Submitted by aml95 on Thu, 19/03/2026 - 11:00
We are delighted to announce that Professor Sadaf Farooqi is the 2026 recipient of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) - Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF) Obesity Prize for Excellence, for her seminal contributions to understanding the genetic and physiological mechanisms that contribute to the development of obesity and its related complications. As a clinician-scientist, Sadaf has fundamentally advanced scientific understanding of how body weight is regulated in humans and has helped shape new approaches to obesity management.
The prize, which is awarded annually by EASO and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, includes a DKK 2 million award (DKK 300,000 personal award, and DKK 1.7 million to support further research) and an invitation to the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul in May 2026 to deliver the opening plenary lecture and to officially receive the award.
Speaking about the prize, Sadaf said:
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award in recognition of our team’s work.” says Professor Farooqi. “Over the last two decades, our research has proved that genetic and biological factors play a major role in the development of obesity. With this Prize, we will develop new technology to study how hormones made by adipose tissue affect mechanisms such as glucose uptake, inflammation and lipid accumulation across multiple organs, using Organ-on-a-chip technology. Harnessing the latest advances in technology, our aim is to identify new molecular mechanisms which can be targeted therapeutically to improve the lives of children and adults living with obesity.”
EASO President, Professor Volkan Yumuk added:
"Congratulations to Professor Sadaf Farooqi, the 2026 Obesity Prize for Excellence winner, and to our New Investigator Award recipients announced today. Professor Farooqi’s pioneering research over the past two decades has fundamentally advanced our understanding of the genetic and biological mechanisms that contribute to the development of obesity. We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Novo Nordisk Foundation in supporting research that advances the science of obesity. We look forward to recognising the awardees and hearing their presentations at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul in May, 2026.”
Sadaf Farooqi is Professor of Metabolism and Medicine here at the IMS-MRL and she is also Co-Director of the NIHR Cambridge Clinical Research Facility, lead for the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre’s Nutrition, Obesity, Metabolism and Endocrinology theme and Honorary Consultant Physician at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.
With decades of experience in obesity science and medicine, she has made an exceptional contribution to the field, authoring 160+ original articles and several reviews. Her research has demonstrated proof-of-principle that leptin is an essential regulator of human energy homeostasis. Her work provided the first clear demonstration that human eating behaviour is strongly regulated by biological mechanisms, rather than being driven solely by individual choice or willpower. Through pioneering genetic, molecular, and clinical research, Professor Farooqi has transformed scientific understanding of the biological factors that regulate appetite and body weight. Her studies of the world’s largest cohorts of people with rare genetic forms of obesity have reshaped both scientific approaches to obesity and broader societal attitudes toward this complex chronic disease, helping to challenge long-standing stigma.
In addition, her research has demonstrated that severe childhood obesity can arise from underlying genetic disorders rather than parental neglect, transforming clinical understanding and care. Her discoveries have enabled life-saving, mechanism-based therapies for rare genetic forms of obesity, allowing affected children to receive appropriate treatment and lead healthier lives.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation and EASO press statements
