Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research

What Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research does

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) is an academic research center established in 2010 and fully integrated with the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark. CBMR conducts basic and translational research into cardiometabolic health and disease — encompassing diabetes, obesity, and related metabolic disorders — through 21 research groups organized across three scientific programs (Human Variation and Functional Genomics; Metabolic Dynamics and Organ Crosstalk; Physiological Control of Metabolic Homeostasis) plus a fourth program on Cardiometabolic Research in Society and Culture. Its core technical infrastructure comprises six shared technology platforms: the Computational Chemistry Unit (CCU), Data Analytics Platform (DAP), Genetic Perturbation Platform (GPP), Metabolomics Platform, Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping Platform (RMPP), and Single-Cell Omics Platform (SCOP). These platforms provide internal researchers and external collaborators with capabilities spanning virtual screening across >1.3 billion compounds, integration of multi-omic data from cohorts of 500,000+ individuals, CRISPR-based pooled genetic screening with single-cell transcriptomic readout, metabolomics/lipidomics, in vivo metabolic phenotyping, and single-cell/spatial omics.

CBMR's business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. The Novo Nordisk Foundation has committed DKK 3.602 billion in cumulative funding since 2010 across three grants (DKK 885M in 2010, DKK 700M in 2018, and up to DKK 1B for 2024-2028), supplemented by external grants from the European Research Council, Horizon Europe, NIH, Danish National Research Foundation, and industry partners including Eli Lilly and BioInnovation Institute. CBMR monetizes discoveries through spinout companies — Solid Therapeutics, Ousia Pharma, and Embark Biotech (acquired by Novo Nordisk in 2023) — and through patent licensing and proof-of-concept funding. Customer segments are academic researchers and pharmaceutical industry partners; there is no commercial product revenue. As of 2024, CBMR employs 202 core staff plus 306 total staff+students, completed 14 PhDs, and awarded 55 new research grants.

Name

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research

Legal name

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research

Website

https://cbmr.ku.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CBMR is a University of Copenhagen academic research center funded primarily by the Novo Nordisk Foundation that conducts basic and translational research on cardiometabolic disease through 21 research groups and six shared technology platforms, serving academic and pharmaceutical collaborators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Biomedical Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheminformatics & Molecular Modeling / CADD (HLAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Molecular & Genetic Testing (PCR/NGS/qPCR) (HLAGADAF)

Keywords

• Metabolic disease research
• Biomedical research services
• Cardiometabolic health studies
• Genomics and metabolomics
• Academic research center

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Novo Nordisk Foundation Grants: Primary funding from Novo Nordisk Foundation: DKK 885 million (2010), DKK 700 million (2018), and DKK 1 billion (2023) for 2024-2028 period. Total center funding from NNF since 2010: DKK 3.602 billion.
2. External Research Grants: Additional funding from various foundations, companies, and councils including European Research Council, Horizon Europe, NIH, Danish National Research Foundation, and industry partners such as Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and BioInnovation Institute.
3. Innovation and Spinout Companies: Revenue generated through spinout companies including Solid Therapeutics, Ousia Pharma, and Embark Biotech (acquired by Novo Nordisk). Innovation activities include patent licensing and proof-of-concept funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CBMR is an academic research center conducting basic metabolic research focused on cardiometabolic diseases including diabetes, obesity, and related conditions. It operates six specialized technology platforms (Computational Chemistry, Data Analytics, Genetic Perturbation, Metabolomics, Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping, and Single-Cell Omics) that support integrated research spanning single-cell genomics to whole-body systems. It trains researchers through PhD and postdoctoral programs and translates discoveries into spinout companies and industry partnerships.

Product overview

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research operates as a research center at the University of Copenhagen with six core enabling technology platforms: Computational Chemistry Unit (CCU), Data Analytics Platform (DAP), Genetic Perturbation Platform (GPP), Metabolomics Platform, Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping Platform (RMPP), and Single-Cell Omics Platform (SCOP). These platforms collectively support basic metabolic research through computational chemistry, multi-omics data integration, CRISPR-based genetic screening, metabolomics/lipidomics analysis, in vivo metabolic phenotyping, and single-cell spatial techniques. The center also supports innovation and translation through its Innovation Team and Metabolism Academy for training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• DKK 3.602 billion in funding secured from Novo Nordisk Foundation since 2010
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Novo NordiskcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Acquired CBMR spinout Embark Biotech to acquire their novel approach for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. Embark discovered a target that suppresses hunger, stimulates calorie burning, and increases insulin sensitivity.
• BioInnovation InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Innovation partnership supporting spinout companies. Solid Therapeutics and Ousia Pharma accepted into Venture Lab program; Embark Biotech part of Creation House program. Both Embark and Ousia Pharma secured additional funding from Innovation Fund Denmark.
• University of DundeeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Three-year research alliance launched to accelerate discoveries on molecular metabolic signalling.
• Eli LillyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as one of the funding bodies supporting CBMR research.
• Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for Single-Cell Omics Platform and proteomics research.
• Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for human in vitro models and stem cell research.
• Medical MuseioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnique collaboration between CBMR and the University's museum of medical history and culture. Produces research-based exhibitions, events, and online communication including 'The World is in You' exhibition.
• NIH All of Us Research ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeoffrey Ginsburg, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of NIH All of Us, serves on CBMR's Science & Innovation Advisory Board.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard: Large-scale genomics and biomedical research institute with metabolic disease programs and computational biology platforms. Comparable in cutting-edge platform technologies (single-cell, CRISPR, computational) and large-cohort data analytics, though broader in disease scope.
• Salk Institute for Biological Studies: California-based basic science research institute with metabolism research programs and strong track record in academic discovery. Comparable in elite talent base, foundational funding model, and basic-to-translational research orientation, though broader in biological scope.
• The Scripps Research Institute: Major US biomedical research institute with strong programs in chemical biology, structural biology, and metabolism. Comparable in drug discovery capabilities and academic-to-pharma spinout track record, though covering broader therapeutic areas.

Direct peers

• Joslin Diabetes Center: Harvard-affiliated diabetes research center and clinical care provider, with comparable mission in basic and translational metabolic disease research. Directly comparable academic-to-translational model focused on diabetes, obesity, and cardiometabolic disease.
• Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen: Danish diabetes research and treatment center with overlapping geographical focus and similar Nordic funding ecosystem. Direct peer addressing diabetes and metabolic disease through combined clinical and research operations.
• Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research: German academic research institute focused on metabolic regulation, organ crosstalk, and metabolic disease mechanisms. Closely comparable in scope (basic metabolic research), funding model (foundational), and translational ambition as CBMR.
• Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM): University of Oxford's diabetes and metabolism research center combining basic science with clinical investigation. Directly comparable academic-to-clinical model targeting the same cardiometabolic disease space.
• Helmholtz Munich - Institute for Diabetes and Obesity: Large-scale German research institute dedicated to diabetes, obesity, and metabolic disease research. Comparable in translational pipeline and disease focus, with broader scale and additional clinical research component.
• Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center: US academic diabetes research center with parallel focus on basic metabolic research, training pipeline (PhDs, postdocs), and translational outputs. Comparable structure, scope, and disease focus to CBMR.
• Lund University Diabetes Centre (LUDC): Swedish academic research center focused on diabetes, obesity, and metabolic disease genetics and pathophysiology. Direct peer with similar Nordic academic context, basic-to-translational research scope, and pharma industry partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/838453336259119
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/the-novo-nordisk-foundation-center-for-basic-metabolic-research

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research