The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Research Lecture – Professor Shimon Sakaguchi – April 4th, 16:15 AT THE NOBEL FORUM

admin — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 08:24:44 +0000

Thursday, April 4th – 16.15

Professor Shimon Sakaguchi

Department of Experimental Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan

Title: “Regulatory T cells for immune tolerance and homeostasis”

Abstract

The normal immune system protects the individual from pathogenic microbes while avoiding harmful reactions against the constituents of the body. To understand how this immunological self-tolerance is maintained or, more generally, how aberrant or excessive immune reactions are controlled has been a key issue in immunology and medicine. There is accumulating evidence that a T cell subpopulation, called regulatory T cells (Tregs), is present in the immune system and is actively engaged in the maintenance of immune self-tolerance and homeostasis. They were first characterized as CD4+ T cells constitutively expressing CD25 (interleukin-2 receptor) and later as specifically expressing the transcription factor Foxp3. A cardinal feature of Foxp3+CD25+CD4+ natural Tregs, which physiologically constitute ~10% of CD4+ T cells, is that the majority of them are produced by the normal thymus as a functionally mature and distinct population specialized for immune suppression. Deficiency of natural Tregs or mutations of Foxp3 indeed produces a variety of autoimmune diseases, allergy, and immunopathological diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease in rodents and humans. In addition, reduction of Tregs evokes effective tumor immunity while antigen-specific expansion of Tregs induces transplantation tolerance. In this lecture, I shall discuss the molecular and cellular basis of Treg development and function and how they can be exploited in clinical settings.

1. Sakaguchi, S., Yamaguchi, T., Nomura, T., and Ono, M. Regulatory T cells and immune tolerance. Cell 133, 775-787 (2008).
2. Wing, K., and Sakaguchi, S. Regulatory T cells exert checks and balances on self-tolerance and autoimmunity. Nat. Immunol. 11, 7-13 (2010).

NOBEL LAUREATE REVISITING LECTURE

admin — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:12:28 +0000

Gästföreläsning av tidigare Nobelpristagaren i Fysiologi eller Medicin

Barry Marshall, Nobelpristagare 2005

”Man versus Helicobacter: Before and after the Nobel Prize”

Tisdagen den 12 mars 16.15

Lokal: Wallenbergsalen, Nobel Forum, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 1

Värd: Professor Göran K. Hansson

Research Lecture – Professor Stephen O’Rahilly – February 21st, 16:15 at the Nobel Forum

admin — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:20:28 +0000

Thursday, February 21 – 16.15

Professor Stephen O’Rahilly
University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories
Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, UK

http://www.clbc.cam.ac.uk/SOR/orahilly.html
Title: Human Obesity and Insulin Resistance: Lessons from Extreme Phenotypes

Abstract

The genetic component of quantitative metabolic traits is complex with a mixture of common alleles of small effect and rarer alleles of larger effect. We have principally focused on finding the latter through the study of extreme human phenotypes of obesity and insulin resistance. By applying both candidate and hypothesis-free genetic approaches we have identified multiple different genetic variants that cause highly penetrant forms of these diseases. Through detailed phenotypic studies in humans and relevant murine and cellular models, these disorders continue to provide new insights into the physiology and pathphysiology of energy balance and metabolism. Of particular note is the discovery that highly penetrant alleles that cause human obesity do so largely by impairing satiety and increasing food intake, rather than my having effects on metabolic rate. Common alleles that influence susceptibility to common forms of obesity also behave in a similar fashion. Thus, obesity can be most appropriately viewed as a heritable neurobehavioral trait with adverse metabolic consequences rather than a metabolic disease per se. The dramatic therapeutic benefits of leptin in children with congenital leptin deficiency provides the proof of principle that, if an underlying mechanism can be identified, then even extreme human obesity can be amenable to mechanism-based therapy

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE NOBEL ASSEMBY AT KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET

admin — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 12:20:07 +0000

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has been informed by an American news agency that a lawsuit has been filed against us by a person in Los Angeles. We have not yet received any such lawsuit and have not, therefore, been able to assess it in detail. The name of the plaintiff has never been put forward to us previously.

