Scholars

Jens Holst, Md, DMSc

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Jens Juul Holst, MD, DMSc, is professor of Medical Physiology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, where he is also the vice-chairman.

Since 2006 he has been director of the Research Cluster for Diabetes and Obesity at the Faculty, and, since 2010, Scientific Director at section for Translational Metabolic Physiology, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research. Dr. Holst received his medical degree from the University of Copenhagen in 1970 and the Doctor of Medical Sciences degree in 1978.

His scientific work has been focused on the regulatory peptides of the pancreas and the gut and their importance in the regulation of the functions of the GI-tract and metabolism, with particular focus on blood glucose and appetite regulation, obesity and diabetes. A particular emphasis has been on the role of the incretin hormones of the gut (GLP-1 and GIP).

Dr. Holst's scientific achievements include the discovery of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) as the gut hormone being responsible for the glucose-induced gastrointestinal stimulation of insulin secretion and his subsequent both basic and translational research in this field.

He is a member of several distinguished academic organizations, including the Danish Academy for Natural Sciences and the Royal Danish Academy of Science and Letters, and has been the recipient of the Anders Jahre Award for Medical Research, the Odd Fellow Award for Medical Research the Paul Langerhans Medal of the German Diabetes Association and the Claude Bernard Award of the European Society for the Study of Diabetes.