Nobel Prize in medicine goes to 3 scientists for work on peripheral immune tolerance

The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi for their groundbreaking discoveries in peripheral immune tolerance. Brunkow, 64, works as a senior program manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, while Ramsdell, 64, serves as a scientific adviser for Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco. Sakaguchi, 74, is a distinguished professor at the Immunology Frontier Research Center at Osaka University in Japan.

Brunkow received the news of her prestigious award from an AP photographer who visited her home early in the morning. Initially skeptical of the call from the Nobel committee, she was shocked and overjoyed to hear the news. Sakaguchi, speaking from a news conference in Japan, expressed his hope that their research would lead to advancements in treatments for various diseases.

The trio’s research focused on regulatory T cells, a subtype of T cells that play a crucial role in maintaining immune system balance. By unraveling the role of the Foxp3 gene in controlling the development of these regulatory T cells, they discovered a new mechanism for immune system regulation. This discovery has paved the way for new treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Brunkow and Ramsdell’s collaboration at a biotech company led them to identify a gene mutation that caused an overactive immune system in mice. This finding highlighted the gene’s significance in human health and opened up a new field of immunology. Researchers worldwide are now exploring the potential of regulatory T cells in developing novel therapies.

The Nobel Committee praised the laureates for their groundbreaking discoveries, which have deepened our understanding of the immune system and autoimmune diseases. The award ceremony will take place on December 10, with the trio sharing a prize of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.2 million).

The next Nobel Prize announcements will cover physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and economics. These awards honor individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, following in the footsteps of Alfred Nobel, the founder of the prizes. Nobel, a Swedish industrialist and inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in his will in 1896.

For more information on the AP Nobel Prizes, visit https://apnews.com/hub/nobel-prizes.