Dr. Alberto Bartolomé, Científico Titular del CSIC at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale (IIBM, CSIC-UAM, has been awarded the 2026 José Antonio Hedo Prize by the Fundación de la Sociedad Española de Diabetes (FSED) during the XXXVII National Congress of the FSED, held in Seville. The award ceremony took place during the congress, where Dr. Bartolomé delivered a lecture reviewing his scientific career and the main research lines of his group.
This prize recognizes the scientific career of young researchers in basic diabetes research and is one of the most prestigious distinctions in this field at the national level. In this edition, Dr. Bartolomé’s contributions to the study of pancreatic beta-cell biology and its role in diabetes have been highlighted.
“It is an honor to receive recognition from the scientific community in which I have grown since my early days as a researcher,” says Dr. Bartolomé. “This award also provides motivation to continue advancing our understanding of the mechanisms that determine beta-cell function in diabetes.”
Dr. Bartolomé’s research focuses on understanding how beta-cell mass and function are regulated under both physiological and pathological conditions, as well as unraveling the mechanisms by which genetic variants—both common and rare—contribute to disease development. Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions in areas such as mTOR signaling, autophagy, and the Notch pathway, identifying key mechanisms involved in beta-cell adaptation and dysfunction.
After completing his training at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, complemented by research at Kobe University (Japan), he obtained his PhD and later developed his career for eight years at Columbia University (New York), where he led research lines in beta-cell biology. In 2022, he returned to Spain through the Comunidad de Madrid Talent Attraction Program, joining the IIBM, where he leads the “Beta cell mass and pancreatic islet development” research group.
Currently, his laboratory integrates human genetics, pluripotent stem cells, genome editing, and experimental models to study beta-cell development and vulnerability, with the aim of advancing toward a more precise understanding of diabetes heterogeneity. He is the author of more than 30 scientific articles in leading international journals such as Diabetes and The Journal of Clinical Investigation, and serves as principal investigator on several research projects in the field of diabetes.
“Understanding how genetics influences development and may determine the number of functional beta cells is key to moving toward more precise medicine in diabetes,” the researcher adds.
Dr. Bartolomé’s career fully aligns with the scientific tradition of the Institute, which builds on the legacy of Alberto Sols, a pioneer of metabolism research in Spain, and Gabriela Morreale, a key figure in the development of endocrinology in our country. His incorporation has helped strengthen the center’s diabetes research lines and its national and international projection.
In addition to his research activity, Dr. Bartolomé actively participates in scientific networks such as the Sociedad Española de Diabetes, CIBERDEM, and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), contributing to the advancement of diabetes research in Spain.