Nobel Week kicks off in Stockholm: first prize awarded for discovery in immunology

Today, October 6, 2025, the traditional Nobel Week begins – a series of official announcements of Nobel Prize laureates in various fields.

The ceremonial part begins in Stockholm with the announcement of the prize in physiology or medicine, after which the winners in the fields of physics, chemistry, literature, peace and economics will be named within a few days.

As you know, Nobel Week is a time when the international community closely watches the announcements that determine this year’s laureates in key scientific, literary, political, and economic fields.

Here’s how events will unfold:

• October 6 — announcement of the laureate in physiology or medicine in Stockholm.
• October 7 — Physics Prize.
• October 8 — Chemistry Prize.
• October 9 — Literature Prize.
• October 10th – the Peace Prize, which is announced in Oslo.
• October 13 — Prize in Economics (In Memory of Alfred Nobel).

Each announcement is broadcast live on the official Nobel Prize platforms. In parallel, the Nobel Calling program takes place in Stockholm – ten days of events, presentations, laboratory tours and scientific debates.

In addition, Nobel Week Dialogues are often held outside Stockholm — forums where laureates, scientists, research project leaders, and politicians discuss global issues, innovations, and the future of science.

The prize money, medals, and certificates will be awarded during ceremonies on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

The Nobel Assembly at the Karaolin Institute has decided to award the Prize in Medicine to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguti “for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance.”

The press release states that the laureates have discovered how the immune system maintains balance: how it attacks pathogens, but not its own tissues. Previously, it was believed that the main control of immunity occurs in central organs (for example, the thymus gland, where immune cells “learn”). In 1995, Sakaguchi discovered a subtype of T cells that suppress excessive immune responses – regulatory T cells (T-regs).

Brunkow and Ramsdell discovered a critical mutation in the FOXP3 gene responsible for severe autoimmune syndromes in mice (scurfy syndrome) and found that this gene is critical for the function of regulatory T cells. Sakaguchi later found that FOXP3 controls the development and function of these cells by inactivating excessive immune responses.

These discoveries launched the field of research into peripheral tolerance—that is, mechanisms that operate outside of central organs to prevent autoimmune reactions.

Understanding these mechanisms is of great importance for medicine:

• Helps explain why some people develop autoimmune diseases.
• Opens the way to the development of therapies that enhance or correct the work of regulatory cells.
• Until recently, this knowledge was already being used in clinical trials of therapies for autoimmune diseases, organ transplantation, and cancer immunotherapy.
• May improve transplant outcomes by reducing the risk of rejection.

Recall that US President Donald Trump said that if he does not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, it would be an insult to the United States.

It was previously reported thatEurope is considering an unconventional approach to win Donald Trump over to Ukraine’s side – offering him the Nobel Peace Prize as a kind of “diplomatic gift.”

The day before, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyanannounced their intention to nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , Twitter , Telegram , and Instagram.