Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi won the 2025 Nobel Prize for discoveries on immune tolerance.
Their work explains how the body prevents T-cells from attacking its own tissues.
Sakaguchi found regulatory T-cells, or T-regs, which act as the immune system’s brakes.
Brunkow and Ramsdell identified the FoxP3 gene, vital for T-reg development and self-tolerance.
“These cells stop autoimmunity but also help cancers hide,” said Prof Adrian Liston.
The findings led to new treatments for autoimmune diseases, transplants, and cancer therapy.
“This prize was long overdue,” said Prof Adrian Hayday.
