The Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) awarded the biologist and director of the Center for Genomic Regulation, Luis Serrano Pubul, an honorary doctorate this morning during the feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas. The sponsor of the new honorary doctorate was Antonio Ferrer Montiel, director of the Institute for Research, Development, and Innovation in Health Biotechnology of Elche (IDiBE). During the ceremony, 93 new doctors were also awarded, and 26 extraordinary doctoral awards were presented.

The ceremony was presided over by the rector of the UMH, Juan José Ruiz; the president of the UMH Board of Trustees, Joaquín Pérez Vázquez; the vice-rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer, Ángel Carbonell Barrachina; the vice-rector for University Studies, Susana Fernández de Ávila; and the secretary general, Mercedes Sánchez Castillo.

Prior to the ceremony, biologist Serrano Pubul inaugurated a Brachychiton rupestris, known as the Queensland bottle tree, in the Honorary Garden on the UMH Elche campus.

Since 2011, Luis Serrano Pubul has directed the Center for Genomic Regulation, a biomedical research institute of excellence. He has supervised 20 doctoral theses and published more than 400 articles in international journals. He participated in the creation of one of the first Spanish biotechnology companies (Diverdrugs) in 1999 and is a co-founder of the biotechnology companies Cellzome, EnVivo, TRISKEL, Pulmobiotics, and Orikine. He was also the founding director of the association of European Institutes of Excellence (EU-LIFE) (https://eu-life.eu/) and also the president of the association of Spanish institutes of excellence, the Severo Ochoa and María de Maeztu Institutes of Excellence (SOMMa; https://www.somma.es/).

Invitation to the solemn ceremony on the occasion of the feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas 2024

Reception of authorities: 20 minutes before the start of the event.
Reservations for academic attire and participation in the academic procession must be made before January 18.
FORM FOR CONFIRMATIONS AND RESERVATIONS OF ATtire –
The event will be broadcast live on youtube.umh.es / radio.umh.es

PROGRAM
11:55 a.m.
Entrance of the procession and formation of the presidential table.
Musical performance by the UMH Pneuma Vocal Ensemble.
12:00 p.m.
Beginning of the Academic Ceremony:
Musical performance by the UMH Pneuma Vocal Ensemble.
Solemn investiture of Mr. Luis Serrano Pubul as Doctor Honoris Causa.
Musical performance by the UMH Pneuma Vocal Ensemble.
Presentation of extraordinary doctoral awards.
Musical performance by the UMH Pneuma Vocal Ensemble.
Laudatio for New Doctors.
Investiture of New Doctors.

Speeches.
University Anthem. Musical performance by the UMH Pneuma Vocal Ensemble.
1:30 p.m.
Closure and wine reception.