Summary of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025
This article details the awarding of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell (American researchers) and Shimon Sakaguchi (Japanese researcher) for their groundbreaking discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance.
Key Findings & Contributions:
* regulatory T Cells: The researchers identified and characterized regulatory T cells, which are crucial for preventing the immune system from attacking the body’s own tissues (autoimmune diseases).
* Shimon Sakaguchi (1995): Discovered a previously unknown class of immune cells that protect against autoimmune diseases, challenging the than-dominant theory of “central tolerance” (elimination of perilous cells in the thymus).
* Mary E. Brunkow & Fred Ramsdell (2001): Identified the Foxp3 gene as critical for immune tolerance. Mutations in this gene (and its human equivalent) cause the severe autoimmune disease IPEX.
* Sakaguchi’s Confirmation (2003): Linked his earlier discoveries to Brunkow and Ramsdell’s work, demonstrating that the Foxp3 gene governs the development of regulatory T cells.
Importance:
Their work has laid the foundation for a new area of research and the development of potential treatments for autoimmune diseases and even cancer. Understanding how to control the immune system is vital for fighting infections while avoiding self-attack.
Concerns about American Research:
The article also highlights a growing concern about the potential weakening of American research due to budget cuts implemented by President Trump. Despite American researchers being recognized with the prize, the cuts to funding for organizations like the NIH (National institutes of Health) are raising alarms about the future of scientific advancement in the US. Over $9.5 billion in research subsidies have been cut since January.
