Nobel Prize/ medicine/ microRNA/ gene regulation/ cancer research/ Ambros/ Ruvkun/ Newslooks/ STOCKHOLM/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their discovery of microRNA, a genetic material that regulates gene activity at the cellular level. This groundbreaking discovery opens new avenues for treating diseases like cancer by influencing gene behavior.
Nobel Prize for MicroRNA Discovery: Quick Looks
- Awarded Scientists: Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun honored for their work on microRNA.
- Gene Regulation Insight: Discovery adds a new dimension to gene regulation in complex organisms.
- Cancer Treatment Potential: MicroRNA could lead to new therapies by controlling gene activity.
- Global Recognition: This Nobel kicks off the 2024 award season, with other prizes to follow.
- Future Medical Advances: Ongoing trials explore microRNA’s potential in disease treatment.
Nobel Prize Honors U.S. Researchers for MicroRNA Discovery
Deep Look
On Monday, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to American researchers Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their transformative discovery of microRNA — small RNA molecules that play a crucial role in regulating gene function. This groundbreaking work has fundamentally changed the scientific understanding of genetic activity within cells and offers promising new pathways for treating various diseases, including cancer.
The Nobel Assembly at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute praised the duo’s findings, describing them as essential to understanding how organisms develop and maintain complex functions. “Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation, proving essential for multicellular organisms, including humans,” the assembly stated in its announcement.
Discovery and Impact of MicroRNA
Ambros and Ruvkun began their research journey by investigating genes that control developmental timing, aiming to understand how certain cell types emerge at precise stages in an organism’s life. Their work, carried out in collaboration with Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital, focused on two mutant strains of worms commonly used in genetic studies. Through this research, Ambros and Ruvkun identified microRNA as a key player in gene regulation, showcasing how these tiny molecules guide cellular function.
Thomas Perlmann, Secretary-General of the Nobel Committee, spoke with Ruvkun shortly before the announcement. “It took him some time to come to the phone,” Perlmann said, “but once he understood the news, he was both surprised and very excited.”
The scientists’ work unveiled a new dimension to genetic regulation, showing how microRNA has enabled organisms to evolve over hundreds of millions of years. By influencing cellular processes at a fundamental level, microRNA allows genes to activate or suppress their functions as needed. This discovery has opened a new frontier in medicine, especially in fields like oncology, where regulating gene activity can be crucial in combating diseases.
Potential for Medical Breakthroughs
According to Dr. Claire Fletcher, a molecular oncology expert from Imperial College London, microRNA could revolutionize treatments for diseases such as cancer. MicroRNA molecules provide instructions that direct cells to produce specific proteins, making them valuable tools in developing therapies and biomarkers for monitoring disease progression.
“MicroRNA affects how genes in the cell work,” Fletcher explained, noting that in cancer, particular genes may be “working overtime” due to mutations. By delivering targeted microRNA to cancer cells, scientists could potentially suppress these mutated genes and reduce their harmful effects.
Ongoing clinical trials are already investigating how microRNA might be applied in treating skin cancer. Fletcher predicted that within the next five to ten years, approved treatments using microRNA could become available. While most current therapies target cellular proteins, microRNA allows scientists to intervene directly at the genetic level, opening up a new array of medical possibilities.
Legacy and Recognition of Breakthrough Discoveries
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, one of the most prestigious honors in science, carries a financial award of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1 million) and global recognition for advancing medical knowledge. Established by Alfred Nobel, the prize honors individuals whose contributions significantly benefit humanity.
Last year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine went to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their pioneering research on mRNA, which played a critical role in developing COVID-19 vaccines. The 2024 prize for Ambros and Ruvkun inaugurates this year’s Nobel season, with additional announcements in physics, chemistry, and peace scheduled throughout the week. Laureates will formally receive their awards on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s passing.
Fletcher anticipates that microRNA discoveries will lead to more sophisticated medical interventions by allowing scientists to adjust genetic expression in response to disease. “Most therapies today target cellular proteins,” she said, “but microRNA lets us intervene directly at the genetic level, providing new opportunities for developing medicines that can control gene activity linked to disease.”
