Nobel Prize 2025 in Medicine, Winner Name, Contribution

Q: Who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025?

Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi won for discovering mechanisms maintaining immune self-tolerance in humans.

Q: What was the 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded for?

The prize recognized research explaining peripheral immune tolerance and regulatory T cells preventing the body from attacking itself.

Q: Which gene was central to the 2025 Nobel-winning discovery?

The FOXP3 gene, essential for development of regulatory T cells, was identified as key in immune system self-tolerance.

Q: How has the 2025 discovery impacted medicine?

It has advanced understanding of autoimmune diseases, allergies, organ rejection, and enabled development of targeted modern immunotherapies.

Q: Where was the Nobel Prize in Medicine 2025 announced?

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, announced it on 6 October 2025, highlighting breakthroughs in immune regulation.

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The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 was announced on October 6, 2025, by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. This year’s award recognizes path-breaking research explaining how the immune system prevents attacks on the body’s own tissues, a concept known as peripheral immune tolerance. The discovery offers new understanding of autoimmune diseases and opens ways for modern immunotherapies.

Nobel Prize 2025 in Medicine

The Nobel Prize 2025 in Medicine was jointly awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their discovery of mechanisms that maintain immune self-tolerance. Their research identified the FOXP3 gene and its role in developing regulatory T cells (Tregs), immune cells that prevent the body from attacking itself. This discovery has transformed immunology, enabling new approaches to treat autoimmune diseases, allergies, and organ rejection. The announcement was made on Monday, 6 October, 11:30 CEST at The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, Wallenbergsalen, Nobel Forum, Nobels väg 1, Solna.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Historical Background

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is one of the most prestigious international awards in medical science. Established in 1901 according to Alfred Nobel’s will, it recognizes discoveries that have “conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.” Awarded annually by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, it honors contributions in physiology, medicine, and biomedical research that significantly advance human health and understanding of life sciences.

Nobel Prize Winners 2025 in Physiology or Medicine

The Nobel Prize 2025 continues the legacy by honoring discoveries in immunology, one of the most influential areas of modern medicine.

1. Mary E. Brunkow (USA): Mary E. Brunkow, an American geneticist, identified the FOXP3 gene mutation responsible for immune system imbalance in both humans and mice. Her work showed how a defective FOXP3 gene leads to loss of immune control, causing severe autoimmune disorders such as Type 1 diabetes and IPEX syndrome. This discovery revealed the genetic foundation of immune self-tolerance and opened new directions in molecular immunology.

2. Fred Ramsdell (USA): Fred Ramsdell, an American immunologist, confirmed the functional importance of the FOXP3 gene and its connection to regulatory T cells (Tregs). He demonstrated that FOXP3 acts as a “master control gene” guiding Treg formation. Ramsdell’s contribution bridged genetics and immunology, showing how gene expression regulates immune stability. His findings have helped in developing targeted therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

3. Shimon Sakaguchi (Japan): Shimon Sakaguchi, a Japanese scientist, first discovered regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the early 1990s. His research proved that these cells act as “immune guardians,” preventing harmful attacks on the body’s own tissues. Sakaguchi’s work clarified how the immune system balances defense and tolerance, a key to understanding autoimmune diseases. His pioneering studies formed the foundation that later linked with Brunkow’s and Ramsdell’s findings.

Together, these scientists uncovered the complete mechanism of immune self-control, linking a genetic key (FOXP3) to its cellular regulators (Tregs).

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Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Laureates

Earlier Nobel Prizes in Medicine have recognized transformative discoveries across fields such as immunology, genetics, physiology, and virology. Some notable laureates include:

Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine (1901-2025)

Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine (1901-2025)
S. No.	Year	Name	Contribution
1	2025	Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi	Discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance
2	2024	Victor Ambros, Gary Ruvkun	Discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation
3	2023	Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman	Discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications enabling mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
4	2022	Svante Pääbo	Discoveries concerning genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution
5	2021	David Julius, Ardem Patapoutian	Discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch
6	2020	Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton, Charles M. Rice	Discovery of Hepatitis C virus
7	2019	William G. Kaelin Jr, Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe, Gregg L. Semenza	Discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability
8	2018	James P. Allison, Tasuku Honjo	Discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation
9	2017	Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, Michael W. Young	Discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm
10	2016	Yoshinori Ohsumi	Discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy
11	2015	William C. Campbell, Satoshi Ōmura, Tu Youyou	Discoveries concerning therapies against roundworm infections and Malaria
12	2014	John O’Keefe, May-Britt Moser, Edvard I. Moser	Discoveries of cells constituting a positioning system in the brain
13	2013	James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman, Thomas C. Südhof	Discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic
14	2012	Sir John B. Gurdon, Shinya Yamanaka	Discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent
15	2011	Bruce A. Beutler, Jules A. Hoffmann, Ralph M. Steinman	Discoveries on activation of innate immunity and dendritic cells’ role in adaptive immunity
16	2010	Robert G. Edwards	Development of in vitro fertilization
17	2009	Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider, Jack W. Szostak	Discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and telomerase
18	2008	Harald zur Hausen, Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Luc Montagnier	Discovery of HPV causing cervical cancer and HIV
19	2007	Mario R. Capecchi, Sir Martin J. Evans, Oliver Smithies	Discoveries of principles for gene modifications in mice using embryonic stem cells
20	2006	Andrew Z. Fire, Craig C. Mello	Discovery of RNA interference (gene silencing by double-stranded RNA)
21	2005	Barry J. Marshall, J. Robin Warren	Discovery of Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease
22	2004	Richard Axel, Linda B. Buck	Discoveries of odorant receptors and organization of the olfactory system
23	2003	Paul C. Lauterbur, Sir Peter Mansfield	Discoveries concerning magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
24	2002	Sydney Brenner, H. Robert Horvitz, John E. Sulston	Discoveries on genetic regulation of organ development and programmed cell death
25	2001	Leland Hartwell, Tim Hunt, Sir Paul Nurse	Discoveries of key regulators of the cell cycle
26	2000	Arvid Carlsson, Paul Greengard, Eric Kandel	Discoveries concerning signal transduction in the nervous system
27	1999	Günter Blobel	Discovery that proteins have intrinsic signals governing transport and localization
28	1998	Robert F. Furchgott, Louis J. Ignarro, Ferid Murad	Discoveries concerning nitric oxide as a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system
29	1997	Stanley B. Prusiner	Discovery of Prions as a new biological principle of infection
30	1996	Peter C. Doherty, Rolf M. Zinkernagel	Discoveries concerning specificity of cell-mediated immune defence
31	1995	Edward B. Lewis, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, Eric F. Wieschaus	Discoveries concerning genetic control of early embryonic development
32	1994	Alfred G. Gilman, Martin Rodbell	Discovery of G-proteins and their role in signal transduction
33	1993	Richard J. Roberts, Phillip A. Sharp	Discoveries of split genes
34	1992	Edmond H. Fischer, Edwin G. Krebs	Discoveries concerning reversible protein phosphorylation
35	1991	Erwin Neher, Bert Sakmann	Discoveries concerning the function of single ion channels in cells
