Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Awarded for Immune System Breakthroughs
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The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has announced that Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell of the United States, and Shimon Sakaguchi of Japan, are the recipients of the 2023 nobel Prize in physiology or Medicine. The award recognizes their groundbreaking discoveries concerning the regulation of the immune system, specifically in the area of peripheral tolerance.
Initial Difficulty Contacting Laureates
The Nobel committee traditionally contacts winners directly to announce the prize. However, locating fred Ramsdell, 64, proved challenging. According to the French news agency AFP, Ramsdell intentionally sought to avoid immediate contact, embarking on a walking holiday without electronic devices.
“I tried to get hold of him myself. I think he’s backpacking in the wilderness of Idaho,” stated Jeffrey bluestone, a colleague and friend of Ramsdell, to AFP.
Co-recipient Mary brunkow was also initially tough to reach, but the Nobel Committee eventually made contact. Thomas Perlmann, Secretary-General of the Nobel Committee, expressed hope to speak with Ramsdell soon, stating during the press conference, “I asked, if he gets the chance, to call me back.”
Understanding Peripheral Tolerance
The research conducted by Brunkow, Ramsdell, and Sakaguchi centers on “peripheral tolerance,” a crucial mechanism that prevents the immune system from overreacting to substances, such as allergens. An excessive immune response can be detrimental to health. Their work has illuminated how the immune system distinguishes between harmful invaders and the body’s own tissues, preventing autoimmune diseases and controlling allergic reactions.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is the frist of the annual Nobel Prizes to be awarded, with the prizes for Physics, Chemistry, literature, peace, and Economic Sciences to follow in the coming days.
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