Jens Juul Holst

{{Short description|Danish physician and physiologist (born 1945)}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Jens Juul Holst

| birth_place = Copenhagen, Denmark

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|8|1|df=y}}

| nationality =

| fields = {{Plainlist|

• Incretins
• Diabetes
• Exenatide
• Gut hormones
• Glucagon-like peptides}}

| alma_mater = University of Copenhagen

| workplaces = University of Copenhagen

| thesis_title =

| thesis_url =

| thesis_year =

| awards =

| spouse =

}}

Jens Juul Holst (born 1 August 1945) is a Danish physician and physiologist. He is known for discovering and describing the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone in the gut that plays an important role in the onset and development of Type 2 diabetes.{{cite journal | vauthors = Singh G, Krauthamer M, Bjalme-Evans M | title = Wegovy (semaglutide): a new weight loss drug for chronic weight management | journal = Journal of Investigative Medicine | volume = 70 | issue = 1 | pages = 5–13 | date = January 2022 | pmid = 34706925 | pmc = 8717485 | doi = 10.1136/jim-2021-001952 }} In collaboration with researcher and author Arne Astrup, he discovered that GLP-1 acts as a satiety hormone in humans.{{Cite journal |last=Astrup |first=Arne |date=2024 |title=Reflections on the discovery GLP-1 as a satiety hormone: Implications for obesity therapy and future directions |journal=European Journal of Clinical Nutrition |volume=78 |issue=7 |pages=551–556 |doi=10.1038/s41430-024-01460-6 |issn=0954-3007 |pmid=38890501|pmc=11230893 }}

In 2020, he was awarded the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize along Daniel J. Drucker and Joel F. Habener.[https://warrenalpert.org/prize-recipients Prize Recipients | Warren Alpert Foundation Prize]

In 2021, he was awarded the Canada Gairdner International Award along Daniel J. Drucker, Joel F. Habener, and Mary-Claire King.{{Cite web|url=https://gairdner.org/2021-canada-gairdner-awards-recognize-world-renowned-scientists-for-transformative-contributions-to-research-impacting-human-health/|title=2021 Canada Gairdner Awards Recognize World-Renowned Scientists For Transformative Contributions To Research Impacting Human Health|date=7 April 2021|accessdate=13 December 2021}} He was also awarded the Banting Medal by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).{{cite web|title=Exceptional Leaders in Diabetes Research, Prevention and Treatment to be Recognized at ADA's 81st Scientific Sessions|website=diabetes.org|publisher=American Diabetes Association|url=https://www.diabetes.org/sites/default/files/newsroom/file/2021%20Scientific%20Sessions%20Awardees%20Release.pdf|url-status=|format=PDF; 269 kB|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|last=|date=2021-03-08|language=en|pages=|quote=}}

In 2024, he was awarded the Princess of Asturias Awards for Technical and Scientific Research along Daniel J. Drucker, Jeffrey M. Friedman, Joel F. Habener, and Svetlana Mojsov.{{cite web|title=Daniel J. Drucker, Jeffrey M. Friedman, Joel F. Habener, Jens Juul Holst, and Svetlana Mojsov, Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research 2024|publisher=Princess of Asturias Foundation|url=https://www.fpa.es/en/princess-of-asturias-awards/laureates/2024-daniel-j-drucker-jeffrey-m-friedman-joel-f-habener-jens-juul-holst-and-svetlana-mojsov.html|date=5 June 2024}} In 2024 he received the Tang Prize in the category of "Biopharmaceutical Science",[https://www.tang-prize.org/en/media_detail.php?id=1941&cat=24 Tang Prize 2024] and also in 2024 the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the category "Biology and Biomedicine".[https://www.frontiersofknowledgeawards-fbbva.es/noticias/frontiers-of-knowledge-award-17th-edition-biology-and-biomedicine/ BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award 2024]