Novo Nordisk Foundation

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

Greenland’s Glacial Rock Flour Enhances Crop Yields in Ghana – But How? New research supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation reveals that glacial rock flour from Greenland significantly improves crop yields in Ghana. Scientists are now working to uncover the exact mechanisms behind this effect. Could this natural resource offer a sustainable solution for nutrient-poor soils? Read more about the study and its potential impact: https://lnkd.in/dkPU9TfZ Sciencenews.dk provides news articles, videos and podcasts based on the world of science. All articles and films are based on research or researchers that the Novo Nordisk Foundation has supported. #Sciencenewsdk #Agriculture #ClimateScience #SoilHealth #Greenland Rosing, Minik

Last year, the Novo Nordisk Foundation launched a tripartite (a three-part partnership) with the Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust. Our objective was and is to pool our resources and competencies to support science and innovation in finding solutions for some of our most pressing global health challenges, especially those affecting low- and middle-income countries.     Today, the Tripartite is announcing its first initiative: We are inviting research institutions and industry partners from around the globe to join us in finding solutions to the threat of anti-microbial resistance (AMR). This initiative will be organised as a consortium, called the Gram-Negative Antibiotic Discovery Innovator, where all participants will share data and findings so we can find the best way forward to the discovery of new antibiotics.     This really matters, because #AMR is quickly becoming one of the biggest threats to global health. Already today, bacterial resistance to antibiotics is involved in around 5 million deaths globally every year and is set to be the leading cause of death by 2050. We need to find new antibiotics, and we need to do it now. 

The Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Government of Denmark have now agreed how the Foundation will implement its DKK 10 billion contribution in support of the green transition within the framework of the Green Tripartite agreement.

The threats of poor nutrition, overweight and chronic illness are evident, but we do not yet know enough about the solutions. Two new prizes, a project in Kenya and a new classification for ultra-processed foods will improve knowledge on the relationship between #nutrition and #health.

How can we catalyse change to solve complex and global problems?   Last year the Novo Nordisk Foundation launched the Catalyst Grants in Infectious Diseases to kickstart exceptional research projects that can counter the mounting challenge of dangerous infectious diseases. Now, five exciting projects are ready for launch.   Stay tuned for the results coming from the projects in the coming years - and be aware that the Catalyst Grants in Infectious Diseases will open for a 2025 round in late February. #InfectiousDiseases