The work by US scientists Mary E Brunkow (l), Fred Ramsdell (c), and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi (r) focused on the immune system|ISB; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology|CC BY-SA 4.0; CC BY 4.0
The first of the 2025 Nobel Prize awards were announced yesterday, with the accolade in medicine going to US scientists Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, and Japanese Shimon Sakaguchi.
The trio were awarded for discovering how the immune system prevents attacks on the body’s own cells through peripheral immune tolerance. Their findings have transformed the understanding of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and lupus.
Experts say the scientists have transformed immunology, establishing a foundation for future therapies targeting immune regulation. The three will share $1.2 million in prize money.
Awards for physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and economics will be announced throughout this week.