Toni Gabaldón, group leader of the Comparative Genomics laboratory and ICREA research professor at the CRG, has been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant for his project “Reticulate evolution: patterns and impacts of non-Vertical inheritance in eukaryotic genomes” (RETVOLUTION).

Gabaldón is one of the 5 researchers in Spain recently awarded with this grant, and his proposal is one of the 97 selected projects throughout Europe, among 710 proposals submitted in the Life Sciences category. The funding for Gabaldon’s project amounts to 1,986,178 euros, for a 5-year project. The ERC Consolidator Grants give researchers the chance to have far-reaching impact on science and beyond. The funding, worth a total of 605 million euro, falls under the ‘Excellent Science’ pillar of Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and Innovation programme.

The project, entitled “Reticulate evolution: patterns and impacts of non-Vertical inheritance in eukaryotic genomes”, aims to improve our understanding of reticular processes as drivers of eukaryotic genome evolution.  To do so, Gabaldon will combine innovative computational and experimental approaches. He wil infer patterns of reticulate evolution across the eukaryotic tree, and relate this to current biological knowledge. He will also trace the genomic aftermath of inter-species hybridization. Finally, the results of this project will be integrated into emerging theoretical frameworks, contributing to a better understanding of the genome evolution.

The Centre for Genomic Regulation is one of the centres with more ERC awarded scientists in the Life Sciences Category. It currently counts with 15 awarded researchers, representing more than 50% of the CRG group leaders.

For further information about the ERC Consolidator Grant results, please visit the ERC press release including statistics and the complete list of awarded scientists.