Awards for Internationally Recognised Research on Obesity and Hormonal Disorders

Which factors influence the risk of obesity and the development of related diseases? Can childhood obesity be predicted? And what role does the hormone glucagon play in cognitive function, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease?

In Denmark and many other parts of the world, life expectancy is increasing. At the same time, obesity and chronic diseases continue to pose significant public health challenges. Research into risk factors, disease development, and early identification can therefore contribute to improved prevention and treatment.

This year, two researchers from the University of Copenhagen are being recognised for their contributions to this field with the Erhoff Prize 2026 and the Erhoff Foundation Talent Award 2026, respectively.

Erhoff Prize 2026, worth DKK 300,000, is awarded to Professor Ruth Loos, PhD, University of Copenhagen. Ruth Loos receives the award for her exceptional and internationally recognised contributions to uncovering the role of specific genes in the development of obesity. For more than two decades, she has been a leading figure in the field and has advanced our understanding of the role of the brain in the development of obesity. She has developed a model that can predict obesity in children, as well as a model that can identify people living with obesity who are at low risk of developing obesity-related complications. Her research has had a far-reaching impact on our understanding of obesity risk factors and associated diseases, including type 2 diabetes.

Erhoff Foundation Talent Award 2026, worth DKK 100,000, is awarded to Clinical Professor, Senior Consultant and PhD Nicolai W. Albrechtsen, University of Copenhagen and Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital. Nicolai W. Albrechtsen receives the award for his exceptional and internationally recognised contributions to advancing our understanding of the role of the hormone glucagon in health and disease. His research has demonstrated the importance of glucagon for cognitive function, and he has also described how some individuals develop reduced sensitivity to the hormone, known as glucagon resistance, as well as developing a clinical test to identify the condition. Glucagon resistance has been linked to disturbances in glucose metabolism, including type 2 diabetes, and to liver disease.