Stockholm: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has announced the recipients of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine, honoring American scientists Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, along with Japanese scientist Shimon Sakaguchi, for their pioneering research on peripheral immune tolerance and its impact on the human immune system.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Academy recognized these scientists for their groundbreaking discoveries that have significantly advanced the understanding of immune system regulation and the prevention of autoimmune diseases. Their work has paved the way for new therapeutic approaches in treating cancer and autoimmune disorders, and holds promise for improving the success rates of organ transplants.
Shimon Sakaguchi, a Japanese scientist aged 74, initiated this line of research in 1995 by identifying a previously unknown class of immune cells that play a critical role in protecting the body from autoimmune diseases. This discovery challenged existing beliefs about the immune system's complexity.
American scientists Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, both aged 64, furthered this research in 2001 when they discovered a genetic mutation in mice, named Foxp3, which explained their susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. This mutation is analogous to a gene in humans that causes the autoimmune condition IPEX.
In 2003, Sakaguchi's work helped establish a connection between these discoveries, enhancing the scientific community's comprehension of immune system regulation to prevent self-attack by the body's own tissues.
The laureates will be formally recognized with a diploma, a gold medal, and a monetary award of USD 1.2 million at a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10.