An Evening of Laurels Celebrates Nobel Laureate Mary Brunkow and the Future of Women in Science

More than 160 civic leaders, philanthropists, scientists, educators, and supporters gathered at Apella in Seattle on June 10 for An Evening of Laurels, a special event honoring Nobel laureate Mary Brunkow and celebrating women in science.

Hosted by the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), the evening brought together three Nobel laureates — Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Linda Buck — along with elected officials, research partners, donors, and members of the scientific community.

The program, emceed by ISB Board Chair Rod Hochman, celebrated Brunkow’s groundbreaking contributions to immunology and explored how science can create opportunities for future generations.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, Washington State Representatives Jamie Pedersen and Nicole Macri, and a representative from the office of Senator Maria Cantwell were among those in attendance.

A Conversation on Discovery and Opportunity

The evening’s centerpiece was a conversation between Brunkow and journalist, author, and Lost Women of Science co-founder Katie Hafner. Together, they explored the scientific discovery that led to Brunkow’s 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the challenges and opportunities facing women in science, and the importance of mentorship, visibility, and support throughout a scientific career.

Brunkow’s Nobel-winning research identified the FOXP3 gene and revealed how regulatory T cells prevent autoimmune disease, fundamentally changing scientists’ understanding of how the immune system distinguishes between healthy tissue and disease. Her work continues to influence research and treatment strategies for autoimmune disorders, transplantation, and cancer.

Throughout the discussion, Brunkow and Hafner reflected on the progress that has been made for women in science while acknowledging the work that remains. They emphasized the importance of mentorship, visibility, and creating opportunities that enable more women to pursue and advance scientific careers.

Inspiring the Next Generation

The conversation later expanded to include ISB graduate student Crystal Perez and former ISB high school intern and current Harvard undergraduate student Layla Ismail, who shared their own journeys into STEM and reflected on the importance of mentorship, opportunity, and scientific curiosity. Their participation underscored a central theme of the evening: scientific discovery depends not only on today’s researchers but also on investing in the next generation of scientific leaders.

That commitment to future scientists was reflected throughout the event. For more than 25 years, ISB has worked across the STEM ecosystem — from developing classroom curriculum taught to millions of students to supporting undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers pursuing careers in science. The stories shared by Perez and Ismail illustrated the impact of that work and the importance of creating pathways into STEM for young people from all backgrounds.

Guests also viewed a series of congratulatory video messages celebrating Brunkow’s Nobel Prize achievement from U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, ISB founder Lee Hood, UW Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Education Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, and Providence Health Services President and CEO Elizabeth Wako.

A Fund to Support Women Scientists

The evening also marked the public launch of the Mary E. Brunkow Fund, a new initiative designed to support women scientists through funding, mentorship, and opportunities for collaboration. During the event, ISB announced that the fund had received an initial $250,000 commitment, providing an early foundation for future support of women researchers.

The program concluded with a moving tribute from Brunkow’s daughters, Lauren and Devon, who reflected on their mother’s scientific accomplishments, character, and impact.

While An Evening of Laurels celebrated an extraordinary scientific achievement, it also looked ahead. Through conversations about discovery, education, mentorship, and opportunity, the evening highlighted a shared vision: empowering more women to pursue careers in science and ensuring that future generations of researchers have the support they need to make their own transformative contributions to human health.

An Evening of Laurels was made possible through the generous support of Platinum Sponsor Rod and Nancy Hochman; Gold Sponsors Douglas Howe and Robin Du Brin and Providence; and Silver Sponsors Fenwick and BNBuilders.

Photo Gallery: Browse all images from An Evening of Laurels.