Media Coverage (Nobel Prize)

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.

This feature of Mary Brunkow ahead of the University of Washington commencement highlights her thoughtful perspective on artificial intelligence, scientific curiosity, and the enduring importance of human judgment in research. The story contrasts Brunkow’s measured approach with the broader national debate over AI at college graduations.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal visited ISB, meeting with Nobel laureate Mary Brunkow and ISB leadership for a conversation on ISB’s research, including our work on Long COVID. The visit included a tour of ISB’s labs, followed by a brief program in which Rep. Jayapal read a Congressional Statement for the Record she submitted in honor of Mary’s Nobel Prize and formally presented it to her.

This profile of Nobel laureate Mary Brunkow traces her journey from an undergraduate genetics student at the University of Washington to her groundbreaking discoveries in immunology. The feature explores the mentors, pivotal moments, and scientific curiosity that shaped her remarkable career.

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.

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.

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.