On Friday, February 28, the Plenary of the Barcelona City Council unanimously decided to award the 2025 Gold Medal for Scientific Merit to Josep Tabernero Caturla, an internationally renowned Catalan physician and researcher specializing in medical oncology.
The award recognizes his pioneering contributions to medical oncology and precision cancer medicine, including the discovery of new mechanisms involved in tumor development and the design of more precise and effective targeted therapies. It also highlights his role in making Barcelona a global reference in oncology, thanks to his dedication as Director of the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO).
Jordi Valls, the Fourth Deputy Mayor for Economy, Finance, Economic Promotion, and Tourism, emphasized that Tabernero “has been a pioneer in the field of medical oncology, positioning Barcelona as a reference city in this field.” Valls also highlighted “his significant contribution to connecting science, healthcare, and education, as he has enhanced the prestige of the country’s healthcare system, advanced economic diversification in science, and placed research at the forefront, all while demonstrating exceptional pedagogical skills.”
Barcelona’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, joined in the unanimous recognition from the Plenary, stating that Tabernero embodies the values that inspire the people of Barcelona: “excellence, commitment, social purpose, and a lasting legacy for the city.” Collboni also praised his role as Chair of the Internal Scientific Committee of the new CaixaResearch Institute, one of the most important emerging research centers in Barcelona.
Global Recognition for Scientific and Institutional Leadership
Josep Tabernero Caturla is a world-renowned Barcelona-based oncologist, recognized for his contributions to developing new treatments for colorectal cancer based on the tumor’s molecular characteristics. He is a pioneer in advancing precision medicine in oncology.
Currently, he serves as:
- Head of the Medical Oncology Department at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
- Director of the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
- Professor of Medicine at the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC)
His research focuses on discovering new mechanisms involved in tumor development and designing more effective molecular-targeted therapies for colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers. One of his key discoveries demonstrated that the BRAFV600 mutation, a major mutation linked to colorectal cancer resistance, is also present in other tumors beyond melanomas and responds to treatment with a triple-drug combination. This breakthrough has been crucial for patients who previously had a survival rate of only six months.
Dr. Tabernero is also the co-author of more than 700 peer-reviewed articles, with an H-index of 129, and serves on the editorial boards of top-tier journals, including Cancer Discovery, Clinical Cancer Research, and Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology.
His contributions extend beyond research:
- Former President of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (2018-2019)
- Member of the Cancer Mission Assembly of Horizon Europe
- Active member of leading cancer research organizations, such as the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
- President of Cancer Core Europe (since October 2023)
- Board Member of the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI)
Among his many accolades, he received the 2019 National Research Award of Catalonia for his outstanding contributions to cancer medicine.
This award further cements Barcelona’s recognition of scientific excellence and medical innovation, honoring a figure who has significantly advanced cancer research and treatment both locally and globally.