By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
October 31, 2025 5:03 AM EDT
Medical Herald
Search
  • Health Conditions
    Health ConditionsShow More
    Beware of Counterfeit Weight Loss Drugs Sold Online
    Weight Management
    Father’s Back Pain Leads to Tragic Cancer Diagnosis
    Cancer
    Novo Nordisk’s CEO Emphasizes Strategic Risks to Lead Obesity Market
    Weight Management
    Medtronic Launches Ankle Implant for Bladder Control
    Health Conditions
    Stewart’s Caring Place Highlights All Cancer Awareness in October
    Breast Cancer
  • Wellness & Self-Care
    Wellness & Self-CareShow More
    Pureance HydraLift: A Scientific Approach to Hair Care
    Wellness & Self-Care
    Jewel Reflects on Fame and Mental Health Advocacy Journey
    Mental Health
    Discover the Health Benefits of Hazelnuts
    Healthy Living
    How the Government Shutdown Affects Health Insurance Costs
    Wellness & Self-Care
    NYC Sues Tech Giants Over Youth Mental Health Crisis
    Mental Health
  • Nutrition & Fitness
    Nutrition & FitnessShow More
    Delicious Roasted Salmon with Olives from Dan Pelosi
    Healthy Recipes
    Short Exercise Bursts: A New Trend in Fitness?
    Fitness
    PepsiCo Launches Protein-Focused Beverages to Meet Demand
    Diet & Nutrition
    Calcium Loaf: A Depression-Era Recipe for Today’s Food Challenges
    Healthy Recipes
    Effective Full-Body Workout Enhances Testosterone and Muscle
    Fitness
  • Innovation
    InnovationShow More
    Understanding Superspreading and Pathogen Virulence Evolution
    Innovation
    Starkey Launches Innovative AI Hearing Aid for All Generations
    Innovation
    AstraZeneca Boosts Virginia Investment to $4.5 Billion for Drug Production
    Drugs & Medications
    How ALV-J Virus Bypasses Immune Defense Using miR-155
    Innovation
    Nursing Homes’ Use of Painkillers and Antidepressants Raises Risks
    Drugs & Medications
  • News
    NewsShow More
    Diet Coke Lime Set to Return in 2025 After Seven-Year Hiatus
    News
    Dublin Environmentalists Celebrate Tentative Repeal of Measure II
    News
    Trust in CDC Plummets Under Kennedy’s Leadership, Poll Reveals
    News
    St. Joseph Plans New Community Center and Cannabis Dispensary
    News
    Harry and Meghan Shine at World Mental Health Day Gala in NYC
    News
Font ResizerAa
Medical HeraldMedical Herald
  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness & Self-Care
  • Nutrition & Fitness
  • Innovation
  • News
Search
  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness & Self-Care
  • Nutrition & Fitness
  • Innovation
  • News
Follow US
Copyright © 2025, Medical Herald. All Rights Reserved.
Home » Innovation » Three Scientists Awarded Nobel Prize for Immune System Insights

Three Scientists Awarded Nobel Prize for Immune System Insights

By Samuel Lee
Published: October 8, 2025
Share

Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday for their groundbreaking work on peripheral immune tolerance. This honor highlights their significant contributions to our understanding of the human immune system and the mechanisms preventing the development of autoimmune diseases.

Brunkow, 64, serves as a senior program manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. Her colleague, Ramsdell, also 64, is a scientific adviser at Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco. Meanwhile, 74-year-old Sakaguchi holds a prestigious position as a professor at Osaka University’s Immunology Frontier Research Center in Japan.

Olle Kämpe, chair of the Nobel Committee, stated, “Their discoveries have been decisive for our understanding of how the immune system functions and why we do not all develop serious autoimmune diseases.”

The Nobel Prize is the first announcement in the 2025 series. The ceremony hosted by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm has marked the commencement of announcements for various prizes this week; physics will be revealed on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday, and literature on Thursday, with the Nobel Peace Prize to follow on Friday. The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will conclude the announcements on October 13. The awards ceremony is scheduled for December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896, a Swedish industrialist and inventor of dynamite.

The trio will share a prize of 11 million Swedish kronor, approximately $1.2 million.

Understanding the Immune System

The human immune system operates through complex systems that detect and combat threats like bacteria and viruses. Central to this defense are T cells, essential immune fighters that learn to identify harmful entities. Additionally, T cells that may trigger autoimmune diseases are typically eliminated in the thymus through a process called central tolerance.

The Nobel laureates shed light on an alternative mechanism governing immune regulation. Sakaguchi’s pivotal discovery in 1995 revealed a novel subtype of T cells, known as regulatory T cells or T-regs. In 2001, Brunkow and Ramsdell identified a mutation in the Foxp3 gene, crucial in regulating the immune response and also linked to a rare autoimmune disease in humans.

