The Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is has awarded the 2027 Elaine Redding Brinster Prize in Science or Medicine to Drs. Svetlana Mojsov and Lotte Bjerre Knudsen for the discovery of GLP-1 (7-37) as the physiologically active form of the peptide (Dr. Mojsov) and the development of modified GLP-1 (7-37) that enabled its therapeutic use for treating diabetes and obesity (Dr. Knudsen). The discovery of GLP-1(7-37) and the development of related stable pharmaceuticals has led to fundamental changes in medical treatments for chronic, obesity-related illnesses.

The prize, supported by an endowment from the children of Elaine Redding Brinster, is awarded annually for an individual or joint discovery that has made an outstanding and unique impact on biomedicine. The winner(s) will receive $250,000, a commemorative medal, and an invitation to present a ceremonial lecture at the University of Pennsylvania. Drs. Mojsov and Knudsen will accept the prize on March 17, 2027, as part of the day-long Ralph L. Brinster Symposium. The symposium will feature several eminent speakers from across the biomedical sciences, including Cliff Brangwynne, PhD, of Princeton University; Charlie Rice, PhD, of the Rockefeller University; and Ruth Lehmann, PhD, of the Whitehead Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.