This course is included in the NUTRITION 2026 On Demand Collection.

The American Society for Nutrition Foundation (ASNF) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF), two philanthropic 501(c)(3) organizations, have partnered to establish this award recognizing excellence in nutrition science and supporting researchers at pivotal stages of their careers.

This prestigious award honors a mid-career professional (10-25 years post-terminal degree) for outstanding research contributions to the understanding of micronutrients, nutritional status, and/or metabolism. Named after Henrik Dam, the 1943 Nobel laureate who discovered vitamin K, the award celebrates the spirit of scientific discovery and its transformative impact on global health.

Now in its second year, this award reflects ASNF and NNF's shared commitment to advancing rigorous, innovative research and strengthening the pipeline of scientific leadership in nutrition.

Anna Thalacker-Mercer, PhD, a leading nutrition scientist, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Henrik Dam Award for Scientific Discovery in Nutrition. Dr. Thalacker-Mercer's award lecture is titled Extending Dam's Legacy - Micronutrients and Metabolism as Architects of Skeletal Muscle Physiology.

Originally presented at NUTRITION 2026, ASN's flagship meeting which was held July 25-28 in National Harbor, MD

Award Lecturer

Anna Thalacker-Mercer, PhD
Associate Professor
The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Additional Speakers

Paul Coates, PhD
Chair of the Board of Trustees
American Society for Nutrition (ASN) Foundation 

Kristine Faerch, MSc, PhD, MBA
Senior Scientific Manager
Novo Nordisk Foundation

Patrick Stover, PhD
Director
Institute for Connecting Nutrition and Health (ICON-Health), Florida State University