Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly receives new diabetes prize

Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly has been chosen to receive the EASD-Novo Nordisk Foundation Diabetes Prize for Excellence.

The prize is awarded to recognize outstanding research or technology contributions to the understanding of diabetes, its disease mechanisms or its complications. This is the first year that the Prize is being awarded.

Stephen O’Rahilly’s research has focused on discovering the underlying causes of type 2 diabetes and obesity at the molecular level and turning these discoveries into improved diagnosis and treatment of people. His research has revealed numerous previously undiscovered genetic causes of the two diseases, including several that can be treated.

He says: 'It is a great honour to be the inaugural recipient of the generous new international prize. I have been very fortunate in the wonderful colleagues I have worked with since embarking on a career in clinical science 30 years ago. This prize recognises their efforts as much as my own.'

The prize is awarded in collaboration between the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and will be officially presented at a ceremony during the 51st EASD Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden on 16th September 2015. It is accompanied by DKK 6 million.

Stephen O’Rahilly is the Co-Director of the Wellcome Trust–MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and Director of the MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit.