The risk of dying from cardiovascular disease has been halved in Denmark during the past 20 years. This trend has resulted from better prevention and treatment. New knowledge gained from research has largely enabled these improvements.
Christian Torp-Pedersen, Professor at the Department of Health Science and Technology of Aalborg University, is a pioneering researcher in clinical cardiology and epidemiology. He is being awarded the 2016 Novo Nordisk Prize for his significant, original and internationally recognized work as a researcher spanning the past three decades.
Christian Torp-Pedersen has authored or co-authored more than 500 scientific articles published in such highly renowned journals as The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet. Other researchers frequently cite many of these articles, making him one of the most influential clinical researchers from Denmark, which also benefits patients. For example, Christian Torp-Pedersen demonstrated the negative side effects of a new drug for treating arrhythmia in a specific group of people, which resulted in the United States Food and Drug Administration requiring a black-box warning to accompany packages of the drug.
“Thirty years ago, two colleagues and I decided that we would help people who had experienced a heart attack to live longer. This has been my main career path ever since. The studies of treatment with ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers has especially led to changes in treatment practices and saved many people’s lives,” says Christian Torp-Pedersen.
INSPIRING YOUNG RESEARCHERS
Along with the Prize, Christian Torp-Pedersen will receive DKK 3 million – of which DKK 2.5 million is available for research purposes, and DKK 500,000 is a personal award.
“I am extremely pleased and surprised to be awarded the Prize. Most researchers only know whether they are appreciated within their own field, so achieving this honour is fantastic. One reason why I am surprised is that epidemiology is not normally ranked highly as a research field. So I am also very happy that epidemiology is being recognized through this Prize,” he says.
Jan Fahrenkrug, Chair of the Novo Nordisk Prize Committee, says: “Christian Torp-Pedersen’s original, comprehensive and systematic research within cardiology and epidemiology is highly esteemed internationally and has had major influence on clinical practice and guidelines. He has displayed great leadership and has inspired and supervised numerous young researchers.”
Christian Torp-Pedersen will formally receive the Novo Nordisk Prize on 15 March 2016.
ABOUT CHRISTIAN TORP-PEDERSEN
Born: 1950
Professor, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University
THE NOVO NORDISK PRIZE:
The Prize is awarded annually to recognize unique medical research or other research contributions that benefit medical science. The Prize is awarded for a predominantly Danish contribution. The Novo Nordisk Prize Committee awards the Prize based on suggestions from past Prize winners or members of the Prize Committee.
Read more about the Prize here.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Christian Torp-Pedersen, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, [email protected], tel. +45 9940 3802
Jan Fahrenkrug, Chair of the Novo Nordisk Prize Committee, [email protected], mobile: +45 6168 4752
Christian Mostrup Scheel, Press Officer, Novo Nordisk Foundation, [email protected], mobile: +45 3067 4805
