Rikke Steensbjerre Møller receives the Epilepsy Prize 2026

Professor Rikke Steensbjerre Møller from Filadelfia is the recipient of the Epilepsy Prize 2026. On Friday 6 February, she was presented with the award when the Danish Epilepsy Association’s Director, Per Olesen, surprised the genetic researcher.

The Epilepsy Prize is awarded by the Danish Epilepsy Association and is given to one or more individuals who make an exceptional contribution for people with epilepsy. The recipient is announced each year on Epilepsy Day.

Rikke Steensbjerre Møller was nominated by members of the Danish Epilepsy Association, and the nomination states:

– Rikke is deeply passionate about her work and has an extraordinarily high level of professional expertise. In addition, she has a strong international outlook and network, particularly when it comes to rare and severe genetic epilepsies. This is a group that is often overlooked, despite the fact that these patients have the greatest need for a high level of professional expertise in the care they receive from the healthcare system.

It also states:

– Rikke does not simply stick to ‘what we usually do’, but is, among other things, the initiator of work that brings together parents and management at Filadelfia to improve the quality of care for the most severely affected patients.

– Rikke is a professional beacon in the field, and her ambition to set the bar high and continuously keep up with the latest developments, also internationally, makes her an outstanding role model for everyone working in the field of epilepsy.

Congratulations from the national chair

The genetic researcher used the occasion to thank the Danish Epilepsy Association, those who nominated her for the prize, and her colleagues.

– I am truly happy and honoured by this recognition. This is not just my achievement. It is very much a team effort. I could never have done the work we do in epilepsy genetics on my own. So a huge thank you to my team for their dedication, says Rikke Steensbjerre Møller.

The Danish Epilepsy Association’s national chair, Lone Nørager Kristensen, adds:

– I had the pleasure of attending one of Rikke’s talks on epilepsy genetics this autumn, and it was an absolute pleasure to listen to her. She demonstrated an exceptional ability to communicate complex material in a way that everyone can follow. Most importantly, Rikke and her research give hope to many people – something we can all benefit from, she says, while also congratulating the genetic researcher on the award.

In addition to the recognition, Rikke Steensbjerre Møller receives a diploma and an award of DKK 10,000.