36	1990	Joseph E. Murray, E. Donnall Thomas	Discoveries concerning organ and cell transplantation in treatment of human disease
37	1989	J. Michael Bishop, Harold E. Varmus	Discovery of the cellular origin of retroviral oncogenes
38	1988	Sir James W. Black, Gertrude B. Elion, George H. Hitchings	Discoveries of important principles for drug treatment
39	1987	Susumu Tonegawa	Discovery of the genetic principle for generation of antibody diversity
40	1986	Stanley Cohen, Rita Levi-Montalcini	Discoveries of growth factors
41	1985	Michael S. Brown, Joseph L. Goldstein	Discoveries concerning regulation of cholesterol metabolism
42	1984	Niels K. Jerne, Georges J.F. Köhler, César Milstein	Theories on immune system specificity and monoclonal antibody production
43	1983	Barbara McClintock	Discovery of mobile genetic elements
44	1982	Sune K. Bergström, Bengt I. Samuelsson, John R. Vane	Discoveries concerning prostaglandins and related substances
45	1981	Roger W. Sperry, David H. Hubel, Torsten N. Wiesel	Discoveries on cerebral hemisphere specialization and visual system information processing
46	1980	Baruj Benacerraf, Jean Dausset, George D. Snell	Discoveries concerning genetically determined structures regulating immunological reactions
47	1979	Allan M. Cormack, Godfrey N. Hounsfield	Development of computer-assisted tomography
48	1978	Werner Arber, Daniel Nathans, Hamilton O. Smith	Discovery of restriction enzymes and their application in molecular genetics
49	1977	Roger Guillemin, Andrew V. Schally, Rosalyn Yalow	Discoveries on peptide hormone production and radioimmunoassays
50	1976	Baruch S. Blumberg, D. Carleton Gajdusek	Discoveries on new mechanisms for origin and dissemination of infectious diseases
51	1975	David Baltimore, Renato Dulbecco, Howard M. Temin	Discoveries on interaction between tumor viruses and genetic material
52	1974	Albert Claude, Christian de Duve, George E. Palade	Discoveries on structural and functional organization of the cell
53	1973	Karl von Frisch, Konrad Lorenz, Nikolaas Tinbergen	Discoveries concerning individual and social behaviour patterns
54	1972	Gerald M. Edelman, Rodney R. Porter	Discoveries concerning chemical structure of antibodies
55	1971	Earl W. Sutherland, Jr.	Discoveries on mechanisms of hormone action
56	1970	Sir Bernard Katz, Ulf von Euler, Julius Axelrod	Discoveries on humoral transmitters in nerve terminals
57	1969	Max Delbrück, Alfred D. Hershey, Salvador E. Luria	Discoveries on virus replication mechanism and genetic structure
58	1968	Robert W. Holley, H. Gobind Khorana, Marshall W. Nirenberg	Interpretation of genetic code and its role in protein synthesis
59	1967	Ragnar Granit, Keffer Hartline, George Wald	Discoveries on primary physiological and chemical visual processes
60	1966	Peyton Rous, Charles B. Huggins	Discovery of tumor-inducing viruses and hormonal treatment of prostatic cancer
61	1965	François Jacob, André Lwoff, Jacques Monod	Discoveries concerning genetic control of enzyme and virus synthesis
62	1964	Konrad Bloch, Feodor Lynen	Discoveries concerning mechanism and regulation of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism
63	1963	Sir John Eccles, Alan Hodgkin, Andrew Huxley	Discoveries concerning ionic mechanisms in excitation and inhibition of nerve cells
64	1962	Francis Crick, James Watson, Maurice Wilkins	Discoveries concerning molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer
65	1961	Georg von Békésy	Discoveries of the physical mechanism of stimulation within the cochlea
66	1960	Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, Peter Medawar	Discovery of acquired immunological tolerance
67	1959	Severo Ochoa, Arthur Kornberg	Discovery of mechanisms in the biological synthesis of RNA and DNA
68	1958	George Beadle, Edward Tatum, Joshua Lederberg	Discovery that genes act by regulating chemical events and genetic recombination in bacteria
69	1957	Daniel Bovet	Discoveries relating to synthetic compounds inhibiting certain body substances, especially vascular system and skeletal muscles
70	1956	André F. Cournand, Werner Forssmann, Dickinson W. Richards	Discoveries concerning heart catheterization and circulatory system pathology
71	1955	Hugo Theorell	Discoveries concerning nature and mode of action of oxidation enzymes
72	1954	John F. Enders, Thomas H. Weller, Frederick C. Robbins	Discovery of poliomyelitis virus growth in tissue cultures
