Queen Mary scientist awarded ‘Lombard Nobel’
Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, Queen Mary University of London’s Vice Principal for Health, has been awarded the Lombardy Research Prize 2025.
This year’s €1 million prize was jointly awarded to Professors Caulfield and Douglas F. Easton for their pioneering genomic medicine research that is transforming disease prevention and diagnosis.
The international award, established in the Lombardy Region, honours Professor Caulfield and Easton for their "fundamental research, which led to the identification of genes associated with increased susceptibility to various diseases, in particular cancers and cardiovascular diseases” The award also noted the significant impact their work has had on early diagnosis, prevention and precision medicine.
Professor Caulfield’s work has led to exceptional progress in uncovering genes linked to cardiovascular disease, helping to transform the understanding of genetic risk and how it can be used to guide treatment and prevention.
He was instrumental in creating and leading the landmark 100,000 Genomics Project, which sequenced the entire genomes of over 90,000 participants. The project uncovered more than 2,000 gene regions influencing blood pressure and cardiovascular health – findings that have already influenced international clinical guidelines for preventing hypertension and heart attack.
Beyond his research work, Professor Caulfield has championed the democratisation of genomic data, creating a secure data centre the enables over 3,400 researchers from 33 countries to access genomic datasets. His leadership has been pivotal in integrating genomic analysis into the NHS, making the UK the first country in the world to offer free genomic testing as part of routine healthcare.
Professor Caulfield said: “It is an immense honour to receive the highly prestigious Lombardy Prize recognising the scientific leadership of the UK's 100,000 Genomes Project and the discovery of more than 2,000 genes for blood pressure. Together with colleagues in the NHS, we created the first National Genomic Medicine Service offering equitable access to genomic testing across 56 million people in England.
“The Lombardy Prize will enable me to continue my quest to transform healthcare through a new partnership led by Queen Mary University of London, with our Italian colleagues in Humanitas University and the Human Technopole,” he added.