Dr. José Manuel Fernández-Real, endocrinology and nutrition researcher at the Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI) and CIBEROBN, Dean and Professor at the University of Girona, and Head of the Endocrinology and Nutrition Section at Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital, has been awarded the Instituto Danone Scientific Career Award – Dr. Carles Martí Henneberg in its 31st edition.
The award ceremony took place during the CIBEROBN conference, "Advances in Cancer and Obesity Research," where Dr. Fernández-Real delivered the lecture "Chronic Inflammation and Metabolism: A Journey from Adipose Tissue to the Brain, with a Stop at the Microbiota." In his talk, he explained how, more than 30 years ago, he began studying the relationship between glucose and ferritin, demonstrating that this protein is also a key marker in metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
"Three decades of research have allowed us to move toward a better understanding of metabolic inflammatory processes. We now know that the type of bacteria populating our digestive system—the microbiota—plays a decisive role in these processes and also impacts iron metabolism, being a predisposing factor for developing chronic metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes or obesity," explains Dr. Fernández-Real.
According to Dr. Fernández-Real, diet is one of the main factors influencing the composition of gut microbiota, making its study in patients with obesity essential for a better understanding of inflammatory processes.
The researcher expressed his gratitude for this recognition and highlighted the support he has received throughout his career.
Sobre el Dr. Fernández-Real
Currently, Dr. José Manuel Fernández-Real leads the Nutrition, Eumetabolism, and Health research group (IDIBGI – CIBEROBN) and dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Girona (UdG). His main research lines also include the study of adipose tissue biology, the role of microRNAs in metabolic processes, the relationship between gut microbiota and the brain, and the effects of iron on cognition. He is the scientific director of FatBank, the first Spanish biobank specialized in adipose tissue.
A pioneer in the study of insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes as chronic inflammatory conditions, he has published over 550 scientific articles. His research has revealed the relationship between iron metabolism and metabolic disease, as well as the impact of gut microbiota on behavior regulation and mental health.
Throughout his career, he has led multiple research projects funded at both national and international levels and is a member of the CIBEROBN steering committee. With an h-index of 107 on Google Scholar and over 45,000 citations, he is among the 40 most cited authors in the world in endocrinology. His impact in the field has placed him among the top 1% of the most influential scientists globally, according to Stanford University.
About the Instituto Danone Scientific Career Award
The "Dr. Carles Martí Henneberg" Scientific Career Award recognizes researchers who have excelled in their contributions to fields such as healthy eating, healthy aging, and obesity prevention in disciplines such as clinical nutrition, metabolism, epidemiology, genetics, and molecular biology.
About IDIBGI
The Dr. Josep Trueta Biomedical Research Institute of Girona (IDIBGI) conducts translational research to improve people's health and care. IDIBGI is organized into 25 research groups distributed across five scientific areas (Cardiovascular and Respiratory, Metabolism and Inflammation, Neurosciences, Oncohematology, and Mental Health), bringing together more than 400 professionals, including healthcare professionals and basic researchers, in the Girona region.
IDIBGI is a public sector foundation under private law of the Government of Catalonia. Its board includes the Departments of Health and Research, the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS) Girona, the Institute of Health Assistance (IAS), the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) Girona, and the University of Girona (UdG). IDIBGI is a CERCA center (Research Centers of Catalonia).
Photo credits: Instituto Danone.
1. From left to right, Dr. José López Miranda (President of Instituto Danone), Dr. María Puy Portillo (Scientific Director of CIBEROBN), Dr. José Manuel Fernández-Real (recipient of the Instituto Danone Award), and Dr. Leocadio Rodríguez (mentor of the awardee and member of Instituto Danone). Credit: Instituto Danone.
2. Recipients of the Instituto Danone Award in different editions and members of Instituto Danone. From left to right: Dr. Ramón Estruch (2011), Dr. Rosa María Lamuela Raventós (2018), Dr. Jordi Salas-Salvadó (1997), Dr. Luis Moreno, Dr. Leocadio Rodríguez, Dr. María Puy Portillo, Dr. José Manuel Fernández-Real (current recipient), Dr. José López Miranda, Dr. Miguel Ángel Martínez (2020), and Dr. Andreu Palou (2019). Credit: Instituto Danone.
