Antonio Bayes De Luna
Clinical Medicine 2003Professor of Cardiology. Director of the Catalan Institute of Cardiology.
He graduated from the University of Barcelona with a First Class Honours degree and continued his training at the University of Barcelona and Hammersmith Hospital in London. He has worked at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona since 1970 and has been a Professor there since 1990.
He has made significant contributions to the dissemination of cardiological information in Spain and worldwide, collaborating with leading researchers across Europe, North America and Latin America. President of the Spanish Society of Cardiology from 1984 to 1985, he was also President of the World Heart Federation from 1995 to 2000 and has coordinated international efforts in the fields of heart health, education and patient advocacy.
Jury rulingThe jury for the Rei Jaume I Prizes for Clinical Medicine, meeting in Alicante, has unanimously decided to award the 2003 prize to Mr Antonio Bayes De Luna.
For having driven the development of the Catalan Institute of Cardiology to its current high standard. His work in cardiac electrophysiology is internationally recognised, as is his research into cardiac arrhythmias. This includes a risk assessment system and the recent establishment of a network of nine Spanish hospitals to study the clinical, pathological and epidemiological characteristics of sudden cardiac death.
His work on cardiac regeneration following heart transplantation has also been highly significant, including the discovery of stem cells exhibiting characteristics of both the host and the donor. This work offers new insights into our understanding of adult stem cells and their potential role in organ regeneration and transplantation.
