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Joel Habener, GLP-1 Research Pioneer, Dies at 88 in Massachusetts

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • Joel Francis Habener died in Newton, Massachusetts, on December 28, 2025
  • He was 88 years old at the time of his death
  • Habener’s research led to GLP-1-based therapies for diabetes and obesity

Joel Francis Habener, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and associate physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, died in Newton, Massachusetts, on December 28, 2025, at the age of 88.

Habener’s laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital identified the proglucagon gene as the source of glucagon-like peptides GLP-1 and GLP-2 during the late 1970s and early 1980s. This discovery established the scientific basis for the development of GLP-1 therapies used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

In recognition of his work on GLP-1, Habener was named co-recipient of the 2024 Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award. The following year, he received the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his contributions to research that led to new treatments for diabetes and obesity.

Habener’s early research methods included using anglerfish tissue to clone proglucagon and identify GLP-1. This approach was selected to comply with National Institutes of Health restrictions on recombinant DNA research in warm-blooded animals at the time.

What the numbers show

  • Joel Habener died on December 28, 2025, at age 88
  • He was awarded the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award in 2024
  • He received the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in April 2025

Habener’s work at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital focused on endocrinology and molecular biology. His research on the proglucagon gene and its peptide products contributed to advances in metabolic disease treatment.

The identification of GLP-1 and GLP-2 by Habener’s laboratory provided a foundation for the pharmaceutical development of medications targeting these peptides. These therapies have since become widely used in the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Throughout his career, Habener received recognition from multiple institutions for his scientific achievements. The awards he received in 2024 and 2025 highlighted the impact of his research on medical practice and patient care.

Habener’s methods and discoveries have been referenced in scientific literature and acknowledged by academic and medical organizations. His contributions remain part of ongoing research and clinical applications in endocrinology.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

Sources and further reading

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