Laura M. Lechuga Gómez
New Technologies 2020(Seville, 1962) PhD in Chemical Sciences. CSIC Research Professor at the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and at CIBER-BBN.
Founder of the Biosensors group, which has become a world leader in the development of highly sensitive photonic biosensors, manufactured using in-house technology. Owing to the multidisciplinary nature of the subject matter, she established a highly interdisciplinary group, comprising specialists in physics, chemistry, engineering, microelectronics and biotechnology, whilst also forging collaborations with industry and the clinical-hospital sector to ensure the practical application of the technologies developed. Over the years, her group has established itself as a centre of excellence that is now a benchmark on the international stage and ranks amongst the elite of researchers in its field.
She has devoted considerable effort to training research staff as a crucial step towards consolidating high-quality research that contributes to society. Of the numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who have worked in her laboratory, many have gone on to pursue successful academic or industrial careers.
Dr Lechuga is the author of 270 publications, with an h-index of 49 and 8,646 citations (Google Scholar); one of the key aspects of her scientific career is her commitment to translational research, with significant and successful work in technology transfer, including the management of eight patent families and the creation of two spin-off companies: SENSIA, SL (2004) and BIOD, SL (2010).
The jury for the Rei Jaume I New Technologies Prize, meeting in Valencia, has unanimously decided to award the 2020 prize to Ms Laura Lechuga Gómez.
This is in recognition of her significant contributions to the design and development of new biosensors that are essential for early and rapid clinical diagnosis. Her outstanding and innovative research into nanoplasmics and silicon photonics has resulted in ultra-sensitive, label-free detection. Through the use of microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip integration, she has enabled real-world point-of-care devices.
Her achievements have numerous bioanalytical applications and have led to the creation of spin-off companies that are making an impact on our society and its economy. The ability to apply his innovative diagnostic tools has recently presented a challenge in the programme he is developing for the detection of COVID-19. His clever combination of basic science with real-life applications and effective technology transfer justifies this award.
