The research leaders have been awarded grants under the Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Leader Programme.

One project the grants will fund aims to discover new knowledge on how viruses such as influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19) affect the body’s metabolism and whether their proliferation in the body can be combatted. Another project will provide greater insight on why the incidence of osteoporosis increases with age and will test a possible treatment for the disease. A third project will improve understanding of how to use bacteria to make crops more resistant to drought, diseases and other adverse events, thereby ensuring more sustainable food production.

“We want to give talented researchers the opportunity to pursue high-risk research ideas and test new avenues and approaches to important issues. This takes time but is often how new significant discoveries are made,” says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Grants of up to DKK 10 million over 5 years

The Research Leader Programme, in which the Foundation awards substantial grants of up to DKK 10 million over 5 years, supports young talented researchers, talented research leaders at the mid-career stage and established professors at a high international level.

The Programme consists of three types of grants targeting research leaders at specific or typical stages of their careers; Emerging Investigator, Ascending Investigator, and Distinguished Investigator.

The Programme awards grants in six scientific areas: endocrinology and metabolic research; clinical and translational research; bioscience and basic biomedical research; data science research (grants to be awarded later in 2021); plant science, agriculture and food biotechnology; and industrial biotechnology and environmental biotechnology.

Photo of Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen: Novo Nordisk