Novo Nordisk Foundation

With the introduction of four new university teaching prizes, the Novo Nordisk Foundation seeks to promote and highlight the importance of engaging science teaching at university level. Four teaching teams from the universities of Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg and the Faroe Islands have been awarded the Foundation’s Prizes for Excellence in University Teaching for 2025. With these prizes, which will be awarded annually to educators at Danish universities, the Foundation wishes to acknowledge and support excellent university teaching within the natural sciences.

Introducing two new prizes for obesity research in Denmark!   We at the Novo Nordisk Foundation have partnered with the Danish Association for the Study of Obesity to give out yearly rewards to one outstanding obesity researcher and one early career scientist.   Obesity is a growing problem for the individual as well as society, but we need to know a lot more about the complex causes of obesity and how to make management and prevention more effective. We need more innovative research, and we need to celebrate the scientists who are ahead of the curve. With these awards, we want to encourage and nurture the dynamic community of obesity researchers in Denmark.   Read a lot more about the prizes on our website: https://lnkd.in/daYHT7JW #obesity #research Dansk Selskab for Adipositasforskning (DSAF/DASO)

Professor Julia Vorholt’s work has changed how we think about plant health. Her innovative research on plant microbiomes holds the potential to transform agriculture. For her achievements, the microbiologist is receiving the Novonesis Biotechnology Prize. Novonesis #biotechnology #prize

The Greenland Ice Sheet is melting at an accelerating rate, contributing significantly to global sea-level rise. Recent studies have highlighted that if the entire ice sheet were to melt, global sea levels could rise by approximately 7.4 meters (24 feet). This melting not only threatens coastal communities worldwide but also has the potential to disrupt major ocean currents, leading to more extreme weather patterns. Understanding these changes is crucial for developing effective climate strategies. For more insights into this pressing issue, you can read the full article on ScienceNews.dk. ScienceNews provides news articles, videos and podcasts based on the world of science. All articles, podcasts and films are based on research or researchers that the Novo Nordisk Foundation has supported. #ClimateChange #GreenlandIceSheet #SeaLevelRise #EnvironmentalImpact #ClimateAction

What is poorly understood also gets poorly treated. And unfortunately, sex-related differences in cardiovascular disease are still not completely understood or properly addressed.   At the Novo Nordisk Foundation we celebrate March 8th - International Women's Day - tomorrow by sharing perspectives on our ideas for the "Female Heart" programme, presented by patient representative Gitte June-Friis Jensen, and Martin Ridderstråle, our Senior Vice President of Medical Science.   Gitte was diagnosed with SCAD - Spontaneous coronary artery dissection - a heart condition that mostly occurs in women. Because SCAD is a relatively uncommon type of heart attack, she experienced that some of the information and treatment she received was not tailored to her situation and needs.   The planned "Female Heart" programme of the Novo Nordisk Foundation will seek to address the many issues stemming from knowledge gaps in understanding sex differences in cardiovascular diseases, by funding new research and creating awareness. For instance, we need to stop calling women's typical symptoms from heart attacks "atypical".   The programme will also address the global aspect of this problem, as sex-specific manifestations of cardiovascular disease are increasingly common in countries with limited resources.   It is our hope that this will create equitable health outcomes for both men and women in the future - and in the end, save lives. #InternationalWomensDay #WomensHeartHealth #CardiovascularResearch #FemaleHeart #HealthEquity #SCADawareness #HeartHealthMatters #MedicalScience #NovoNordiskFoundation #ClosingTheGap #GenderInMedicine #SavingLives

Danish runner Jacob Sommer Simonsen has set a new national half marathon record, completing the distance in 1:01:11—44 seconds faster than the previous record set by Carsten Jørgensen in 1998. This achievement is not only a result of dedicated training but also a testament to the collaboration between sports and science. A research project led by Professor Lars Nybo at the University of Copenhagen played a key role in Simonsen’s preparation. By integrating heat adaptation strategies into his training, the team explored how controlled exposure to high temperatures can improve endurance and optimize performance. The study received funding in 2018 through the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which awarded DKK 100 million to Team Danmark. The goal was to strengthen Denmark’s international competitiveness in elite sports while generating knowledge on physical activity that could also benefit the general public. This collaboration highlights how scientific research can contribute to performance at the highest level while advancing our broader understanding of human physiology. ScienceNews provides news articles, videos and podcasts based on the world of science. All articles, podcasts and films are based on research or researchers that the Novo Nordisk Foundation has supported. Jacob Sommer Simonsen Lars Nybo Nielsen University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet)

Announcing the winner of the 2025 EASO-NNF Obesity Prize for Excellence!   And the winner is … Kirsi Pietilainen, Professor of Clinical Metabolism at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.   “It is with great pleasure that we award Professor Pietiläinen this prestigious prize. Her groundbreaking research in identical twins with differences in BMI has significantly contributed to how we understand the metabolic effects and complications of acquired obesity,” says Arne Astrup, SVP, Obesity and Nutritional Sciences at the Novo Nordisk Foundation.   The Obesity Prize For Excellence is awarded every year by The Novo Nordisk Foundation and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) for outstanding research in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the disease of obesity. An estimated 1 billion live with obesity, a chronic and complex condition that can lead to increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.   With the Prize comes DKK 2 million of which DKK 1.7 million goes to support further research   Read a lot more down below.

Last year, the Novo Nordisk Foundation granted around DKK 10 billion to support projects that improve lives and create sustainable change. Ever wondered what the money is used for? From funding life-saving treatments and groundbreaking research to supporting green innovation and global health initiatives, our grants drive progress where it matters most. Watch the video to learn more about the areas we support. #NovoNordiskFoundation #ImpactFunding #SustainableInnovation #HealthcareForAll #ScienceForGood

The 2025 Novo Nordisk Prize goes to Professor Jean-Laurent Casanova for his pioneering genetic discoveries! For decades, scientists believed that infections were determined solely by viruses and bacteria. But Professor Jean-Laurent Casanova’s groundbreaking research has revealed a more complex reality: genes play a fundamental role in determining who gets seriously ill and who stays healthy. Because of his pioneering discoveries, he is being honoured with the 2025 Novo Nordisk Prize. The Prize is awarded annually by the Novo Nordisk Foundation to scientists who have provided outstanding international contributions to advance medical science to benefit people’s lives. The prize is accompanied by DKK 5 million (€670,000). Read more below.

Last year, the Novo Nordisk Foundation distributed around DKK 10 billion to support projects that improve lives and create sustainable change. But where does the money come from? See how our ownership is structured: https://lnkd.in/dFEuEq-k #NovoNordiskFoundation #ImpactInvesting #SustainableFunding #Philanthropy #HealthcareInnovation