NEWS – Nobel Prize in Medicine 2025 Awarded to Trio for Groundbreaking Immune System Research
HIGHLIGHTS

Immune System “Security Guards” Discovered

• The 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine has been awarded to Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell from the United States, and Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan.
• The trio were honoured for discovering the immune system’s “security guards” — special cells that prevent the body from attacking itself.
• Their research identified regulatory T-cells (Tregs), crucial for maintaining immune tolerance and preventing autoimmune diseases.

Breakthrough in Understanding Autoimmunity

• The Nobel jury stated the discoveries were “decisive for understanding how the immune system functions and why we do not all develop autoimmune diseases.”
• Sakaguchi, a professor at Osaka University, expressed hope that the award would drive research toward clinical and bedside applications.
• Their findings laid the foundation for treatments targeting autoimmune disorders, cancer, and complications from stem cell transplants.

Milestones in Immunology

• 1995: Sakaguchi made the first major breakthrough by discovering regulatory T-cells that maintain immune balance — a process known as peripheral immune tolerance.
• 2001: Brunkow and Ramsdell identified a mutation in the Foxp3 gene in mice, explaining why some were prone to autoimmune diseases.
• Together, their work reshaped the understanding of how the immune system avoids attacking the body’s own tissues.

Recognition and Reward

• The laureates will share the $1.2 million prize, a gold medal, and a diploma at the Nobel ceremony in Stockholm on December 10.
• Their discoveries have inspired new therapeutic research and clinical trials worldwide, offering hope for millions suffering from immune-related disorders.