• The award, which was presented during the ceremony marking the professional body’s 125th anniversary, recognises Dr Juste’s international leadership in the field of animal health
• The award highlights the impact of NEIKER’s research work under the integrated ‘One Health’ approach

 

On Friday 30 May, as part of the celebrations marking the 125th anniversary of the Bizkaia College of Veterinarians, Dr Ramón Juste Jordán, a leading researcher at NEIKER, was awarded the inaugural “Ohorezko Albaitari Saria – Veterinary Profession Award of Honour”. The formal institutional ceremony, held at the iconic Sociedad Bilbaína, brought together leading regional, provincial and municipal authorities to pay tribute to a career of global significance in the field of veterinary science.

This award, which represents the highest honour the organisation can bestow, was created specifically to mark this founding milestone, in order to recognise, in an exemplary manner, professionals who have contributed to the advancement and public profile of the profession. The award, shared in this first edition with the veterinarian Francisco L. Dehesa Santisteban, is a source of institutional pride for NEIKER and a confirmation of the centre’s commitment to technology transfer and research excellence in the service of the primary sector and society.

During the official speeches at the event, chaired by Álvaro Mateos Amann, the strategic role of veterinary science within the framework of the cross-cutting One Health approach was highlighted. In a global context where 75% of emerging diseases are of animal origin, the advanced scientific research led by centres such as NEIKER is establishing itself as an indispensable pillar for demonstrating the beneficial effects on the human immune system of contact with attenuated versions of animal pathogens, their epidemiological prevention, agricultural sustainability and collective food security.

A track record of global impact, as recognised by the Stanford Ranking

Dr Ramón Juste Jordán has had a long and distinguished international career in animal health. A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, he has worked throughout his career at prestigious institutions such as the Tierärztliche Hochschule in Germany, the University of Nebraska and Texas A&M University in the United States. He has also held senior positions, including Scientific Director of Agricultural Innovation at NEIKER and Managing Director of SERIDA in Asturias.

His research, which focuses primarily on the study of mycobacteriosis, has yielded a number of major achievements: he developed the first mathematical model of epidemiological and economic effectiveness for the control of paratuberculosis; he contributed directly to the detection of the first case of H5N1 avian influenza in Spain; and he has scientifically demonstrated acquired immune protection in livestock.

With over 250 scientific articles published and having supervised 13 doctoral theses, his international impact is evidenced by his uninterrupted presence in the prestigious Stanford University ranking, where he has been included for seven consecutive years, placing him in the top 1.5% worldwide in his field of expertise. The recently published list of the most influential researchers in Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine ranks him 205th globally and places four other NEIKER PhDs trained under his supervision among the world’s leading figures. This ranking highlights the collective strength of NEIKER’s Basque research in animal science and ensures its continuity into the future. His work has also been recognised with prestigious awards such as the ‘Isabel Mínguez Tudela’ prize from Vet+i, the ‘Isabel Zendal’ prize from the Zendal Group’s pharmaceutical company, and the Research Award from Animal’s Health magazine.