The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, two U.S. scientists, for their pioneering work in the discovery of microRNA and its critical role in gene regulation, the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute announced on Monday.
MicroRNA, a small RNA molecule, plays a vital role in controlling how genes are expressed in cells, contributing to understanding diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Ambros and Ruvkun’s discovery has opened new avenues in molecular biology, highlighting how cells manage gene activity, influencing everything from development to disease progression.
Prestigious Honor and Prize
This Nobel Prize comes with an award of 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.1 million), reflecting the importance and impact of their breakthrough. As is tradition, the medicine prize is the first in a series of Nobel announcements, with the prizes in physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and economics to follow over the next few days.
The Nobel prizes are recognized as the most prestigious awards across science, literature, and humanitarian work, established in 1895 through the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite. These awards have been presented annually since 1901, with economics added later. While most Nobel prizes are given in Stockholm, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, likely due to the political union between Sweden and Norway at the time Nobel wrote his will.
A Tradition of Excellence
This year’s prize builds on a long history of remarkable medical discoveries, with past laureates such as Ivan Pavlov (1904) for his studies on behavior and Alexander Fleming (1945) for the discovery of penicillin. The award ceremony for all laureates, steeped in tradition, will take place on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, followed by a grand banquet at Stockholm City Hall. Separate festivities will honor the Nobel Peace Prize winner in Oslo.
Paving the Way for the Future
Last year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine went to Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their groundbreaking work that led to the development of mRNA vaccines, which were instrumental in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s award continues to recognize cutting-edge advancements in medicine, with Ambros and Ruvkun’s discovery of microRNA offering new insights into genetic control mechanisms and their potential in medical therapies for a range of conditions.
The Nobel Prize in Medicine remains a symbol of innovation and progress, celebrating the researchers who push the boundaries of knowledge and bring new hope to global health.
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