2025 Edition
Professor
Hans Clevers
The award winner is Professor of Molecular Genetics at Utrecht University, founder of the Institute for Human Biology (IHB) and former Head of Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED) at Roche, and member of its Management Committee.
He has also been distinguished as a group leader at the Hubrecht Institute (KNAW) in Utrecht and at the Princess Máxima Centre for Paediatric Oncology, also in Utrecht.
Clevers is recognized worldwide as the pioneer of organoids, a technology that allows human organs to be modeled and specific diseases to be recreated, thus laying the foundations for personalized medicine. His research on intestinal stem cells opened the door to the creation of three-dimensional structures capable of reproducing the organization and functions of multiple human tissues and organs, marking a turning point in personalized medicine.
His success in the direct application for the treatment of monogenic diseases demonstrates the potential of this technology not only in genetic diseases but also as a model for the development of personalized medicine in multiple pathologies. In fact, cancer is also an important target. By culturing organoids from tumor samples, researchers can create mini-tumors and use them to study how cancer develops or to test drugs.
Jury Decision
The jury of the fifth edition of the ABARCA PRIZE has awarded the prize to Prof. Hans Clevers for his pioneering research and development of organoid technology, considered one of the most promising tools in contemporary biomedicine. This innovation allows basic research to be transferred to clinical practice, generating accurate models of human organs and facilitating treatments tailored to the needs of each patient.
Organoid technology, comparable in historical relevance within contemporary biomedicine to the development of vaccines, antibiotics, or the discovery of the DNA double helix, has transformed personalized medicine and biomedical research. Its application makes it possible to predict patients’ responses to different therapies before administering them, optimizing the effectiveness of treatments and reducing risks.
Hans Clevers, a physician and geneticist by training, focused his studies on understanding the mechanisms of self-renewal in the intestinal epithelium. In 2007, his group identified the Lgr5 marker, which enabled them to isolate and cultivate intestinal stem cells in laboratory conditions. Two years later, his team created the first human intestinal organoids, which reproduce the structure and functions of the actual organ in a stable and lasting manner. Thanks to these advances, organoid technology has been extended to other organs such as the liver, stomach, brain, and kidney, forming a fundamental pillar for personalized medicine.
The winner of the 2025 ABARCA PRIZE obtained his doctorate in medicine from Utrecht University and has received numerous international scientific awards, including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. He is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, the US National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society (UK) and the French Academy of Sciences, as well as a Knight of the Legion of Honour and a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion, among many other international awards.