The purpose of the Research Awards is to highlight and promote the scientific activity conducted by healthcare professionals within the Quirónsalud Group.

For the seventh consecutive year, Quirónsalud is launching the call for applications for its Research Awards, which aim to recognize the excellence of the scientific work conducted by its professionals. These awards acknowledge publications in high-impact national and international scientific journals, the completion of doctoral theses whose results provide answers to current health issues and offer new tools that contribute to improved healthcare for our patients, as well as innovative projects that generate more effective and efficient solutions in resource management.

The doctoral thesis category is held in honor of Professor Julio Rodríguez Villanueva, a renowned and highly respected scientist in the fields of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology in Spain. Among other positions, he served as President of the Board of Trustees of the Fundación Jiménez Díaz, researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Director of the Royal National Academy of Pharmacy, and Rector of the University of Salamanca. His scientific career led him to publish over 300 academic papers in national and international journals, as well as more than a dozen books. This award will recognize, in his name, the best doctoral thesis as determined by the jury.

Categories

Applicants may submit their work in more than one category, but only one application per researcher per category is allowed. Each researcher may receive a maximum of one award in this call. The following six categories are included:

  • Quirónsalud Junior Researcher Award for the best paper published in 2024 in a national or international indexed journal. A €3,000 prize will be awarded. Eligible candidates must have a research career of less than 12 years, counted from the completion of their undergraduate studies.
  • Quirónsalud Senior Researcher Award for the best paper published in 2024 in a national or international indexed journal. A €3,500 prize will be awarded. Eligible candidates must have a research career of more than 12 years, counted from the completion of their undergraduate studies.
  • Professor Julio Rodríguez Villanueva Award for the best doctoral thesis defended in 2024. The award includes a €3,500 prize.
  • Technological Innovation Award, with a €3,000 prize. This category includes technology-driven initiatives led by Quirónsalud professionals that were primarily carried out in 2024 and whose results demonstrate the creation of value in terms of health, patient experience, and efficiency.
  • Healthcare Innovation Award, with a €3,000 prize. This category includes clinical initiatives led by Quirónsalud professionals that were primarily carried out in 2024 and whose results demonstrate the creation of value in terms of health, patient experience, and efficiency.
  • Innovation in Patient Experience Improvement Award, with a €3,000 prize. This category includes clinical initiatives led by Quirónsalud professionals that were primarily carried out in 2024 and whose results clearly demonstrate value creation in patient experience and/or safety.

Applicant Requirements


The call is open to all professionals working at any center belonging to the Quirónsalud Group, either under an employment or commercial contract, provided their clinical activity in the private sector is carried out exclusively for Quirónsalud.

For the Junior/Senior Researcher Awards, applicants must have published, as first or last author, a scientific paper accepted between January 1 and December 31, 2024, in a JCR-indexed journal, with affiliation to a Quirónsalud Group center. Eligible papers must be original articles affiliated in accordance with the Quirónsalud Publication Affiliation Policy. Editorials, review articles, letters to the editor, and case reports are not eligible—except in cases of exceptional impact and significance, which must be clearly justified in a written statement submitted along with the application. Original works that do not comply with the affiliation policy will not be considered. For questions about affiliation, contact: qs.investigacion@quironsalud.esThis link opens in a popup window or consult the information available on Quirónsalud’s research website.

For the Professor Julio Rodríguez Villanueva Award, applicants must have successfully defended their doctoral thesis between January 1 and December 31, 2024, and must have at least one publication derived from the thesis in which they are first or senior author, in a JCR-indexed journal and affiliated with a Quirónsalud Group center in accordance with the Publication Affiliation Policy.

For the Innovation categories, the projects must have been carried out during 2024 and must include an analysis demonstrating their contribution to creating value in patient experience and/or safety within the Quirónsalud Group. Projects that began before January 1, 2024, are eligible only if duly justified and if their results were obtained in 2024. Projects lacking clear outcomes and a concrete justification of the project timeline and its stages will be excluded from evaluation.

Submission Location and Deadline

Applications must be submitted using the form available on the Quirónsalud website, under the "Research and Innovation" section.

Applicants may submit their documents from January 20 to April 20, 2025 (both inclusive).

Submitting an application implies acceptance of these terms and conditions.

