Nobel Prize in Medicine for trio who investigated autoimmune diseases
“Their discoveries were fundamental to understanding how the immune system works”, declared the president of the jury, Olle Kämpe.
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, from the United States, and Shimon Sakaguchi, from Japan, for their discoveries on peripheral immune tolerance.
The winners identified the mechanisms, involving specific T cells (such as the previously discovered CD25 cells), responsible for the autoregulation of the immune system. This mechanism, known as peripheral immune tolerance, prevents the immune system from attacking the body’s own cells, a fundamental cause of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
His research has provided a fundamental understanding of how the immune system works, why not everyone develops autoimmune diseases, and opened the door to innovative cancer treatments and transplants.
“Their discoveries were fundamental to understanding how the immune system works and why not all humans develop autoimmune diseases,” said jury president Olle Kämpe.
Among those awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine are illustrious figures such as Alexander Fleming, awarded in 1945 for his role in the discovery of penicillin. More recently, the award has recognized pioneering contributions, such as scientific advances that enabled the creation of vaccines against Covid-19. The Medicine prize traditionally opens the annual call, followed by the Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace and Economics prizes in the following days.
This year, the financial allocation is eleven million Swedish kronor (around one million euros) per category. The official award ceremony will take place on December 10th.
About The Author
