A Nobel Prize is one of humanity’s highest honors. But imagine this: you win it—and have no idea. That’s exactly what happened this year when the Nobel Committee couldn’t reach one of the laureates, forcing its secretary-general to go on television and plead, “Please, call us back.”
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Shimon Sakaguchi, Mary Brunkow, and Fred Ramsdell for their groundbreaking discovery of Regulatory T cells (Tregs)—the peacekeepers of the immune system. Their research revolutionized our understanding of autoimmune diseases and cancer therapy. But behind this monumental achievement lies a tale as fascinating as the science itself.
The Scientist Who Vanished into the Wilderness
Fred Ramsdell, a senior advisor and one of the laureates, is reportedly deep in the wilderness of Idaho, completely off the grid. With all electronic devices turned off, he’s unreachable—not by phone, email, or even satellite. The Nobel Committee tried, and his colleagues tried, but he remains blissfully disconnected, a “natural man” at large.
Perhaps that’s precisely the point. After years of intense research, Ramsdell might have chosen solitude as a form of renewal—a chance to reconnect with nature rather than the world of deadlines and accolades. It’s oddly poetic: the man who helped uncover how the body maintains inner balance is now seeking balance in nature itself. For him, the glow of starlight might well outshine the glitter of 11 million Swedish kronor.
When a Nobel Call Sounds Like Spam
Co-recipient Mary Brunkow, a senior manager at Zymogen, faced a different kind of misconnection. Early one morning, she received a call from Sweden—only to dismiss it as spam and turn off her phone. After all, who expects a Nobel call at dawn? She learned of her win only when reporters appeared at her doorstep, speaking with her husband in disbelief. Perhaps avoiding spam calls really did take priority that day—even over a Nobel.
The confusion was so great that Thomas Perlmann, Secretary-General of the Nobel Assembly, publicly pleaded:
“If you’re hearing this, please call us back.”
It was a surreal moment in Nobel history—part comedy of errors, part testament to the unpredictable charm of real life.
The Science That Transformed Medicine
Behind the charming chaos lies one of the most transformative scientific stories of our time. The trio’s discovery centers on peripheral immune tolerance—how the immune system learns to distinguish between friend and foe.
Our immune system’s job is to destroy invaders like viruses and bacteria. But sometimes, it misfires, attacking the body’s own tissues. The result: autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and type 1 diabetes.
In 1995, Shimon Sakaguchi identified a unique subset of immune cells—Regulatory T cells, or Tregs—that keep overzealous immune responses in check. Think of them as the “peacekeepers” of the immune system, stepping in to say, “Stop! That’s us you’re attacking.”
The FOXP3 Gene: The Master Switch of Immune Control
Building on Sakaguchi’s discovery, Brunkow and Ramsdell went further, tracing the mechanism to a single gene—FOXP3—in 2001. This gene acts as the master regulator for Tregs, determining whether they form and function properly. A defect in FOXP3 leads to the loss of immune control, resulting in catastrophic autoimmune disease.
By 2003, Sakaguchi integrated their findings, showing definitively that FOXP3 is the key to the development and suppressive function of Regulatory T cells. Together, their research not only solved a fundamental mystery of immunology but also opened new paths for treating autoimmune disease, organ transplant rejection, and even cancer.
Discovery, Disconnection, and the Drama of Science
The discovery of Regulatory T cells didn’t just change medicine—it redefined how we understand immune balance itself. Their story also reminds us that even in the age of instant communication, life’s greatest moments can still unfold in silence and solitude.
One can only imagine the scene when Ramsdell finally emerges from the Idaho wilderness and learns of his Nobel win. Will he smile quietly, or burst out laughing at the absurdity of it all? Either way, his journey—from the lab bench to the forest—has become a symbol of science at its most human.