Professor Sadaf Farooqi, (United Kingdom) is the 2026 recipient of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) – Novo Nordisk Foundation 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. A clinician-scientist, Professor Farooqi has fundamentally advanced scientific understanding of how body weight is regulated in humans and has helped shape new approaches to obesity management. The prize, awarded jointly by EASO and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, includes a DKK 2 million award. Of this, DKK 300,000 is a personal award, and DKK 1.7 million goes to support further research. Four researchers will also receive New Investigator Awards for their promising obesity research.
The EASO – Novo Nordisk Foundation Obesity Prize for Excellence is awarded annually for outstanding research or technological contributions that can improve our understanding of obesity, its causes, complications, prevention, and management.
2026 Obesity Prize for Excellence winner Professor Sadaf Farooqi, Professor of Metabolism and Medicine at the Institute of Metabolic Science-Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge.
“Congratulations to Professor Sadaf Farooqi, the 2026 Obesity Prize for Excellence winner, and to the New Investigator Award recipients announced today.” says EASO President, Professor Volkan Yumuk. “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.”
Significant Technological Innovation
Professor Farooqi is Professor of Metabolism and Medicine at the Institute of Metabolic Science-Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge. 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, Professor Farooqi 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, Professor Farooqi’s 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.
“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.”
In addition to the Obesity Prize for Excellence, EASO and the Novo Nordisk Foundation have announced four New Investigator awards, each including a research grant of DKK 300,000.
ECO2026 Award Presentations
The prize and awards will be presented at the 33rd European Congress on Obesity (#ECO2026), 12-15 May 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey, where delegates will have the opportunity to hear a plenary lecture from the Obesity Prize for Excellence winner and presentations from the New Investigator Award winners. Registration and further details are available: https://eco2026.org
For additional information regarding the criteria and application process for the Obesity Prize for Excellence and New Investigator Awards, please visit https://easo.org/about-easo/easo-nnf-prize-and-awards/.
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