The Princess of Asturias Foundation announced that David Klenerman, Shankar Balasubramanian and Pascal Mayer will receive this year’s Research and Technology award for their role in developing next‑generation DNA sequencing. Commercialised via Solexa (later acquired by Illumina) and aided by Mayer’s DNA surface amplification method, their work cut genome sequencing time from months to a single day and reduced costs to under $1,000. The prizes include €50,000 and a Joan Miró sculpture, and are presented each October in Oviedo.
Three Geneticists Awarded Spain’s Princess of Asturias Prize for Revolutionising DNA Sequencing
FILE PHOTO - Spanish King Felipe VI speaks during the 43rd edition of the Princess of Asturias Awards 2023' Ceremony, at the Campoamor Theater. (zu dpa: «Three genetic researchers to be honoured with Spain's Asturias Award») Jorge Peteiro/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
The Princess of Asturias Foundation has named genetic researchers David Klenerman, Shankar Balasubramanian and Pascal Mayer as this year’s recipients of the Princess of Asturias Award in Research and Technology.
Transforming DNA sequencing
The foundation said the trio’s pioneering work at the end of the 20th century laid the foundation for next‑generation DNA sequencing, turning a process that was once slow and prohibitively expensive into a fast, accessible tool for researchers and clinicians worldwide.
From lab innovation to commercial impact
Balasubramanian and Klenerman helped commercialise next‑generation sequencing through the biotechnology company Solexa, whose technology was later acquired and developed further by Illumina. Pascal Mayer contributed a key DNA surface amplification method that was central to making high-throughput sequencing practical and scalable.
Why it matters
Before these advances, sequencing a complete human genome could take many months and cost millions of dollars. Today, sequencing can be completed within a day and—for many applications—costs under $1,000, representing an improvement of orders of magnitude in both speed and affordability. The innovation has accelerated research across genetics, medicine, public health and biotechnology.
“Their contributions helped transform genomics from an experimental discipline into an everyday tool for science and medicine,” the foundation said.
About the awards
The Princess of Asturias Awards are widely regarded as Spain’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Named for Princess Leonor, the prizes are awarded annually across eight categories and carry an endowment of €50,000, plus a Joan Miró sculpture. The winners are traditionally presented with their awards in Oviedo at the end of October by Princess Leonor and King Felipe VI.
Details: David Klenerman (UK), Shankar Balasubramanian (India/UK) and Pascal Mayer (France) — recognised for breakthroughs in next‑generation DNA sequencing and the technologies that enabled rapid, cost‑effective genome analysis.
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