Brunkow, Ramsdell, and Sakaguchi Win 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for groundbreaking discoveries explaining how the immune system controls its response to infections without attacking the body itself.
The trio was honored for uncovering the mechanisms that regulate peripheral immune tolerance — a process that prevents the immune system from damaging healthy tissues. Their research opened new paths in understanding and treating autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Their most significant contribution was the identification of regulatory T cells, a type of immune cell that acts as a guardian, keeping other immune cells from turning against the body.
“Their discoveries were crucial for understanding how the immune system maintains balance and why not all of us develop autoimmune diseases,” said Olle Kampe, President of the Nobel Committee.
The announcement marks the start of Nobel Prize Week 2025. Winners in Physics will be revealed on Tuesday, October 7, followed by Chemistry on Wednesday, October 9, both at 11:45 a.m.