FAQS
The Abarca Prize
The Abarca Prize
What does Abarca Prize
recognise exactly?
Abarca Prize recognises the work of a scientist of international renown who has made a biomedical discovery of global significance, and whose professional career has contributed in a transcendental manner to the improvement of people’s health. All this must have been done in accordance with the humanistic and professional values that Dr Juan Abarca has upheld throughout his personal and professional life: values dedicated to furthering the health and well-being of his patients.
What does the prize consist of?
It consists of a cash prize of €100,000 and a certificate for the winner.
How can I submit my application?
Nominations have been made by third parties, that is, persons or entities other than the person being nominated.
Who can nominate someonefor the Abarca Prize?
Companies, foundations, researchers, universities, hospitals, professional associations, scientific societies and royal academies can nominate a scientist who has made a transcendental biomedical discovery that has improved people’s health worldwide.
Do the submissions need to be in a certain language?
All documentation regarding nominations must be submitted in Spanish or English.
Who selects the winner?
The winner will be chosen by a jury whose members have been appointed by Fundación de Investigación HM Hospitales and who come from a range of professional profiles (scientific, clinical and other fields) and nationalities. The jury will ensure that the recipient has made a significant global scientific contribution to human health.
When will the winner ofthe Abarca Prize be announced?
The winner will be announced on 25 October.
When will the prize-givingceremony take place?
It will be held at the end of October in Madrid, Spain.
In what format will the prize-giving ceremony be held?
In order to ensure the safety of all attendees, the format will be adapted to the health measures and restrictions in place in October.
What does the nomination process involve?
The period for the first stage of the nomination process has been open from 1 April 2022 until 2 pm (CET) on 31 May 2022. Individuals or entities have submitted a nomination by sending a letter of intent explaining the reasons why the person nominated qualifies for the prize and embodies its values.
Once the deadline for submissions has passed, Fundación de Investigación HM Hospitales will assess whether those received meet the prize’s terms and conditions as well as the suitability of those nominated. Fundación de Investigación HM Hospitales will then submit a shortlist of up to five nominees for final selection by the jury.
Once the deadline for submissions has passed, Fundación de Investigación HM Hospitales will assess whether those received meet the prize’s terms and conditions as well as the suitability of those nominated. Fundación de Investigación HM Hospitales will then submit a shortlist of up to five nominees for final selection by the jury.
How will I know if the person I nominated is among the five finalists?
If your nomination has reached the second stage of the process and will be submitted to the jury, Abarca Prize’s technical secretary’s office will contact you to request that you send any further documentation that attests to the nominee’s aptness for the prize.
Who evaluatesthe nominations?
In the first stage, Fundación de Investigación HM Hospitales handles their evaluation and selects up to five individuals who have contributed to improving people’s health in a transcendental manner. In the second stage these names are sent to the jury so that they can select the winner based on their criteria and expertise.
Is it possible to nominatesomeone posthumously?
No, it is not possible to nominate someone posthumously. This is one of the basic requirements set out in the prize’s terms and conditions.
If a group of researchers is responsible for a particularly important discovery, can the whole group be nominated for Abarca Prize?
No, Abarca Prize rewards the work of an individual scientist of international renown whose biomedical discovery is of worldwide significance and whose professional career has contributed in a transcendental manner to improving people’s health.
Can someone who is not currently practicing medicine apply?
Yes, because the prize will recognise those works or activities carried out prior to the call-in question.