Nobel Prize in Medicine: Three Researchers Awarded for Their Discoveries on the Immune System

The Nobel Prize in Medicine for 2025 was awarded on Monday, October 6, to American researchers Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Japanese scientist Shimon Sakaguchi. The Nobel committee praised their work "for their groundbreaking discoveries regarding peripheral immune tolerance that prevents the immune system from harming the body."

The three scientists highlighted the crucial role of regulatory T cells, the true "guardians of the immune system." These cells prevent immune defenses from attacking human body tissues, thus avoiding potentially serious autoimmune diseases.

Born in 1961, Mary E. Brunkow, alongside 64-year-old Fred Ramsdell and 74-year-old Shimon Sakaguchi, has contributed to laying the groundwork for a new research field. Their discoveries have paved the way for new therapeutic approaches, particularly in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.