Olof Rudbeck Day
The Olof Rudbeck Day is an annual event to promote and spread awareness of current medical research. It is organised by Upsala Läkareförening, Uppsala University Hospital and the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy at Uppsala University.
The Olof Rudbeck Prize
Every year, on Olof Rudbeck Day, the Olof Rudbeck Prize is awarded for outstanding achievements in basic research that have been of significant clinical significance.
Previous Olof Rudbeck Prize laureates
- 2024 Ulf Gyllensten
- 2023 Ann-Christine Syvänen
- 2022 Ulf Landegren
- 2021 Lars Lannfelt
- 2020 Christer Betsholtz
- 2019 Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
- 2018 Ulf Pettersson
- 2017 Lisa Ekselius
- 2016 Bengt Glimelius
- 2015 Otto Cars
- 2014 Lena Claeson-Welsh
- 2013 Leif Andersson
- 2012 Bengt Westermark
- 2011 Lars Wallentin
- 2010 Per Westermark
- 2009 David Bergqvist
- 2008 Bo Hellman
- 2007 Lars Grimelius
- 2006 Torvard Laurent
- 2005 Hans G Boman
- 2004 Leif Wide
- 2003 Carl Henrik Heldin
- 2002 Ulf Lindahl
- 2001 Karl Erik Hagbarth
- 2000 Svante Pääbo
- 1999 Lars Terenius
- 1998 Per A Peterson
Olof Rudbeck the Elder
Olof Rudbeck the Elder (1630-1702) was a prominent scientist who was active at Uppsala University in the 17th century. He was a polymath and made significant contributions across multiple fields.
Even as a young anatomy student, he discovered the lymphatic vessels and their importance. At that time, Uppsala University did not yet teach medicine, but Olof Rudbeck was enterprising and contributed to the development of medical education at the University.
As a professor of medicine, with responsibility for teaching anatomy and other subjects, he had the Anatomical Theatre built on the top of Gustavianum, the university building at the time. There, he could instruct students and demonstrate human anatomy to the public. He also established the Botanical Garden, now the Linnaeus Garden, where medical students could learn botany and study medicinal plants.