Trio honored for groundbreaking discovery of regulatory T-cells that control the immune system
Stockholm, October 6 – In a landmark announcement, the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their revolutionary work on peripheral immune tolerance. Their discoveries revealed how regulatory T-cells prevent the immune system from attacking the body’s own tissues, offering new avenues for treating cancer, autoimmune diseases, and improving organ transplantation.
Shimon Sakaguchi first identified regulatory T-cells in 1995, challenging the belief that immune tolerance occurs only in the thymus. Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell later traced mutations in the Foxp3 gene, showing its critical role in autoimmune disorders. Their research has already led to clinical trials and therapies targeting diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune conditions.
The Nobel Committee emphasized that this breakthrough fundamentally deepens the understanding of the immune system and opens pathways for innovative medical interventions worldwide. The laureates will receive their awards, including a gold medal and certificate, on December 10 in Stockholm.
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