Dr. Eduard Batlle has been elected as EMBO member

The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) is an institution that gathers more than 2,000 leading scientists and promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. Dr. Eduard Batlle, coordinator of the Cancer Science Programme at IRB Barcelona has been elected to become an EMBO member. 

Dr. Batlle is an ICREA researcher, head of the Colorectal Cancer lab at IRB Barcelona, and group leader at the CIBER of Cancer (CIBERONC). The laboratory he leads has identified residual tumour cells hidden in the liver and lung, revealing how they evolve until the appearance of metastasis of colorectal cancer in these organs. His research in preclinical models has shown that early immunotherapy, performed before surgery, can eliminate these cells before they initiate metastasis, which could prevent relapses in colon cancer. These contributions are opening new avenues to develop treatments and diagnostic tools that slow progression and improve the prognosis of a disease that affects millions of people worldwide.

“Being elected as an EMBO member is a great honour and a testament to the collaborative efforts of my team and the continuous support from the scientific community,” Dr. Batlle expressed.

This year, on the occasion of its 60th anniversary, EMBO has exceptionally elected 120 scientists from Europe and other continents as members. The new EMBO Members and Associate Members have been recognised for accomplishments that cover the spectrum of life science research, including work that has advanced understanding of how infectious disease spreads, the intricacies of ocean nutrient cycles, the mysteries of cellular signalling networks, the secrets of how plants survive in desert environments, and the links between the biology of our brains and our emotions.

EMBO Director, Dr. Fiona Watt said: “The new EMBO Members and Associate Members have made immense contributions to fundamental life science research, and, in many cases, their work has paved the way for innovations that have improved lives and livelihoods around the world. As EMBO marks its 60th anniversary, we celebrate the pivotal roles played by the EMBO Membership in strengthening international life science research and contributing to the EMBO Programmes and activities. I send my warmest congratulations to all those elected.”

To celebrate EMBO's 60th anniversary, the EMBO Council invited the EMBO Membership to elect 100 new EMBO Members and 20 EMBO Associate Members this year. The newly elected Members and Associate Members reside in 37 countries/territories. The new EMBO Members are based in 24 Member States of the EMBC, the intergovernmental organization that funds the main EMBO Programmes and activities. The 20 new Associate Members reside in 13 different countries/territories, including EMBO’s global cooperation partners.

The first EMBO Members were elected in 1964. That initial group of 169 life scientists has now grown into a community of more than 2,100 EMBO Members and Associate Members. Ninety-two Nobel laureates are amongst those who have previously been elected to EMBO.
EMBO Members guide the execution of the EMBO Programmes and activities, for example by evaluating funding applications, serving on the EMBO Council and committees, and contributing to initiatives such as training, policy, outreach and mentorship. New members are nominated and elected by the existing EMBO Membership.

EMBO will formally welcome the new members at a meeting of the EMBO community between 29 October and 1 November 2024 in Heidelberg, Germany. An online directory listing all EMBO Members and Associate Members, their affiliations, and subject areas is available here.

EMBO members at IRB Barcelona

In addition to Dr. Eduard Batlle, Dr. Salvador Aznar Benitah, Dr. Ferran Azorín, Dr. Jordi Casanova, Dr. Miquel Coll, Dr. Toni Gabaldón, Dr. Cayetano González, Dr. Núria López-Bigas, Dr. Marco Milán, Dr. Raúl Méndez, Dr. Ángel R. Nebreda, and Dr. Francesc Posas also hold EMBO membership. These members are actively involved in the evaluation of EMBO funding applications, and they serve on the EMBO Council and on various other committees. Furthermore, Dr. Fran Supek was awarded the EMBO Young Investigator Grant in 2019.

Statistics

• 120 outstanding life scientists, comprising 100 EMBO Members and 20 EMBO Associate Members, have been elected to EMBO. 
• The new EMBO Members and Associate Members reside in 37 different countries/territories.
• 49 of the 120 new Members and Associate Members are women (41%) and 71 are men (59%).

Consult the full list of the newly elected Members and Associate Members of EMBO here.

About EMBO

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EMBO is an organization of more than 2,000 leading researchers that promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. The goals of the organization are to support talented researchers at all stages of their careers, stimulate the exchange of scientific information, and help build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work.

EMBO helps young scientists to advance their research, promote their international visibility and ensure their mobility. Courses, workshops, conferences, and scientific journals disseminate the latest research and offer training in techniques to maintain high standards of excellence in research practice. EMBO helps to shape science and research policy by seeking input and feedback from our community and by following closely the trends in science in Europe. For more information: www.embo.org