David Klenerman, Shankar Balasubramanian and Pascal Mayer 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research

At its meeting in Oviedo, the Jury for the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research, made up of Arturo Álvarez-Buylla Roces, Alberto Aparici Benages, Juan Luis Arsuaga Ferreras, Mar Capeáns Garrido, Avelino Corma Canós, Elena García Armada, Bernardo Hernández González, Rosa Menéndez López, Amador Menéndez Velázquez, Concepción Alicia Monje Micharet, Ginés Morata Pérez, Érika Pastrana Izquierdo, Noemí Pinilla Alonso, Peregrina Quintela Estévez and María Vallet Regí, chaired by Pedro Miguel Echenique Landiríbar and with Manuel Toharia Cortés acting as secretary, has decided to grant the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research to British chemists David Klenerman and Shankar Balasubramanian and French biophysicist Pascal Mayer for having developed today’s most widely-used DNA sequencing technologies. These methods have enhanced clinical diagnosis and research in biology, ecology, biomedicine and forensic medicine.

Before the developments made by these three researchers, sequencing a complete human genome required months and millions of euros. Now it can be done in a day and in a way that is thousands of times cheaper. These technologies have led to a genetic tool for everyday use that has revolutionized personalized medicine.

Oviedo, 13th May 202