Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine.
They were honored for discovering how the immune system prevents attacks on the body — known as peripheral immune tolerance.
Sakaguchi identified regulatory T-cells, the “brakes” of immunity. Brunkow and Ramsdell revealed the FoxP3 gene that controls them.
“These cells stop autoimmunity and allergies,” said Prof Adrian Liston. “Without them, disease strikes early.”
The findings transformed immunology and spurred new treatments for autoimmune disease, transplants, and cancer.
“This prize was long overdue,” said Prof Adrian Hayday.
