The Organization of Danish Medical Societies has awarded the Marie and August Krogh Prize 2026 to Professor and Chief Physician Michael Kjær for research that has fundamentally advanced understanding of how physical activity, injury and recovery influence human health. The award, which is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, recognises Kjær’s long-standing and influential research career at the intersection of physiology, clinical medicine and rehabilitation.
Michael Kjær is Clinical Professor in Sports Medicine at the University of Copenhagen and Head and Chief Physician at the Institute of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Bispebjerg Hospital. His research has focused on how the body adapts to physical loading, how injuries develop and heal, and how targeted rehabilitation can restore function and prevent long-term impairment.
A central contribution of his work has been to demonstrate that muscles, tendons and connective tissue are biologically active and highly adaptable. This insight has reshaped scientific understanding of musculoskeletal tissue and has had direct implications for clinical practice, particularly in the treatment of tendon and muscle injuries that affect large parts of the population.
Michael Kjær’s research has also advanced knowledge of how physical activity affects metabolic health, including insulin sensitivity. These findings have strengthened the scientific basis for exercise as a cornerstone of preventing lifestyle-related metabolic disorders and are reflected in international guidelines and clinical practice across multiple medical disciplines.
“For decades, Michael Kjær has been a leading figure within his clinical field, both in Denmark and internationally. His work has changed textbooks, set new standards and benefited a wide range of patients, from elite athletes to older people aiming for healthy ageing. He exemplifies the curiosity, integrity and perseverance that are essential for research,” says Susanne Axelsen, Chair of the Organization of Danish Medical Societies.
In parallel with his research, Michael Kjær has played a key role in building an internationally recognised research environment and in educating new generations of researchers and clinicians within sports medicine and movement-related health research.
“I have always been fascinated by physical activity and how it influences our body,” says Michael Kjær. “It has therefore been a pleasure for me to be scientifically mentored in the footprints of the historical exercise-physiology research carried out by Professor August Krogh and Professor Johannes Lindhard, and therefore it is also a special honour to receive this prize.
“Every day, I have the pleasure of joining a group of curious and enthusiastic young basic and clinical researchers in our laboratory and clinic in order to understand the mechanisms behind and the clinical treatment of sports injuries in all people who want to be physically active, whether they are healthy or have a chronic disease,” says Michael Kjær.
Michael Kjær will officially receive the Prize at the annual conference of the Organization of Danish Medical Societies on 22 January.
About the Marie and August Krogh Prize
The Marie and August Krogh Prize was established in 1969 and is awarded annually to a Danish health researcher whose work has made an outstanding contribution to biomedical science. The prize is awarded by the Organization of Danish Medical Societies, with funding provided by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Originally known as the August Krogh Prize, the award was renamed in 2010 to also recognise Marie Krogh, a pioneering physician and researcher and one of Denmark’s first female medical doctors. August Krogh was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1920.
The total prize amounts to DKK 1.5 million, comprising a personal award of DKK 250,000 and a research grant of DKK 1.25 million.
