Media Coverage (Immune System)

Forbes named ISB Distinguished Investigator and 2025 Nobel laureate Mary Brunkow to its 2026 “50 Over 50” Innovation list, which recognizes women making significant contributions later in their careers. Brunkow was recognized for her groundbreaking research into regulatory T cells and discoveries with important implications for autoimmune disease and drug development.

Scientific American spoke with ISB Distinguished Investigator and 2025 Nobel laureate Mary Brunkow about the challenges facing American science, the resilience of scientists, and reasons for optimism. Brunkow also discusses the importance of communicating science, advances in systems medicine, and her advice for researchers early in their careers.

Dr. Mary Brunkow tops Seattle Magazine’s “Most Influential” list, highlighting leaders shaping culture and community. The profile recognizes her groundbreaking scientific contributions and local impact, situating her alongside innovators across fields in this annual Seattle spotlight.

Lee Hood was ranked #41 on Forbes’ “250 America’s Greatest Innovators” list, published in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The list highlights individuals whose scientific leadership, creativity, and impact are shaping the future of science and innovation — and recognizes Hood’s lasting contributions to research and discovery.

The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) has been awarded a 2025 AWS Imagine Grant — funding that will accelerate the development of its generative-AI platform Tarpon, which creates “digital fingerprints” of T-cell receptors, enabling faster discovery and design of targeted immunotherapies.

This feature traces the remarkable arc of Mary Brunkow — from undergraduate at the University of Washington to 2025 Nobel Laureate — spotlighting her foundational discovery of the gene FOXP3, and how that breakthrough unlocked a new understanding of immune-system self-tolerance. The story also reflects on the years of basic research, the long-standing impact on immunology, and how Brunkow’s journey connects back to her roots in Seattle’s scientific community.

Dr. Lee Hood joined podcast host Jeremy Koenig to discuss the evolution of medicine from reactive care to P4 health. He explored eight paradigm shifts that have transformed biology and highlighted how systems thinking, big data, and AI are reshaping wellness and personalized care.

University of Washington alum Mary Brunkow has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for pioneering research into how the immune system is prevented from attacking the body’s own tissues – work that has profound implications for autoimmune disease, cancer therapies, and transplant medicine.