The Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine
About the award
The Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine recognises outstanding research in the Nordic region that has contributed to improving the welfare of companion animals, horses, or livestock. The award places particular emphasis on research into preventive measures that promote animal health and welfare.
The Award was established in 2024 by SLU and Agria and is awarded annually. With a prize sum of one million Swedish kronor, it is one of the largest research awards in the world in its field.
SLU will arrange an international award symposium on the theme of the year's award.
The award is funded by Agria Pet Insurance.
Criteria
The Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine recognises exceptional research contributions to veterinary medicine conducted in the Nordic countries. Veterinary medical research includes both basic and applied research in the veterinary sciences, encompassing preclinical, paraclinical and clinical subjects, particularly those related to animal health and welfare that have had a positive impact.
These efforts involve forward-thinking scientific research that has contributed to improving the welfare of companion animals, horses, or livestock in the Nordic countries. They may include research breakthroughs or lifetime achievements that have had a major impact on animal health or welfare and have benefited many animals. Research into disease prevention is particularly encouraged.
Upon request, the nominee must be able to certify that no unnecessary research on live animals was performed in their research efforts. Any necessary animal studies must have complied with the relevant regulations and legislation.
The recipient of the award may be an individual or a group. The recipient is selected by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences following proposals from the award committee, which consists of representatives appointed by the Nordic veterinary science universities.
Anyone can nominate candidates for the award, however each nomination must be endorsed by a head of department or equivalent. Also, candidates must be informed of their nomination and consent to it.
Process of nomination
The nomination period is open annually from November to February.
An international award committee, appointed by each Nordic university conducting research and education in veterinary medicine, is responsible for the decision-making process. The committee will enlist subject specialists to review the nominations.
The award recipient is decided annually in August by the Vice-Chancellor of SLU, following a recommendation from the designated award committee. And the award recipient will be celebrated in November in Uppsala, Sweden.
Award committee
Chair:
Nils Fall, Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
Members:
Ann Lindberg, Director General at the Swedish Medical Products Agency
Ane Nødtvedt, Professor of Epidemiology at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
Annemarie Thuri Kristensen, Professor in Companion Animal Clinical Oncology at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH)
Heli Simojoki, Professor of Ruminant health at University of Helsinki (HU)
Deputy members:
Lotta Berg, Professor of Animal Environment and Health at SLU
Arild Espenes, Professor of Pathology at NMBU
Birgit Nørrung, Head of Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at UCPH
Anna Mykkänen, Professor Equine and Small Animal Medicine at HU
Award coordinator:
Åsa Formo, Fundraiser, SLU
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