Scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA and its crucial role in gene regulation. This discovery has opened new avenues for understanding how genes are controlled, significantly impacting biology and medicine.
The winners were selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute Medical University. They will receive a prize sum of 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.1 million).
As the first award to be announced among this year’s Nobel Prizes, the Nobel in Medicine is one of the most prestigious recognitions in the fields of science, literature, and humanitarian efforts. The remaining prizes will be unveiled over the next few days, following the tradition set by Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor and businessman who established the awards in 1901.
Legacy of the Nobel Prizes
The Nobel Prizes have celebrated breakthroughs in science, literature, and peace for over a century. The prizes for science, literature, and economics are awarded in Stockholm, while the Peace Prize is uniquely awarded in Oslo, a nod to the historical political union between Sweden and Norway when Nobel penned his will.
The tradition of the Nobel Prizes has included numerous notable recipients, such as Ivan Pavlov in 1904, known for his experiments on behavioral conditioning, and Alexander Fleming, who was awarded the 1945 Nobel Prize for discovering penicillin.
2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Tradition
Last year, the medicine prize went to Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their pivotal contributions to the development of COVID-19 vaccines, a discovery that played a crucial role in curbing the global pandemic.
This year, the ceremony will once again take place on December 10th, marking the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, with the laureates honored in a grand ceremony at Stockholm City Hall, followed by a lavish banquet. Simultaneously, a separate celebration will honor the Nobel Peace Prize winner in Oslo.
