Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 Awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for Discovery of MicroRNA

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023

Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded to Ambros and Ruvkun for MicroRNA Discovery

This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their groundbreaking work on microRNA, a crucial element in regulating gene activity. Their research has illuminated how genes differentiate into various cell types in the human body, a process known as gene regulation.

The Nobel Committee praised their discovery, stating it revealed a “new dimension to gene regulation” that has been evolving for hundreds of millions of years. Ambros, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Ruvkun, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, conducted their pioneering studies using the tiny roundworm C. elegans as a model.

In 1993, Ambros first identified microRNA, which was initially dismissed as insignificant. It wasn't until Ruvkun's later findings demonstrated its presence across the animal kingdom that the significance of microRNA became clear, leading to extensive research in the field.

The committee noted that proper gene regulation is essential for the development of complex organisms and that disruptions can lead to diseases, including cancer. Their work has opened doors for potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications in treating various conditions.

The Nobel Prize, which includes an award of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1 million), recognizes Ambros and Ruvkun’s contributions to our understanding of genetic regulation.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 Awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for Discovery of MicroRNA