Dr. Jes Olesen is a world-renowned neurologist and pioneering figure in headache research with over five decades of clinical and academic excellence. He currently serves as Professor of Neurology at the University of Copenhagen and Chief Physician at the Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, where he has been instrumental in advancing neurological care and research. Born in Hobro, Denmark in 1941, he completed his medical education and neurology residency at Copenhagen's Bispebjerg Hospital and Rigshospitalet from 1969 to 1973. Dr. Olesen earned his Doctor of Medical Sciences degree from the University of Copenhagen in 1974 and was appointed Professor of Neurology in 1985, establishing himself as a leading authority in neurological disorders. Throughout his distinguished career, he has maintained dual commitments to clinical practice and scientific research, founding the Danish Headache Center which has become a global reference institution for headache disorders.
Dr. Olesen's groundbreaking contributions to headache research have fundamentally reshaped the understanding and treatment of migraine and other primary headache disorders. As the longtime chairperson of the International Headache Classification Committee, he spearheaded the development of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, serving as the definitive diagnostic framework used by clinicians and researchers worldwide for nearly three decades. His laboratory pioneered the development of rodent models of migraine that have been critical for understanding the pathophysiology of migraine attacks and testing potential therapeutic interventions. Dr. Olesen's work on the calcitonin gene-related peptide pathway led to the development of the first CGRP receptor antagonist, olcegepant, which, despite pharmacokinetic limitations, paved the way for the current generation of highly effective migraine-specific medications now transforming patient care globally.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Dr. Olesen has been instrumental in building international collaborative networks that have elevated headache medicine as a specialized discipline within neurology. He co-founded the European Federation of Neurological Societies and the European Brain Council, establishing critical infrastructure for neurological research coordination across the continent. With an impressive scholarly record of 461 peer-reviewed publications, 229 additional papers or book chapters, and 33 edited scientific books including the definitive reference work The Headaches, his academic influence spans generations of neurologists. Currently, Dr. Olesen continues to advance migraine research through innovative genetic studies, stem cell investigations derived from migraine patients, and epidemiological collaborations, maintaining his position at the forefront of headache medicine as both a mentor to younger researchers and an active contributor to the field's most challenging questions.
