Silvia de Sanjosé, Distinguished with the Jaume I Award 2025 for Clinical and Public Health Research

Silvia de Sanjosé, an epidemiologist specializing in Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and related cancers, has been awarded the Jaume I Prize in the category of Clinical Research and Public Health.

With a career spanning 35 years, the ISGlobal researcher is also an associate professor at the University of Washington and a primary care physician. In 1992, she was among the first scientists to highlight the link between HPV and cervical cancer, a discovery that would define the direction of her research.

Since then, her work has focused on HPV, participating in international studies on HPV genotyping and helping to develop HPV-based cervical cancer screening guidelines in both Spain and Catalonia.

Silvia de Sanjosé pioneering work in LMICs is creating accessible and life-saving solutions, improving health outcomes for countless individuals in vulnerable populations. Her pursuit of innovation continues in her current role as one of the leaders of the foremost international research program PAVE focused on the identification, screening, and treatment of cervical cancer. By leveraging advanced, affordable technologies—including AI-driven solutions and portable diagnostic tools—she is revolutionizing the landscape of cervical cancer prevention.

Silvia de Sanjosé’s leadership extends beyond research; she has also served as the President of the main international scientific association dedicated to HPV research (IPVS).

“Ninety percent of HPV cases are preventable,” says de Sanjosé. “To eliminate cervical cancer, it is crucial to promote HPV vaccination among young people, and Spain has become a leading example in this field,” she adds.

In the previous edition, all awardees were men; however, this year, four of the seven prizes have been awarded to women researchers, marking progress toward greater gender representation in science. With this recognition, Silvia de Sanjosé becomes the second ISGlobal researcher to receive this prestigious award. In 2024, during the first edition of the Public Health Research category, ISGlobal epidemiologist Jordi Sunyer was the recipient.