Washington, DC – The Friends of the National Library of Medicine (FNLM) is proud to announce that Dr. Svetlana Mojsov, Dr. Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, and Dr. Joel Habener have been selected as the recipients of the 2025 Distinguished Medical Science Award.

This prestigious honor recognizes their groundbreaking contributions to the development of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which have transformed the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, benefiting millions of people worldwide.

• Svetlana Mojsov, a research scientist at The Rockefeller University, was pivotal in the discovery that GLP-1 is secreted in the intestine and is a potent insulin secretagogue, an incretin, with therapeutic potential as a novel treatment for diabetes.
• Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, a distinguished scientist at Novo Nordisk, led efforts to translate the discovery of GLP-1 into a viable therapeutic option. Her contributions to the development of GLP-1 receptor agonists have revolutionized diabetes and obesity treatment, changing the landscape of metabolic disease management.
• Joel Habener, a physician-scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, was instrumental in identifying and characterizing GLP-1, laying the foundation for its therapeutic applications. His pioneering research provided key insights into the role of incretin hormones in glucose metabolism.

“These three outstanding scientists have played a transformative role in modern medicine,” said Dr. Barbara Redman, Chair of the Friends of the NLM. “Their collective contributions to the discovery and application of GLP-1 receptor agonists have profoundly improved the lives of individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity, making them truly deserving of this distinguished honor.”

FNLM will formally present this award to Drs. Habener, Mojsov, and Knudsen at the 2025 Friends of the NLM Awards Gala, to be held on September 8, 2025, at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, DC. The Gala is a premier event bringing together leaders from the medical, library, and research communities to celebrate exceptional contributions to medical science, public service, and health information access.