This year´s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awards the fundamental discoveries that demonstrated that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent. The Prize has been very well received and has obtained massive support by the international scientific community.

Download Press Release in Swedish and English HERE (PDF)

New Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine

admin — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 07:22:08 +0000

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has appointed new members of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine. Professor Juleen R. Zierath was elected as Chairman of the Committee for 2013. She succeeds Professor Urban Lendahl, who concludes his 6 year term on the Nobel Committee.

DOWNLOAD FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE

LADDA NER PRESSMEDDELANDE HÄR

HIGH RES PRESS PHOTO OF JULEEN ZIERATH

Nobel Lectures 2012 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine

admin — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:47:49 +0000

Nobel Lectures

December 7, 2012 at 3.00-4.45 p.m.

Welcome
Harriet Wallberg Henriksson, President of the Karolinska Institutet

Introduction
Urban Lendahl, Chairman of the Nobel Committee

3.00-3.45 p.m. – John B. Gurdon Title: “The egg and the nucleus: a battle for supremacy.”

4.00-4.45 p.m. – Shinya Yamanaka Title: “Induction of pluripotency by defined factors”

Venue: Berzelius Laboratory, Jacob Berzelius Lecture Hall, Karolinska Institutet, Berzelius väg 9
The Nobel Lectures will be free to attend on first-come, first-served basis.
Entrance admission from 2.30 p.m. Limited seating.

Pre-registration only for media representatives with press card number
Media: Please use the form below for registration, return by mail to nobelforum(at)nobel.se

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM HERE

Individual interviews with the laureates not possible

Press conference with 2012 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine

admin — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:44:51 +0000

Press conference with 2012 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine

December 6, 2012, 2.30 p.m.

Nobel Forum, Nobels väg 1, Karolinska Institute

Individual interviews with the laureates not possible

Registration required

Please use the form below for registration, return by mail to nobelforum(at)nobel.se

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM HERE

The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

admin — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:45:29 +0000

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has awarded

The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

jointly to

John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka

for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent.

Ladda ner pressmeddelande på svenska

Download press release in english

Download scientific background in english

KAROLINSKA RESEARCH LECTURES AT NOBEL FORUM – FALL 2012

admin — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:45:07 +0000

KAROLINSKA RESEARCH LECTURES AT NOBEL FORUM

FALL 2012, TIME 4.15 PM

Titles and abstracts will be available in the KI Calendar at http://ki.se

Free entrance

September 27 Professor Fred H. Gage

Thursday Laboratory of Genetics

Salk Institute for Biological Studies La Jolla, USA http://logg.salk.edu/ October 18 Professor Napoleone Ferrara Thursday Genentech Inc. San Francisco, USA http://www.gene.com/gene/gred/people/napoleoneferrara.php November 15 Professor Austin Smith Thursday The Welcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK http://www.cscr.cam.ac.uk/

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Research Lecture – Professor Shimon Sakaguchi – April 4th, 16:15 AT THE NOBEL FORUM

Thursday, April 4th – 16.15

Abstract

NOBEL LAUREATE REVISITING LECTURE

Barry Marshall, Nobelpristagare 2005

Research Lecture – Professor Stephen O’Rahilly – February 21st, 16:15 at the Nobel Forum

Thursday, February 21 – 16.15

Abstract

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE NOBEL ASSEMBY AT KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET

New Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine

Nobel Lectures 2012 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine

Nobel Lectures

Press conference with 2012 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine

Press conference with 2012 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine

The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka

KAROLINSKA RESEARCH LECTURES AT NOBEL FORUM – FALL 2012

Program for Nobel Conference June 18 – 20, 2012

Hematopoietic Stem Cells: From Basic Science to Regenerative Medicine

>>> DOWNLOAD PROGRAM HERE <<<