“The Lifetime Achievement Award in Basic Research pays tribute to researchers whose career in basic research in oncology, viral diseases, and inflammatory conditions has laid the groundwork for future clinical advances, demonstrating that every major achievement in medicine begins with a fundamental idea.”

Adolfo García-Sastre is deserving of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Basic Research for his exceptional career in the field of virology and immunology, standing out for his innovations in vaccine development and his crucial contribution to the understanding and combat of viral pathogens such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and other viruses of importance in human health.

With a Doctorate in Biology from the University of Salamanca, he is a prominent researcher in virology and immunology. He began his postdoctoral studies in 1991 at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, where he developed pioneering genetic engineering techniques for flu vaccines. Currently, he is a Professor in various departments at Mount Sinai and Director of the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute. For over 16 years, he has led a flu research center funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

García-Sastre has published more than 700 scientific articles, significantly contributing to the knowledge of viruses such as influenza, Ebola, dengue, zika, SARS-CoV-2, and HIV. His discoveries have been key to the development of new antivirals and vaccines. He has held important positions such as President of the International Society for Vaccines and editor of prestigious scientific journals. In 2017, he was elected a member of the Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Spain, and in 2019, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Burgos and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Inventors of the USA. His research has led to the development of attenuated flu virus vaccines and has made significant advances in the fight against COVID-19, contributing to the development of vaccines in various phases of testing worldwide.