The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their groundbreaking research on the human immune system. Announced by Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, the trio will receive the prize in December for their discoveries related to peripheral immune tolerance, a mechanism that prevents the immune system from attacking the body’s own tissues.
Their work explains how the immune system can defend against a wide variety of microbes while avoiding autoimmune diseases. Marie Wahren-Herlenius, a rheumatology professor at the Karolinska Institute, described their research as key to understanding immune regulation.
2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology
The prize, totaling 11 million Swedish kronor (about $1.17 million), will be equally shared by Brunkow and Ramsdell from the United States and Sakaguchi from Japan, accompanied by gold medals presented by the King of Sweden.
The Nobel Assembly highlighted that their discoveries have created a new field of research and led to the development of innovative treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The findings have also influenced potential therapies in clinical trials to improve organ transplant outcomes.
This award opens the annual Nobel Prize announcements, recognized globally as some of the most prestigious honors in science, literature, peace, and economics.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for allegedly halting seven wars since his inauguration earlier this year. However, due to nomination deadlines and apparent resistance within the awarding bodies, he is unlikely to receive the honor this year, as nominations closed in January.
