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Jean-Laurent Casanova’s research, spanning more than three decades, has shown that rare or not-so-rare genetic mutations can make some
individuals especially vulnerable to infections that others shrug off. “Why would a child be hospitalised for viral pneumonia, tuberculosis or any other severe infection when most children infected with the very same microbe do well? That is what I call the infection enigma,” he explains.
His pioneering work has uncovered more than 70 genes that, when mutated, impair the body’s ability to fight off specific infections. This
research has not only deepened understanding of human immunity but also led to new possibilities for patient care – helping clinicians better
predict, diagnose and treat infectious diseases based on individual genetic profiles.
Recognising a landmark scientific contribution
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, emphasises the significance of Jean-Laurent Casanova’s contributions: “His work exemplifies the power of integrating clinical observation with genetic research. By uncovering the genetic basis of susceptibility to infections, Professor Casanova has opened new avenues for personalised medicine,
offering hope for more effective treatments and preventive strategies.” Professor Jørgen Frøkiær, Chair of the Novo Nordisk Prize Committee,
adds: “Jean-Laurent Casanova’s research has transformed understanding of infectious diseases by revealing the critical role of genetic factors. His
discoveries have provided new insight into why some individuals are more vulnerable to infections, paving the way for novel approaches in
immunology and public health.”
For Jean-Laurent Casanova, the recognition is a surprise but also validates a career dedicated to reshaping how we understand infections. “When I got
the call, I had no idea I had even been nominated,” he says. “But this is by far the most important award I have received in my career, and I am
incredibly honoured.”
The 2025 Novo Nordisk Prize will be awarded at a ceremony in Bagsværd, Denmark, on April 25, to Professor Jean-Laurent Casanova from Necker
Medical School in Paris, France and the Rockefeller University in New York, USA. A Prize Lecture by Jean-Laurent Casanova will take place at the
Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark in the Niels K. Jerne Auditorium, Building 13 on April 24, the day before the official award
ceremony.
About Jean-Laurent Casanova
• 1987 MD, University of Paris Descartes, France
• 1992 PhD in Immunology, University of Paris Pierre and Marie Curie, France
• 1999 Professor of Paediatrics, Necker Medical School, Paris, France
• 1999 Co-founder, Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Institut Imagine, Paris, France, Inserm, AP-HP, Université Paris Cité
• 2008 Professor, the Rockefeller University, New York
• 2014 Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
• 2015 Foreign Member, United States National Academy of Sciences
• 2015 Foreign Member, United States National Academy of Medicine
About the Novo Nordisk Prize
The Novo Nordisk Prize recognises active scientists who have provided outstanding international contributions to advance medical science to
benefit people’s lives. The prize is awarded annually by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and is intended to further support biomedical research in
Europe.