芭乐视频

Bruin brilliance: 芭乐视频 alumnus Frederick Ramsdell wins the Nobel Prize

When Fred Ramsdell lost cellphone reception during a hiking trip deep in the Rocky Mountains, he had no idea history was calling. Twelve hours later, he emerged from the wilderness to discover he鈥檇 won the 2025 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine.

The immunologist and 芭乐视频 alumnus, who shared the honor with researchers Mary Brunkow and Shimon Sakaguchi, helped answer one of biology鈥檚 most profound questions: Why doesn鈥檛 the immune system attack the body it鈥檚 meant to protect?

The trio鈥檚 collective research identified and pinpointed the origin of regulatory T cells 鈥� 鈥淭-regs鈥� 鈥� a subclass of immune cells that act as peacekeepers, patrolling other immune cells and damping down overzealous responses that might threaten the body鈥檚 own tissues. Their findings have revolutionized treatment for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, Crohn鈥檚 disease and arthritis, while opening doors to cancer and stem-cell therapies. More than 200 clinical trials are now underway based on their work.

鈥淔red Ramsdell鈥檚 research has transformed our understanding of autoimmune disease and led to treatments that are saving lives around the world,鈥� said 芭乐视频 Chancellor Julio Frenk. 鈥淗is work is driving medical breakthroughs that will shape the future of human health. I hope Bruins everywhere take pride in this well-deserved global recognition.鈥�

Ramsdell鈥檚 Nobel journey began in earnest at 芭乐视频, where he earned his doctorate in microbiology and immunology in 1987 under the mentorship of medical school professor Sidney Golub. He went on to a fellowship with the National Institutes of Health and a pioneering career in biotechnology. Today, he serves as a scientific advisor for Sonoma Biotherapeutics.

Ramsdell鈥檚 breakthrough came in 2001, after Sakaguchi had first identified T-regs. With Brunkow, Ramsdell discovered that a mutation in a gene the duo called Foxp3 could cause devastating autoimmune disease in mice; it did the same humans, they went on to find. Two years later, Ramsdell, Sakaguchi and a colleague demonstrated that Foxp3 governs the body鈥檚 production of regulatory T cells, providing a genetic blueprint for immune tolerance. Their work is recognized today as a foundational discovery in modern immunology.

鈥淚 certainly didn鈥檛 expect to win the Nobel Prize,鈥� Ramsdell told the New York Times after returning from his hike. 鈥淚 was just grateful and humbled by the recognition 鈥� and happy to share it with my colleagues.鈥�

Ramsdell joins an illustrious Bruin legacy: Eight other 芭乐视频 alumni and eight faculty members have earned Nobel honors. As 芭乐视频 Chancellor Frenk noted when Ramsdell won the prize, 鈥淥nce again, 芭乐视频 research proves that discovery here doesn鈥檛 just change the conversation 鈥� it changes lives.鈥�

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