During their collaboration at a biotechnology company, Brunkow and Ramsdell investigated why a certain mouse strain displayed an overactive immune response. They employed innovative techniques to uncover the underlying gene issue, realizing the potential implications for human health. Brunkow remarked, “From a DNA level, it was a really small alteration that caused this massive change to how the immune system works.”

Expanding on their findings, Sakaguchi later demonstrated that the Foxp3 gene is pivotal in forming T-regs, which function as guardians to manage other T cells that might overreact.

The Significance of Their Research

Their collective efforts have paved the way for a new field within immunology, according to Karolinska Institute rheumatology professor Marie Wahren-Herlenius. Numerous researchers globally are now exploring ways to utilize regulatory T cells to formulate therapies aimed at treating autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Dr. Jonathan Schneck, a pathology professor at Johns Hopkins University, acknowledged the critical nature of their research, stating that before the trio’s contributions, the complexities of immune differentiation were largely misunderstood. He noted, “It’s incredibly important to emphasize, this work started back in 1995 and we’re reaping the benefits but yet have many more benefits we can reap.”

Reactions from the Winners

Upon learning of the award, Thomas Perlmann, the Nobel Committee’s secretary-general, managed to speak with Sakaguchi directly. “He sounded incredibly grateful, expressed that it was a fantastic honor. He was quite taken by the news,” Perlmann recounted. He had left unanswered calls for Brunkow and Ramsdell earlier that day.

At a subsequent news conference, Sakaguchi described his recognition as “a happy surprise,” indicating he initially believed more time was needed before the practical applications of the research emerged. “In the beginning, the area of my research was not very popular, and I had to struggle at times to earn research funding,” he said, acknowledging teamwork among fellow researchers.

“There are many illnesses that need further research and treatment, and I hope there will be further progress in those areas so that findings will lead to prevention of diseases. That’s what our research is for,” he added.

Sakaguchi’s news conference was notably interrupted by a congratulatory call from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, prompting a discussion on the timeline for potential clinical applications concerning cancer treatments. Sakaguchi optimistically mentioned, “Hopefully, we can reach that stage in about 20 years, though I’m not sure if I will still be around. But science will advance and by that time cancer will no longer be scary but treatable.”

Brunkow received her news in a rather unexpected manner; an Associated Press photographer arrived at her Seattle home early in the morning to deliver the great news. She had previously dismissed a call from the Nobel Committee, thinking it was a spam call. “When I told Mary she won, she said, ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’” her husband, Ross Colquhoun, said.

Attempts to contact Ramsdell for his thoughts were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.Symptoms & Diagnosis

TAGGED:Nobel Prize
Share This Article
Facebook LinkedIn Email Copy Link
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

HOT NEWS

Diet Coke Lime Set to Return in 2025 After Seven-Year Hiatus

October 30, 2025

Understanding Superspreading and Pathogen Virulence Evolution

Superspreading alters how pathogens evolve, influencing virulence, transmission, and long-term epidemic behavior across diverse host…

October 30, 2025

Dublin Environmentalists Celebrate Tentative Repeal of Measure II

A judge ruled Dublin must conduct an environmental review of Measure II, a controversial plan…

October 30, 2025

Delicious Roasted Salmon with Olives from Dan Pelosi

Dan Pelosi’s roasted salmon with Castelvetrano olives and orange zest blends freshness, simplicity, and flavor…

October 30, 2025

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Annual COVID Vaccines Essential for Severe Disease Protection

A new study reveals COVID boosters cut deaths by 64% and hospitalizations by 39%, offering protection across all age groups…

October 21, 2025

Study Reveals Baby’s Sex Odds Are Not 50-50

New research challenges the 50-50 baby gender myth, revealing parents with several boys or girls are more likely to have…

October 16, 2025

Witney Carson Launches Dance App Finesse with Robert Irwin

DWTS star Witney Carson launches Finesse, a dance fitness app designed to make movement fun and accessible for everyone—from beginners…

October 8, 2025

Skye Bioscience’s Weight Loss Drug Underwhelms in Phase 2 Trial

Skye Bioscience shares sank 60% as its drug nimacimab missed weight-loss goals, though combo data with semaglutide hinted at potential…

October 8, 2025

Medical Herald is your trusted source for medical news, scientific research, health policy updates, and expert insights from around the world. 

Category

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness & Self-Care
  • Nutrition & Fitness
  • Innovation
  • News
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact

Follow US: 

  • Grow Big Agency Sites:
  • London Business Journal
Copyright © 2025, Medical Herald. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?