Required Documentation

The original work (publication, thesis, or applicable document) must be submitted in PDF format, along with the application form attached to this call, including the following information:

Junior/Senior Researcher Awards

  1. Title of the work
  2. Identification of the original publication
  3. Journal impact factor and ranking in its category
  4. Full names of all authors, in order of appearance
  5. Full name of the applicant
  6. Applicant’s ID number
  7. Applicant’s mailing address and contact information
  8. Date of completion of undergraduate studies in health sciences
  9. Quirónsalud hospital or center of affiliation
  10. Clinical specialty
  11. Identification of any external centers involved, if applicable
  12. Executive summary or abstract of the project related to the publication
  13. Public summary of the project (may be used for dissemination)
  14. Short Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Professor Julio Rodríguez Villanueva Award

  1. Title of the doctoral thesis
  2. Author’s full name
  3. Author’s ID number
  4. Author’s mailing address and contact information
  5. Quirónsalud hospital or center of affiliation
  6. Clinical specialty
  7. University
  8. Thesis director (name and affiliation)
  9. Grade awarded
  10. TESEO Database link
  11. International thesis: Yes/No
  12. Extraordinary award: Yes/No
  13. Links to scientific publications derived from the thesis
  14. Executive summary or abstract of the thesis project
  15. Public summary of the project (may be used for dissemination)
  16. Short Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  17. Description of research activity related to the thesis carried out at Quirónsalud centers

Technological/Healthcare/Patient Experience Innovation Awards

  1. Title of the project or initiative
  2. Full name of the applicant (project lead)
  3. Applicant’s ID number
  4. Applicant’s mailing address and contact information
  5. Quirónsalud hospital or center of affiliation
  6. Clinical specialty
  7. Quirónsalud research groups involved (group/service and center)
  8. Identification of any external centers involved, if applicable
  9. Executive summary or abstract of the project
  10. Public summary of the project (may be used for dissemination)
  11. Future outlook related to the project
  12. Short Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the applicant
  13. Specific location and timeline of the project and its phases
  14. Methodology used for analysis, results obtained, and description of the value created for the patient through project implementation

The publication, thesis, and any derivative publications (as applicable) must be submitted in the original language. The application form and supporting documents must be submitted in Spanish and/or English.

Evaluation and Resolution

A pre-evaluation will be conducted to eliminate applications that do not include all required documentation and information. The evaluation of the eligible applications will be carried out by a Jury composed of representatives from the Quirónsalud Group and external advisors of recognized prestige in the field of clinical research, appointed by the Group’s Management Committee at the proposal of the Corporate Research and Innovation Department. The composition of the Jury will be communicated once it has been finalized and will include appropriate representation from various specialties.

Any person listed as a candidate or directly involved with an application (author of a publication, thesis director, or jury member of a thesis) in any of the proposed categories will be excluded from the Jury’s deliberations.

Likewise, any professional who is an author of a scientific work or conference communication applying for a Researcher Award, or who is involved as an author, director, or evaluation panel member of a thesis applying for the Professor Julio Rodríguez Villanueva Award, will be excluded from Jury deliberations.

The evaluation criteria for projects will include:

  • Scientific quality, originality, and innovation of the publication or thesis
  • Author’s knowledge of the subject and authorship position
  • Hypotheses and objectives
  • Results and applicability to clinical practice
  • Potential impact on improvements in:
    • Patient care
    • Processes
    • Costs

For publications, the journal's impact factor according to the latest Journal Citation Report (JCR), as well as its quartile and decile ranking, will be considered.

For theses, international mention and extraordinary awards will also be considered, along with the quality and impact of the resulting publications.

In the Innovation category, special consideration will be given to initiatives or projects whose results demonstrate clear value creation in patient experience and safety, and a contribution to excellence in health promotion and disease prevention.

The Jury’s decision is final and will be communicated to applicants in writing immediately after deliberation. The Jury reserves the right to declare the awards vacant if the submitted projects do not meet the required scientific quality or standard.

Submitted documentation will not be returned.

The awards ceremony will be duly announced and will take place in Madrid in June 2025.

Attendance at the awards ceremony is a mandatory condition for receiving the prize, except in cases where the recipient belongs to a Quirónsalud center located outside Spain, in which case online attendance will be required. Otherwise, Quirónsalud reserves the right to revoke the award.