Overview

• The laureates revealed peripheral immune tolerance by identifying regulatory T cells and establishing the FOXP3 gene as essential for their development.
• Shimon Sakaguchi first described regulatory T cells in 1995, Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell linked FOXP3 mutations to severe autoimmunity in 2001, and in 2003 Sakaguchi connected FOXP3 to the Treg lineage.
• Their work underpins approaches to boost Tregs for autoimmune disease and transplant tolerance and to inhibit tumor‑associated Tregs in cancer, with several candidates in clinical trials.
• The Nobel Assembly said the discoveries clarified why most people do not develop severe autoimmunity and launched a new field of research.
• The three winners will share 11 million Swedish kronor, with the prize to be presented in Stockholm on December 10.