Zürich, Switzerland, April 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

This material is intended for global medical media only. 
For journalistic assessment and preparation before publication.   

Today, on World Haemophilia Day, Novo Nordisk announces that the grant scheme to support and encourage research projects focused on the psychosocial issues faced by people with haemophilia is open for applications. The scheme, Haemophilia Experiences, Results, and Opportunities (HERO) Research Grant is worth up to €75,000, and aims to create awareness of the challenges faced by people living with haemophilia.

As part of the global campaign, 'Meet the HERO', Novo Nordisk also calls on the haemophilia community to celebrate the everyday heroes of haemophilia by tweeting a photo or video of how they take part in World Haemophilia Day using the hashtags #MeetTheHERO and #WHD2016.

"The HERO research grant is part of our commitment to helping people with haemophilia live a life with fewer limitations and support the heroes who care for them," says Paul Huggins, Corporate Vice President, Global Biopharm, Zürich, Novo Nordisk.

'Meet the HERO' supports the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) campaign, 'Treatment for all, the vision of all', and is part of Novo Nordisk's long-term commitment to changing haemophilia. This campaign uses insights from the ground-breaking HERO study that provides evidence about what it is like to live with haemophilia and calls for better psychosocial support for people with haemophilia, their families and those who care for them.

The HERO research grant is available to healthcare professionals providing care for people with haemophilia, and social workers or similar who provide or have expertise in psychosocial support for people with haemophilia.

For more information and to apply, please visit http://www.herostudy.org.

This World Haemophilia Day, show your support for the heroes of haemophilia with a tweet, photo or video of how you take part in the day by using  #MeetTheHero and #WHD2016   

About Haemophilia 
Haemophilia is a rare blood clotting disorder. Internal bleeding into the joints, muscles, and other tissues can cause severe pain, joint damage, and disability. The worldwide incidence of haemophilia A is approximately one case per 5,000 males, approximately 30 per cent of whom have no family history. Haemophilia B occurs in one case per 25,000 males and represents 20-25 per cent of all patients with haemophilia. Globally, it is estimated that 440,000 people have haemophilia.

About World Haemophilia Day 
Since 1989, patient groups worldwide have annually marked World Haemophilia Day on 17 April to raise awareness and understanding of haemophilia and other bleeding disorders. The date was chosen in honour of the World Federation of Haemophilia founder Frank Schnabel, who was born on that day.

About the HERO Study
Haemophilia Experiences, Results, and Opportunities (HERO) is an international, multidisciplinary initiative led by the HERO International Advisory Board and supported by Novo Nordisk as part of its Changing Haemophilia™ programme. It encompasses the psychosocial experiences of people with haemophilia, their families, and their health care providers and covers themes such as employment, relationships, sexual health, treatment and management of haemophilia, information and knowledge, and quality of life.

Changing Haemophilia™
For more than three decades, Novo Nordisk has been committed to Changing Haemophilia™. In addition to the discovery and development of effective and safe biological medicines, we work with our global partners to advocate for and create better access to diagnosis and multidisciplinary care with a focus on joint health. We aim for a future where all people living with haemophilia can live a life with as few limitations as possible.

About Novo Nordisk 
Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk employs approximately 41,000 employees in 75 countries, and markets its products in more than 180 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com. 

Further information
Media:
Katrine Sperling
+45-4442-6718
krsp@novonordisk.com

Åsa Josefsson
+45-30797708
aajf@novonordisk.com

Investors:
Peter Hugreffe Ankersen
+45-3075-9085
phak@novonordisk.com

Melanie Raouzeos
+45-3075-3479
mrz@novonordisk.com

Daniel Bohsen
+45-3079-6376
dabo@novonordisk.com

Kasper Veje
+45-3079-8519
kpvj@novonordisk.com

SOURCE Novo Nordisk