking world. The awards are named after Leonor, Princess of Asturias, heir to the Spanish throne.
Each prize includes €50,000 and a sculpture designed by celebrated Catalan artist Joan Miró.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are expected to present the awards during a ceremony in October in Oviedo, the capital of the northern region of Asturias.
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Declaraciones de Pascal Mayer tras la concesión del Premio Princesa de Asturias de Investigación Científica y Técnica 2026.#PremiosPrincesadeAsturias #InvestigaciónCientíficayTécnica #ADN pic.twitter.com/MhgspIDi8L
— Fundación Princesa de Asturias (@fpa) May 13, 2026
Declaraciones de David Klenerman tras la concesión del Premio Princesa de Asturias de Investigación Científica y Técnica 2026.#PremiosPrincesadeAsturias #InvestigaciónCientíficayTécnica #ADN pic.twitter.com/g4BkCn0RkU
— Fundación Princesa de Asturias (@fpa) May 13, 2026
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