Ministers, ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to be here tonight to present The Brain Prize 2025 and to honor two truly exceptional scientists.

The Brain Prize ceremony is always a special occasion – an occasion on which we celebrate remarkable individuals and their groundbreaking contributions to brain research.

So, it is with humility that I take the stage tonight in front of probably the best brains in the world. I am fully aware that my own contribution to neuroscience has, so far, been rather modest.

However, tonight, I’ve decided to change that.

Over the years, I’ve picked up on and become more and more fascinated with how the brain works. I’ve learned that the brain operates much like a battery – it needs regular recharging. Deep sleep is one way to reboot. Conscious rest – a timeout – is another.

Of course, none of this is news to you. But let me ask: How often do you take a timeout during a busy day?

Well, tonight, let’s do just that – together.

What I want you to do now is to, please, close your eyes.
Imagine a peaceful place.

Focus on your breathing.
Turn your attention inward – and, for now, let the outside world fade away.

Thank you very much.

Not everyone embraces the idea of timeouts, and to some, it may even seem trivial. Genuine breakthroughs take decades of rigorous research, but small moments of pause can matter, too.

Who knows – maybe we’ve just managed to recharge the minds of everyone in this room. And one can only imagine where that might lead.

This year’s winners of The Brain Prize are remarkable not only for their individual brilliance, but for pioneering an entirely new scientific field within the span of “just” ten years.

By bringing specialists in cancer research and in neuroscience together, they have unveiled groundbreaking insights into the causes and nature of brain cancers.

Professor Michelle Monje and Professor Frank Winkler, your perseverance, passion, and drive stem from your everyday work as medical doctors – inspired by your patients and motivated by a determination to offer them a better future through research.

Your achievements in cancer neuroscience are truly extraordinary. You are an inspiration not only to your peers, but to generations of scientists yet to come. Thanks to your tireless efforts, there is hope that one day all types of brain cancer can be cured.

It is therefore my great honor to present you with The Brain Prize 2025.

(Det talte ord gælder)