Professor Ruth Loos wins Kirsten and Freddy Johansen Foundation Award
Professor Ruth Loos has helped transform our understanding of how genetic factors interact with lifestyle to influence the risk of overweight and related diseases.
On 19 June 2026, the Kirsten and Freddy Johansen Foundation presented its prestigious research awards – each worth DKK 2 million – for the 20th time. This year, CBMR’s Vice Executive Director Professor Ruth Loos received the preclinical Kirsten and Freddy Johansen Foundation Award for her pioneering research into the genetic mechanisms of obesity.
For more than two decades, she has helped transform our understanding of how genetic factors interact with lifestyle to influence the risk of overweight and related diseases. She has contributed to the identification of more than 1,500 genetic variants associated with body weight, and her research has demonstrated that healthy lifestyle choices can significantly reduce genetic risk. Her most recent work enables earlier identification of genetic risk and more targeted prevention, with considerable potential for public health.
“I am truly honored by this recognition. It reflects a journey I have been fortunate to lead with exceptional trainees and collaborators to rethink obesity and its underlying biology, and it motivates me to continue translating scientific insight into meaningful health impact”, says Ruth.