Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi have been awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for their groundbreaking work on peripheral immune tolerance. Their research revealed how the body uses regulatory T cells to prevent the immune system from attacking itself, a discovery that has transformed the understanding of autoimmune diseases. Sakaguchi first identified these regulatory T cells in 1995, while Brunkow and Ramsdell later uncovered the crucial role of the Foxp3 gene in their development. The Nobel Committee highlighted that these findings have been decisive in explaining why most people do not develop severe autoimmune conditions. This award marks the beginning of this year's Nobel Prize announcements, with other categories to follow throughout the week.