Overview

• The 2025 Physiology or Medicine prize was announced in Stockholm and recognizes work that explains how the body restrains harmful immune responses.
• Shimon Sakaguchi provided early evidence for regulatory T cells in the 1980s, and Mary E. Brunkow with Fred Ramsdell later tied the Foxp3 gene to their development and a rare autoimmune disorder.
• The Nobel Committee said the findings created a new research field and are informing treatment strategies across oncology and autoimmune conditions.
• Sonoma Biotherapeutics and colleague Jeffrey Bluestone said Ramsdell could not be reached after the announcement because he likely went hiking in Idaho.
• With the late-night timing on the U.S. West Coast, Brunkow initially dismissed the committee’s call as spam; the award includes a diploma, a gold medal and 11 million Swedish kronor as Nobel week continues.