Nobel Prize 2025 Winners: The Nobel Committee announced this year’s award in medicine today, October 6th. This prestigious honour was jointly awarded to Mary E. Brunckow and Fred Ramsdell of the United States and Shimon Sakaguchi of Japan. These scientists received the prize for their important discovery regarding “peripheral immune tolerance”, or tolerance within the body’s external immune system.
Nobel Prize 2025 Winners: What is ‘peripheral immune tolerance’?
Peripheral immune tolerance is a biological process that prevents the body’s immune system from attacking its own healthy organs and tissues. This tolerance plays a vital role in protecting our body’s own cells. If this process malfunctions, the body can develop autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Nobel Prize in Medicine: Discovery and role of the FoxP3 gene
In the 1990s, Mary Brunckow identified the FOXP3 gene. Ramsdell and Sakaguchi subsequently elucidated the gene’s function. They discovered that it controls regulatory T cells (Tregs), which help maintain the immune system. These cells ensure that the body’s immune system doesn’t harm its own organs.
Nobel Prize 2025: Revolutionary discoveries in cancer and transplantation
This discovery opened new avenues in medical science. It has had a major impact, particularly in the fields of cancer immunotherapy and organ transplantation. Scientists are now able to control the body’s immune system to make the fight against cancer more effective. Furthermore, this technique is also helpful in preventing organ rejection during transplantation.
BREAKING NEWS
The 2025 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi “for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance.” pic.twitter.com/nhjxJSoZEr— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 6, 2025
New drugs used in treatment
The three scientists demonstrated that immune system tolerance is essential not only at the central level but also at the outer reaches of the body. Today, Treg therapy, based on their discovery, is being used to treat autoimmune diseases, providing patients with more effective and safe treatment.
Milestone for medical science
The Nobel Committee stated that this discovery has proven to be extremely beneficial for human health. It not only helps treat serious diseases but also paves the way for the development of new drugs and treatments in the future. Scientists have hailed this discovery as a major achievement in the history of immunology.
Prize money and honors
The three scientists will jointly receive a prize of approximately 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately US$1 million). This award highlights the importance of immune system tolerance in medicine.
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