UCPH's Innovation Prize 2017 goes to laboratories at BMI
At the University’s annual commemoration on 17 November, Professor Mette Rosenkilde, Professor Jens Juul Holst, PhD student Lærke Gasbjerg and former Postdoc Alexander Sparre-Ulrich received the Innovation Prize.
Professor Mette Rosenkilde, Professor Jens Juul Holst, PhD student Lærke Gasbjerg and former Postdoc Alexander Sparre-Ulrich receive this year’s Innovation Prize for the project ”Gut Hormone as drug targets” and their work on developing treatments based on basic research.
The team has focused steadily and for many years on the translation of the basic scientific achievements of the laboratory to the development of new therapeutic principles and pharmaceuticals. Along the way, they have also created important connections and collaborations between the University and the industry.
“The team receives the Innovation Prize for two reasons: They have already made a great difference for many people by translating excellent research in the GLP-1 hormone into treatment, which is currently a great success at Novo Nordisk. And they manage to pass on the torch to the younger generation,” says Prorector for Research and Innovation Thomas Bjørnholm.
Based on the team’s research, they have recently started the biotech company Antag Therapeutics in collaboration with Bispebjerg and Gentofte Hospital.
Alexander Sparre-Ulrich is the CEO of the company, while Professor Jens Juul Holst and Professor Mette Rosenkilde are co-founders and advisors. PhD student Lærke Gasbjerg, who is a part of Mette Rosenkilde’s research group, contributes to research in the company. Antag Therapeutics aims at finding a new pharmaceutical for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.