PRESS RELEASE
Presentation of the 6th ACES-Margarita Salas Award
Researcher Carola García de Vinuesa receives the 2026 ACES-Margarita Salas Award in Stockholm for her breakthroughs in combating autoimmune diseases:
“This recognition reflects the support, collaboration, and hard work of many people over the years."
• The immunologist—Deputy Director of Research and Principal Investigator at the Francis Crick Institute in London, and a Fellow of the Royal Society—received the award in the Biomedical Sciences category this Friday, September 18, at a ceremony held at the Spanish Embassy Residence in the Swedish capital.
• “Awards like this are important not only for recognizing a career path but also for conveying to young people that science matters and is worth pursuing," the awardee noted upon accepting the prize at the Spanish Embassy in Stockholm.
• The jury for these awards—organized by the Association of Spanish Scientists in Sweden (ACES) and sponsored by the Margarita Salas Foundation, the Ramón Areces Foundation, and the Spanish Embassy in Sweden—recognized “her ability to bridge basic research with clinical applications capable of transforming care for patients with autoimmune diseases."
Stockholm, September 18, 2026.— Professor Carola García de Vinuesa—an internationally renowned immunologist, Fellow of the Royal Society, and Deputy Director of Research and Principal Investigator at the Francis Crick Institute in London (UK)—received the 6th ACES-Margarita Salas Award in the Biomedical Sciences category this Friday, September 18, in Stockholm, Sweden. These awards were established in 2021 by the Association of Spanish Scientists in Sweden (ACES) and are supported by the Margarita Salas Foundation, the Ramón Areces Foundation, and the Spanish Embassy in Sweden. Its objective is to recognize the scientific contribution of Spanish researchers with recognized international impact.
The award ceremony—featuring a prize of €10,000, a diploma, and an artistic emblem for each of the three categories, which are presented on an annual, rotating basis—was presided over by Eva Ortega-Paíno, Secretary General for Research at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. It took place at the Spanish Embassy in Sweden, which subsequently hosted a gala dinner attended by officials and guests from the scientific communities of both countries. Earlier that afternoon, the Nobel Forum at the Karolinska Institute hosted a scientific mini-symposium in the laureate's honor; focused on the cellular and genetic mechanisms regulating immune responses, the event featured prominent immunology researchers from the Swedish scientific community.
"I feel deeply grateful and honored. Receiving this recognition from my country—and one bearing the name of Margarita Salas—makes it especially moving for me," the laureate remarked upon accepting the award from the Secretary General for Research. "Devoting myself to science has brought me immense satisfaction: the opportunity to make discoveries, to work with extraordinary people from around the world, and, at times, to see how a discovery can ultimately have a real impact on people's lives," she noted. “Awards like this are important, not only for recognizing a career trajectory but also for conveying to young people that science matters and is worth pursuing." In her view, Spain possesses extraordinary scientists—both at home and abroad—and she argued that 'it is wonderful to recognize those of us who have built our careers overseas, and to create the conditions for new generations of Spanish scientists to reach their full potential.'
“'I have been fortunate enough to witness, from day one, how the ACES–Margarita Salas Awards have established themselves as a mark of excellence in our science and, at the same time, as a magnificent demonstration of Spanish scientific talent's ability to transcend borders and help tackle some of society's greatest challenges,' noted Eva Ortega Paíno, Secretary General for Research, who explained that the fact this award bears Margarita Salas's name 'is no coincidence.'"
“This award reminds us of the importance of having role models capable of blazing trails and inspiring future generations. Carola García de Vinuesa embodies these values in an extraordinary way; her brilliant international career and pioneering contributions to our understanding of the immune system have transformed our grasp of autoimmune diseases and are opening up new possibilities for their diagnosis and treatment," stated Eva Ortega. She emphasized that recognizing scientists of the caliber of this year's laureate “is also a way of championing Spanish science that is excellent, international, and committed to improving people's lives. Carola is a magnificent ambassador for that science and a more than deserving winner of the 2026 ACES–Margarita Salas Award," she added.
“These awards represent the best of science: excellence, cooperation, and the conviction that knowledge only achieves its true value when shared," noted Lucía Viñuela, President of the Margarita Salas Foundation. She described the awards as “a magnificent example of collaboration between public authorities, private foundations, and the scientific community." “When all these institutions work with a shared vision, talent finds the support it needs, and knowledge multiplies its impact on society. This is, perhaps, the greatest strength of these awards," Lucía Viñuela pointed out.
For his part, Raimundo Pérez-Hernández, Director General of the Ramón Areces Foundation, emphasized that scientific and institutional collaboration are “necessary conditions for positioning and maintaining Spanish science at the international forefront." “At the Ramón Areces Foundation, we are keenly aware of the quality and exceptional caliber of our scientists abroad, and we maintain close ties with associations like ACES to raise the profile of, highlight the value of, and promote their work. Undoubtedly, the ACES-Margarita Salas Awards contribute to this goal, which is why they have enjoyed our full support since their inception six years ago," he noted.
Echoing this sentiment, Francisco Vilaplana—organizer of the ACES–Margarita Salas Awards (KTH, Stockholm) and a member of the ACES Board of Directors—highlighted that the sixth edition of the awards “confirms the consolidation of an initiative that gives international visibility to research conducted by Spanish scientists and strengthens scientific ties between Spain and Sweden." “It is a source of great pride for ACES to recognize the career of Carola García de Vinuesa this year; she is a world-class scientist whose excellence and social impact fully embody the values of these awards," Vilaplana remarked.
Ambassador of Spain in Sweden, Luis Manuel Cuesta Civís, noted that science diplomacy is, indeed, “a strategic lever in a global landscape that demands new alliances in research and innovation." “Biomedical science—the field to which Professor García de Vinuesa's research contributes so significantly—offers us a unique opportunity to drive prosperity and ensure healthier, more effective treatments," the Ambassador of Spain remarked.
Finally, Santiago Sierra, Deputy Director General for Cultural and Scientific Relations and Cultural Promotion, highlighted that “there is also a particularly meaningful connection between today's ceremony and the legacy of Margarita Salas, a scientist with an outstanding international outlook. This is why it is so appropriate that her name is attached to an award that celebrates Spanish scientific excellence abroad."
SCIENCE AND DIPLOMACY EVENTS IN STOCKHOLM
The presentation of this award marked the conclusion of a two-day program organized for the 6th edition of the ACES Margarita Salas Award. On the afternoon prior to the ceremony, the Spanish delegation and representatives of the Swedish scientific community took part in an event where the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)—represented by its Vice President for Organization and Institutional Relations, Carlos Closa—donated a collection regarding Santiago Ramón y Cajal to the Nobel Museum in Stockholm.
The visit to Stockholm concluded on Saturday, September 19, with a working meeting between the Association of Spanish Scientists in Sweden (ACES) and the Secretary General for Research, Eva Ortega Paíno.
With this recognition, García de Vinuesa joins the list of laureates from the five previous editions of these awards, which includes professors Mercedes Maroto-Valer (2021, Physics, Mathematics, and Engineering category) and Ana Fernández-Sesma (2023, Biomedical Sciences category), Beatriz Roldán Cuenya (2024, Physics, Mathematics, and Engineering category), and professors Francisco Mojica (2022, Chemical and Environmental Sciences category) and Sergio M. Vicente-Serrano (2025, Chemical and Environmental Sciences category).