Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 Winners
The Nobel Prize winners were announced on 7th October 2024, in the various categories for the contribution of the community. Whereas the Nobel Prize for the category of Physiology or Medicine went to a pair of American scientists, Both are named Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, for their work in “MicroRNA (miRNA) and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation”. Winners are given a medal, a personal diploma, and also a cash award of about $1.1 million. The Nobel Prize was established by Alfred Nobel in 1901, past laureates have included Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Nobel Prize Laureates in Physiology or Medicine
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their revolutionary discovery of microRNA, a crucial genetic material that influences gene expression at the cellular level.The assembly noted that their research revealed a novel principle of gene regulation essential for multicellular organisms, including humans. This significant breakthrough has far-reaching implications for cancer treatment and other diseases. The Nobel Assembly, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, awarded Nobel Prize with a medal, a personal diploma, and a cash award of about $1.1 million.
About Victor Ambros
Victor Ambros is a renowned American developmental biologist and molecular geneticist, best known for his discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs). Ambros conducted his research at Harvard University. Also his work has an impact on the field of molecular biology, particularly in understanding how genes are controlled during development and disease.
Early Life and Education
Victor R. Ambros was born on 1st December, in New Hampshire United States. His father, Longin, was a Polish war refugee. After graduating from high school, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1975. He did his graduate research (1976-1979) with David Baltimore at MIT, studying poliovirus genome structure and replication. As well he remained at MIT to pursue a Ph.D. in genetics, working under the guidance of American virologist and Nobelist David Baltimore while carrying out research aimed at better understanding the genomic structure and replication of poliovirus.
In 1979 Ambros completed a Ph.D. and continued on at MIT as a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of biologist H. Robert Horvitz. There he later worked with Ruvkun, who was also a postdoctoral student with Horvitz, to investigate genetic factors dictating the timing of events in the development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. He began to study the genetic pathways controlling developmental timing in the nematode C. elegans as a postdoc in H. Robert Horvitz’s lab at MIT and continued those studies while on the faculty of Harvard (1984-1992), Dartmouth (1992-2007), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School (2008-present). In 1993, members of the Ambros lab identified the first microRNA, the product of lin-4, a heterochronic gene of C. elegans. Since then, the role of microRNAs in development has been a major focus of his research.
The Discovery of MicroRNAs
Mutation in a gene known as lin-4. Lin-4 exerts temporal control over developmental events in C. elegans larvae by negatively regulating the LIN-14 protein. In the course of their investigations, Ambros and his team realized that lin-4 produces only a very short strand of RNA, which is not translated into protein, and that lin-4 interacts with a gene known as lin-14. Although it was apparent to Ambros and others that lin-4 somehow regulates lin-14 activity, the mechanism was a mystery.
In 1992, while still trying to elucidate lin-4 regulatory mechanisms, Ambros moved his laboratory to Dartmouth College. The following year his laboratory published its findings on the short RNA produced by lin-4. He and Ruvkun then compared their insights on lin-4 and lin-14, which Ruvkun’s laboratory had been investigating. They found that the short lin-4 RNA sequence was complementary to a segment of lin-14 messenger RNA (mRNA). They also showed that work, they discovered a novel RNA molecule—miRNA—and a previously unknown mechanism of gene regulation. In 2008 Ambros joined the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where his research continues to center on characterizing the role of miRNA in development.
Recognition and Awards
Victor Ambros has received numerous awards and honors for his pioneering work on microRNAs. Among the most notable are:
- Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research (2008): Shared with Gary Ruvkun and David Baulcombe for the discovery of microRNAs.
- Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2015): For his contributions to understanding the role of non-coding RNAs in gene regulation.
- Gairdner Foundation International Award (2006): For the discovery of microRNAs and their regulatory functions in gene expression.
Ambros was a member to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions.
About Gary Ruvkun
Gary Bruce Ruvkun is an esteemed American molecular biologist and geneticist, best known for his groundbreaking work in the discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their role in gene regulation. His research has provided significant insights into the mechanisms of aging, development, and cellular biology, and he has made a lasting impact on the fields of molecular biology and genetics.
Early Life and Education
Gary Ruvkun was born on 26th March 1952 into a Jewish family. He is the son of Samuel and Dora. Ruvkun received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in biophysics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1973. He received a Doctor of Philosophy in biophysics from Harvard University in 1982. He conducted his doctoral studies in the laboratory of Frederick M. Ausubel, where he investigated bacterial nitrogen fixation genes. Ruvkun completed postdoctoral research with Robert Horvitz at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Walter Gilbert at Harvard. Currently, he is a Professor of Genetics, at Harvard Medical School, Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Discovery of microRNAs
Ruvkun discovered the mechanism by which lin-4, the first microRNA (miRNA) discovered by Victor Ambros. It regulates the translation of target messenger RNAs via imperfect base-pairing to those targets. He discovered the second miRNA, let-7, and that it is conserved across animal phylogeny, including in humans. These miRNA discoveries revealed a new world of RNA regulation at an unprecedented small size scale and the mechanism of that regulation. Ruvkun also discovered many features of insulin-like signaling in the regulation of aging and metabolism.
He was a Member of the American Philosophical Society in 2019. Ruvkun get the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
Awards and Recognition
Gary Ruvkun has received numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to molecular biology, particularly for his work on microRNAs. Among his most notable honors are:
- Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research (2008): Shared with Victor Ambros and David Baulcombe for the discovery of microRNAs and their role in gene regulation.
- Gairdner Foundation International Award (2008): For his discoveries in RNA-based gene regulation.
- Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2014): For his pioneering work on microRNAs, gene regulation, and insights into aging.
Ruvkun was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, “for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation”.
Key Discoveries That Led to the Nobel Prize
The Discovery Process
Ambros and Ruvkun began by studying two mutant strains of worms commonly used in scientific research. They sought to identify the mutated genes responsible for these genetic developments, ensuring that cell types developed at the right time. Through their research, they discovered the crucial role microRNA plays in gene regulation.
Implications for Cancer Treatment
The discovery of microRNA has opened up new avenues for cancer treatment by allowing scientists to regulate how genes work at the cellular level. Dr. Claire Fletcher, a lecturer in molecular oncology at Imperial College London, explained that microRNA provides genetic instructions to tell cells to make new proteins and can serve as biomarkers.
Future Developments
Clinical trials are underway to explore the potential of microRNA approaches for treating skin cancer. Dr. Fletcher anticipates approved drug treatments emerging within the next five to 10 years. It offers a promising new way to control gene expression and treat diseases.
Conclusion
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine celebrates two monumental discoveries that are transforming modern medicine. The breakthroughs in CRISPR technology and cancer immunotherapy are opening doors to new treatments and possibilities. It offers hope to millions of people worldwide. As research in these fields continues, the potential for curing previously untreatable diseases grows. It marks a significant milestone in the history of medicine.
