Mary-Claire King 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research

At its meeting in Oviedo, the Jury for the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research, made up of Jesús del Álamo, Alberto Aparici Benages, Juan Luis Arsuaga Ferreras, Avelino Corma Canós, Elena García Armada, Bernardo Hernández González, Rosa María Menéndez López, Amador Menéndez Velázquez, Concepción Alicia Monje Micharet, Ginés Morata Pérez, Erika Pastrana Izquierdo, Noemí Pinilla Alonso, Lluis Quintana Murci, Peregrina Quintela Estévez, María Teresa Telleria Jorge, María Vallet Regí, chaired by Pedro Miguel Echenique Landiríbar and with Manuel Toharia Cortés acting as secretary, has unanimously decided to grant the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific and Research to American geneticist Mary-Claire King.

Dr Mary-Claire King has made ground-breaking contributions to the application of genetics to the study and prevention of cancer, interspecies similarity and the defence of human rights.

Dr King’s studies have managed to establish for the first time the close relationship between a specific gene and the risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer, thereby helping to save millions of lives. Through her research, she has discovered the surprising genetic similarity between humans and chimpanzees and developed a scientifically and legally rigorous methodology that has enabled missing persons to be reunited with their families.

Oviedo, 12th June 2025