(MENAFN) The 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded on Monday to Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell of the United States, alongside Shimon Sakaguchi of Japan, for groundbreaking discoveries in peripheral immune tolerance—findings that could revolutionize treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer.

The Karolinska Institute in Sweden hosted the announcement, where the trio was recognized for unveiling the mechanisms that prevent the immune system from attacking the body's own tissues.

Their research focused on the immune system’s T cells, which typically target harmful microbes. However, some T cells mistakenly attack the body’s own proteins, triggering autoimmune disorders. By conducting genetic studies on mice prone to autoimmune disease, the scientists pinpointed the Foxp3 gene as essential for regulatory T cells that suppress damaging immune responses.

Crucially, this gene is also implicated in IPEX syndrome, a rare human immune disorder. Their work has paved the way for innovative therapies, many now progressing through clinical trials.

“These discoveries hold promise for preventing severe complications post-stem cell transplants, discovering more effective cancer therapies, and developing cures for autoimmune diseases,” the committee said.

Last year, the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun from the US for their identification of microRNA and its role in gene regulation after transcription.

Since its inception, 115 Nobel Prizes in Medicine have been bestowed, with no recipient having won twice. The award’s youngest laureate was 31 years old, while the oldest was 87.

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