Stockholm: The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their groundbreaking work on peripheral immune tolerance, a discovery that has fundamentally transformed the understanding of how the human immune system maintains a delicate balance between defending the body against pathogens and preventing it from attacking its own tissues.
The Nobel Assembly at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute lauded the trio for their seminal contributions in revealing the mechanisms that regulate immune responses outside the central immune system. Their research illuminated how peripheral immune tolerance operates, preventing autoimmune reactions while ensuring effective immunity. These findings have opened new avenues for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, and cancer, offering potential for therapies that modulate immune responses with precision.
Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi’s work has not only advanced basic immunology but also laid a foundation for applied medical science. By understanding how regulatory pathways control immune activity, scientists can now explore therapeutic strategies to prevent the immune system from mistakenly attacking healthy tissue. Their discoveries have already influenced the development of immunotherapies aimed at fine-tuning immune responses in diseases ranging from type 1 diabetes to various forms of cancer.
The Nobel Prize carries a monetary award of 11 million Swedish crowns, approximately $1.2 million, which will be shared equally among the three laureates. The formal award ceremony is scheduled for 10 December in Stockholm, coinciding with the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, with the Swedish royal family in attendance.
The 2025 award underscores the significance of fundamental scientific research in unraveling complex biological systems. It also highlights the collaborative nature of modern science, as the laureates represent prestigious institutions in the United States and Japan. Their collective work exemplifies how sustained investigation into basic physiological mechanisms can yield insights with far-reaching clinical implications.
Experts say the recognition of Brunkow, Ramsdell, and Sakaguchi’s work will inspire future generations of immunologists to harness the immune system’s potential more effectively, potentially revolutionizing treatments for autoimmune conditions, cancer, and other immune-related diseases. In a time when understanding immune function is more critical than ever, their pioneering research stands as a testament to the transformative power of science.