Three researchers have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of the immune system. Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell from the United States, along with Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan, received the honor for their discovery of peripheral immune tolerance mechanisms. These mechanisms are essential, as they prevent the immune system from attacking the body itself.
Nobel Prize Winners of 2025
The Nobel Prize in Medicine for this year recognizes:
- Mary Brunkow (USA)
- Fred Ramsdell (USA)
- Shimon Sakaguchi (Japan)
This prestigious award, announced by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, comes with a prize of 11 million Swedish Krona, equivalent to approximately one million Euros.
Contributions to Immunology
The researchers’ work has opened new avenues for medical treatments, particularly in cancer and autoimmune diseases. They identified crucial regulatory T-cells that serve as protective mechanisms, ensuring that immune cells do not harm the body’s own tissues.
Olle Kämpe, the chair of the Nobel Committee, stated, “We now have a better understanding of how the immune system works and why not everyone develops severe autoimmune diseases.”
Profiles of the Nobel Laureates
- Mary Brunkow – Born in 1961, she completed her PhD at Princeton University and currently works at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle.
- Fred Ramsdell – Aged 64, he hails from Illinois and obtained his PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles. He serves as a scientific advisor at Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco.
- Shimon Sakaguchi – At 74 years old, he earned his PhD in 1983 in Kyoto and is a professor at Osaka University.
Historical Context of the Nobel Prize in Medicine
Since its inception in 1901, the Nobel Prize in Medicine has been awarded to 229 individuals, including 13 women. Notably, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard was the first and only German woman to win the prize, receiving it 30 years ago for her work on genetic control during early embryonic development.
The announcements of various Nobel Prizes will continue throughout the week, culminating in a ceremony on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
