Dr. Mary Brunkow
Wins Nobel Prize
ISB’s Dr. Mary Brunkow, along with Drs. Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for transformative discoveries in immune tolerance. The entire ISB community celebrates this milestone for science and human health.
Dr. Mary Brunkow is a recipient of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. (Photo by Alex Garland for ISB)
Official illustration depicting Drs. Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi, winners of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. (Illustration by Niklas Elmehed for The Nobel Prize)
The Science Behind
the Nobel Prize
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.
Get to Know Dr. Mary Brunkow
Dr. Mary Brunkow is a Senior Program Manager in ISB’s Hood Lab. Earlier in her career at Darwin Molecular, she helped uncover the genetic basis of regulatory T cells (FOXP3), work that ultimately earned her the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
At ISB, Brunkow brings that same rigor to multidisciplinary projects that make complex science accessible and impactful. She’s a Seattle-area scientist with roots at UW and Princeton, and a champion for collaboration across genetics, computation, and human health.
How the World Covered Brunkow
A curated roundup of reporting and interviews explaining why FOXP3 became a cornerstone of modern immunology – featuring clear explainers, clinician perspectives, and accessible conversations that connect lab discovery to patient impact.
Coverage of Dr. Brunkow’s Nobel spanned marquee publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Seattle Times, and many other leading newsrooms.
ISB President Dr. Jim Heath, left, is pictured with Dr. Mary Brunkow on October 7, 2025. (Photo by Alex Garland for ISB)
“ISB congratulates Dr. Brunkow on this extraordinary honor and celebrates her contributions to science and human health. Her work transformed how we think about the immune system.”
Dr. Jim Heath, ISB President
Dr. Mary Brunkow is interviewed by KOMO News on October 8, 2025, at ISB. (Photo courtesy ISB)
Media Requests
Would you like to set up an interview with Dr. Mary Brunkow?
Members of the media can submit a request via the button below. Please be sure to include relevant information – your news organization, your name, and deadline – and indicate whether the interview request is for a studio appearance, a Zoom/virtual call, or for a radio program or podcast.
ISB’s Communications will work with Dr. Brunkow and accommodate as many requests as possible.
Nobel Updates from ISB
From new interviews to research impact, ISB’s Molecular Me newsletter tracks Mary Brunkow’s Nobel journey alongside ISB discoveries and upcoming events – delivered simply.