The 2025 Hagedorn Prize is being awarded to Professor and Chief Physician Peter Rossing for outstanding epoch-making research within late diabetic complications, with a special focus on kidney disease. The Hagedorn Prize, with an accompanying award of DKK 1.5 million, is awarded annually by the Danish Society of Internal Medicine and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Peter Rossing’s impressive research within diabetic nephropathy has improved treatment for people with chronic kidney disease with and without diabetes and has thereby crucially affected several groups of patients.
“Peter Rossing is being recognised for his outstanding scientific efforts for people with chronic kidney disease. His research on the clinical management of diabetic nephropathy has led to the approval of new drugs and treatment principles that have reduced mortality and the burden of disease. His research has been pioneering and has helped to continue Denmark’s leading position in internal medicine research. The Society is therefore honoured to award Peter Rossing the 2025 Hagedorn Prize,” says Tavs Qvist, President of the Danish Society of Internal Medicine.
Peter Rossing says that he is incredibly pleased and proud to receive the Prize: “The Hagedorn Prize strongly recognises the work of our group and hospital. Delivering these results is a team effort that has only been possible because we have fantastic people and facilities.”
Positive effect on a different patient group
Despite specialising in endocrinology, he was nominated by the Danish Society of Nephrology, which emphasises the great importance of his research for treatment for kidney disease.
“In the past 5–6 years, an incredible amount has happened in this field, and I have been involved in several studies focusing on slowing the progression of kidney disease. One study in which I have been involved showed that drugs initially developed to lowered blood glucose worked well against kidney disease, regardless of whether the patient had diabetes,” notes Peter Rossing.
Peter’s guidelines on treatment for people with kidney disease and diabetes have been crucial for the people with kidney disease – even those without diabetes, who have always been difficult to treat. And Peter thinks that the overlap between specialties is crucial in research in internal medicine.
“The specialties need to collaborate across disciplines so that our research does not become too isolated. We need to see patients as whole persons and treat them from that perspective,” says Peter Rossing.
In Hagedorn’s footsteps
Peter Rossing has previously been recognised with several international and national awards for his research. He received the Minkowski Prize in 2005 and the Golgi Prize in 2016, both from the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
Nevertheless, Hans Christian Hagedorn is very special to him.
“Hagedorn had a tremendous impact on the work with diabetes. He founded the hospital in which Steno Diabetes Center was located until 2021, and we have used his former residence, Domus Hagedorn, as a meeting room and for other purposes. Receiving the Hagedorn Prize is therefore very special, because he has created the foundation for all my work,” says Peter Rossing, who will also celebrate his 25th anniversary as a researcher this year.
Peter Rossing will receive the Prize at the 2025 annual meeting of the Danish Society of Internal Medicine on 14 March.
About the Hagedorn Prize
The Hagedorn Prize was established by the Danish Society of Internal Medicine in 1966 to recognise the contribution in medical science of Hans Christian Hagedorn, one of Denmark’s leading researchers on diabetes treatment. The Prize is awarded at the Society’s annual general meeting to recognise excellent research or development efforts within internal medicine in Denmark. The accompanying award of DKK 1.5 million includes a personal award of DKK 250,000 and an award for research or development work of DKK 1.25 million. The Prize also includes the Hagedorn Medal.
About the Danish Society of Internal Medicine
The Danish Society of Internal Medicine, which has almost 4,500 members, is an umbrella organisation for the nine internal medicine specialties in Denmark. The Society aims to promote scientific research in internal medicine and the continuing education of the specialist physicians in the field. The Society was established in 1916 and has a Board of Directors of nine members selected by the boards of each of the nine internal medicine specialties.
Further information
Peter Rossing, Professor and Chief Physician, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen: [email protected], phone: +45 309 13383
