The prize recognizes foundational discoveries about regulatory T cells and the FOXP3 gene that redefined immune tolerance and opened avenues to treat autoimmune disease, enable transplantation, and advance immuno-oncology. ISB celebrates Dr. Brunkow’s leadership and collaborative science.
The pioneering work of Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell began with a mysterious mutant mouse known as “scurfy,” leading them to identify the FOXP3 gene and unlock how regulatory T cells prevent autoimmune disease — discoveries that now point to new treatments in cancer and autoimmunity.
ISB Professor Sui Huang challenges the long-held belief that genetic mutations primarily drive cancer, offering a fresh perspective that could revolutionize how we think about and treat this complex disease.
Sui Huang challenges the prevailing view of cancer as purely genetic in a new essay published in PLOS Biology. Huang and colleagues suggest non-genetic factors and disrupted gene regulatory networks may play crucial roles in cancer development.