The 2021 Canada Gairdner International Award goes to Dr. Jens Juul Holst, MD, DMSc

Holst was awarded for his research on glucagon-like peptides that has led to major advances in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, obesity and intestinal disorders.

Dr. Jens Juul Holst, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences and group leader, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

The independent and collaborative work of Daniel Drucker, Joel Habener and Jens Holst enhanced our understanding of how our gastrointestinal organs function and created new classes of drugs for the treatment of metabolic disorders, specifically type 2 diabetes, obesity and short bowel syndrome.

Drucker, Habener and Holst discovered hormones called glucagon-like peptides (GLP-1 and -2) which control the levels of Insulin and glucagon which work together to maintain healthy sugar levels. They elucidated their biology and physiological function and played critical roles in the design and testing of therapies informed by their initial and subsequent discoveries.

These three scientists have been awarded for a combined body of work with significant impact on the field of diabetes and short bowel syndrome, but are also recognized for their individual discoveries that underpin the translational results.

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/ Photo source (Photo edited 13/04/21 by Maria Friis)

Don’t forget…
Dr. Jens Juul Holst is one of our three key speakers at DDA’s Virtual Symposium on 11 June 2021. At this symposium, you will have the opportunity to learn how these world-leading scientists have contributed to our understanding of diabetes and metabolism, how this have changed clinical care and importantly, why they continued their dedication to science and education in the field of diabetes. Sign up for the symposium here.