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Health

We contribute to improving the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten global health

1

The prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases has increased by more than 26% in the past 10 years

Today, more than 500 million people live with genetic and lifestyle-related cardiometabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

2

People do not have equal opportunities for a healthy life and treatment

Rising inequity in health is not just a problem for individuals but is also a great burden for families and society.

3

Every year about 1.3 million people die from multidrug-resistant infections

We urgently need to improve our international preparedness for effectively managing antimicrobial resistance and novel viruses.

We wish to help people live healthier lives. That’s why we support research that increases our knowledge about human health and disease, as this provides the basis for solving some of the major challenges we are facing and can help us improve healthcare.”
Martin Ridderstråle
Chief Medical Officer, Senior Vice President, Medical Science

Our grants

The Novo Nordisk Foundation awards grants based on applications in open competition and supports a large number of different areas within health, sustainability and life science.

How to apply See our grants

Projects and initiatives we have supported

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Vaccine Accelerator (NVAC)

Enabling the NIVI mission by providing industry-level expertise in vaccine development

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI)

NIVI aims to develop new or improved vaccines for some of the deadliest respiratory diseases.

Lighthouse Consortium on Obesity Management (LightCOM)

Partnership for Education of health Professionals (PEP)

With the Partnership for Education of Health Professionals (PEP), the Novo Nordisk Foundation takes a step towards reducing inequity in health by strengthening the education of health professionals in India, Kenya and eastern Africa.

Danish Pioneer Centre for Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence will contribute to solving big societal challenges

PIG-PARADIGM – research into the intestinal resilience of piglets

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded DKK 150 million (€20.1 million) for an interdisciplinary research project that may lead to a reduction in the use of antibiotics in the pig farming industry.

AMR Action Fund – global initiative to combat antimicrobial resistance

Several leading pharmaceutical companies and foundations have raised USD 1 billion to launch the AMR Action Fund. The aim is to bring 2–4 new antibiotics to patients by 2030.

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Genomic Mechanisms of Disease

With a USD 47.5 million commitment over a five-year period, the Foundation has supported the establishment of a new centre for genomic research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Boston (US).