The decision, stemming from a proposal by Mayor Toni Pérez, highlights Izpisúa's figure as a global reference in his field. The 'Europe Distinction' is an award granted by the municipal corporation to individuals, institutions, or organizations that have significantly contributed to the cohesion of the continent.

Born in Hellín in 1960, Izpisúa moved to Benidorm at a young age, where he worked in various hospitality services and integrated into the city, even playing for Benidorm Club Deportivo in the late 1970s. Subsequently, he graduated in Pharmacy from the University of Valencia in 1985, beginning a brilliant scientific career.

The scientist obtained his doctorate in Biochemistry and Pharmacology from the universities of Valencia and Bologna, and completed postdoctoral stays at prestigious centers such as UCLA in California and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg. He has been a professor of Developmental Biology at UCAM Murcia and the University of California San Diego, as well as a visiting professor at University College London and the University of Oxford.

For three decades, starting in 1993, he joined the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, as a professor, where he achieved the rank of full professor. Currently, he directs the San Diego Division of the Altos Labs Institute of Sciences, focusing on regenerative medicine. His team investigates cell regeneration, organ rejuvenation, and increasing healthy lifespan, with over 500 scientific articles published.

TIME magazine included Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte in 2018 in its global list of the “50 Most Influential Leaders in Health”, and in 2021, again, selected his work as one of the “10 Most Important in Health” for the world. The motion highlights that, despite his international projection, Izpisúa does not forget his roots and maintains frequent family stays in Hellín and Benidorm. The 'Europe Distinction' will be presented at the celebration of 'Europe Day'.