Professor Henrik Elvang Jensen Receives 2025 Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine

It is hard to overstate the impact that veterinarian and professor of veterinary pathology, Henrik Elvang Jensen, has had on veterinary research as well as on the production and companion animals that this research focuses on. He has succeeded in making research more evidence-based, more applicable, and more socially relevant – with a direct and lasting impact on animal quality of life.

For his scientific contributions, Henrik Elvang Jensen will be presented with the 2025 Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine. The prize is awarded annually by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in collaboration with Agria, and it recognizes outstanding achievements in veterinary medicine and animal welfare. Established in 2024, it is now being awarded for the first time. With a prize sum of one million Swedish kronor, it is one of the largest research awards in the world within its field.

“When my phone rang, showing a Swedish number, I thought it was a call from one of my colleagues in Uppsala. Therefore, I was indeed surprised and overwhelmed hearing the message from the chairman Nils Fall, that I was the recipient of the Award for Outstanding Research in Veterinary Medicine. In the spring, I was humbled to be nominated for the Award, and so I will indeed be when going to Uppsala for the award ceremony in November,” says Henrik Elvang Jensen.

Lifetime contribution to animal health and welfare

In selecting Henrik Elvang Jensen, SLU highlights that over several decades he has combined groundbreaking research with a strong commitment to preventing and reducing animal suffering. He has helped set new scientific standards for assessing animal welfare, not least through the development of veterinary forensic science.

He is therefore receiving the award for his impressive breadth of research and his pioneering contributions that have improved health and welfare for many different animal species – from livestock to companion animals. According to SLU, he has bridged fundamental science with practical application, leading to tangible improvements in animal husbandry, including new guidelines that have reduced the incidence of shoulder sores in sows.

Furthermore, Henrik Elvang Jensen’s research into fungal infections (mycoses) – a growing problem worldwide in both animals and humans – has resulted in internationally adopted diagnostic methods that are crucial for assessing disease progression and providing proper treatment.

“Veterinary medicine is often associated with animals – and rightly so. However, at SLU, we also recognise the discipline’s vital role in benefiting people and society. As we celebrate 250 years of veterinary medicine in Sweden this year, it is particularly gratifying to recognise Henrik Elvang Jensen. Through his research, specialist expertise and strong societal engagement, he has become a role model for many. His work clearly demonstrates how science and animal welfare go hand in hand, reminding us of veterinary medicine's central role in a sustainable society,” says Maria Knutson Wedel, Vice-Chancellor at SLU.

The award will be presented at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Award ceremony in Uppsala on 26 November.