Professor Francesco Muntoni Awarded the 2026 Novo Nordisk Prize
The BIND Consortium warmly congratulates Francesco Muntoni on being awarded the 2026 Novo Nordisk Prize by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
This prestigious international award recognises Professor Muntoni’s outstanding and sustained contributions, particularly his pioneering work in the development and translation of RNA-based therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
For decades, Duchenne was widely regarded as an inevitably progressive genetic condition with limited therapeutic options. Professor Muntoni’s leadership has helped redefine this narrative. Through his work on exon-skipping and other molecular approaches, he has contributed to a paradigm shift, demonstrating that targeted genetic interventions can meaningfully alter disease trajectories.
Beyond therapeutic innovation, Professor Muntoni has been a driving force in fostering international collaboration, rigorous clinical research, and multidisciplinary standards of care. His work has had a profound impact not only on skeletal muscle outcomes in Duchenne, but also on broadening awareness of the multisystem nature of the condition, including its neurodevelopmental and cognitive dimensions, areas central to the mission of the BIND initiative.
This award recognises not only scientific excellence, but decades of dedication to patients and families affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy worldwide.
We extend our sincere congratulations on this well-deserved honour.
Read the official announcement from the Novo Nordisk Foundation here: https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/from-genetic-inevitability-to-medical-intervention-francesco-muntoni-receives-the-2026-novo-nordisk-prize/