73	1953	Hans Krebs, Fritz Lipmann	Discovery of citric acid cycle and co-enzyme A in intermediary metabolism
74	1952	Selman A. Waksman	Discovery of streptomycin, first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis
75	1951	Max Theiler	Discoveries concerning yellow fever and its control
76	1950	Edward C. Kendall, Tadeus Reichstein, Philip S. Hench	Discoveries relating to adrenal cortex hormones, their structure and effects
77	1949	Walter Hess, Egas Moniz	Discovery of functional organization of the interbrain and therapeutic value of leucotomy
78	1948	Paul Müller	Discovery of high efficiency of DDT as contact poison against arthropods
79	1947	Carl Cori, Gerty Cori, Bernardo Houssay	Discovery of catalytic conversion of glycogen and hormone role in sugar metabolism
80	1946	Hermann J. Muller	Discovery of mutation production by X-ray irradiation
81	1945	Sir Alexander Fleming, Ernst B. Chain, Sir Howard Florey	Discovery of penicillin and its curative effect in infectious diseases
82	1944	Joseph Erlanger, Herbert S. Gasser	Discoveries on highly differentiated functions of single nerve fibers
83	1943	Henrik Dam, Edward A. Doisy	Discovery of vitamin K and its chemical nature
84	1942	Not awarded	Prize money allocated to main and special fund
85	1941	Not awarded	Prize money allocated to main and special fund
86	1940	Not awarded	Prize money allocated to main and special fund
87	1939	Gerhard Domagk	Discovery of antibacterial effects of prontosil
88	1938	Corneille Heymans	Discovery of role of sinus and aortic mechanisms in respiration regulation
89	1937	Albert Szent-Györgyi	Discoveries in biological combustion processes, vitamin C, catalysis of fumaric acid
90	1936	Sir Henry Dale, Otto Loewi	Discoveries relating to chemical transmission of nerve impulses
91	1935	Hans Spemann	Discovery of the organizer effect in embryonic development
92	1934	George H. Whipple, George R. Minot, William P. Murphy	Discoveries concerning liver therapy in anemia
93	1933	Thomas H. Morgan	Discoveries concerning chromosome role in heredity
94	1932	Sir Charles Sherrington, Edgar Adrian	Discoveries regarding neuron functions
95	1931	Otto Warburg	Discovery of nature and mode of action of respiratory enzyme
96	1930	Karl Landsteiner	Discovery of human blood groups
97	1929	Christiaan Eijkman, Sir Frederick Hopkins	Discovery of antineuritic vitamin and growth-stimulating vitamins
98	1928	Charles Nicolle	Work on typhus
99	1927	Julius Wagner-Jauregg	Discovery of therapeutic value of malaria inoculation in dementia paralytica
100	1926	Johannes Fibiger	Discovery of Spiroptera carcinoma
101	1925	Not awarded	Prize money allocated to special fund
102	1924	Willem Einthoven	Discovery of electrocardiogram mechanism
103	1923	Frederick G. Banting, John Macleod	Discovery of insulin
104	1922	Archibald V. Hill, Otto Meyerhof	Discoveries relating to heat production in muscle and oxygen-lactic acid metabolism
105	1921	Not awarded	Prize money allocated to special fund
106	1920	August Krogh	Discovery of capillary motor regulating mechanism
107	1919	Jules Bordet	Discoveries relating to immunity
108	1918	Not awarded	Prize money allocated to special fund
109	1917	Not awarded	Prize money allocated to special fund
110	1916	Not awarded	Prize money allocated to special fund
111	1915	Not awarded	Prize money allocated to special fund
112	1914	Robert Bárány	Work on physiology and pathology of vestibular apparatus
113	1913	Charles Richet	Work on anaphylaxis
114	1912	Alexis Carrel	Work on vascular suture and organ transplantation
115	1911	Allvar Gullstrand	Work on dioptrics of the eye
116	1910	Albrecht Kossel	Contributions to cell chemistry through work on proteins and nucleic substances
117	1909	Theodor Kocher	Work on physiology, pathology, and surgery of thyroid gland
118	1908	Ilya Mechnikov, Paul Ehrlich	Work on immunity
119	1907	Alphonse Laveran	Work on role of protozoa in causing diseases
120	1906	Camillo Golgi, Santiago Ramón y Cajal	Work on structure of nervous system
121	1905	Robert Koch	Investigations and discoveries in relation to tuberculosis
122	1904	Ivan Pavlov	Work on physiology of digestion
123	1903	Niels Ryberg Finsen	Contribution to treatment of diseases using concentrated light radiation
124	1902	Ronald Ross	Work on malaria, showing its entry into the organism and methods to combat it
125	1901	Emil von Behring	Work on serum therapy, especially against diphtheria