Nobel Prize in Medicine 2025 Awarded to Trio for Immune System Discoveries
By VIP News
The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute announced today that the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to a trio of scientists, Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell of the United States, and Shimon Sakaguchi of Japan, for their landmark discoveries unraveling how the body’s immune system protects us from the countless microbes that threaten our health daily.
The three laureates’ research, conducted over decades, revealed how the immune system maintains “peripheral immune tolerance”, the process by which the body distinguishes between harmful invaders and its own healthy cells. Their identification and characterization of regulatory T cells have fundamentally changed the understanding of immune regulation, paving the way for therapies for autoimmune diseases, transplantation, and cancer.
“Their discoveries have revolutionized our knowledge of the immune system,” said Professor Gunilla Karlsson Hedestam, Chair of the Nobel Committee. “This work is already guiding new treatments for illnesses that once defied medicine’s best efforts.”
Fred Ramsdell, Mary E. Brunkow, and Shimon Sakaguchi represent the spirit of international collaboration that defines modern scientific progress. In statements following the award, Dr. Sakaguchi emphasized, “Understanding tolerance is essential for fighting disease without harming ourselves.” Brunkow and Ramsdell highlighted the importance of teamwork and global cooperation in making such advances possible.
This year’s winner will share 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1 million USD), with the Nobel ceremony scheduled for December 10, on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
The trio’s work is set to inspire future breakthroughs in immunology, giving hope to millions facing autoimmune conditions and contributing to a healthier society worldwide.
