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 critical role in gene regulation. The announcement was made by the Nobel Assembly at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, which selects the recipients for this prestigious award. The prize includes a monetary reward of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.1 million).
The Nobel Prize in Medicine is the first among the six Nobel Prizes, which are considered some of the most esteemed awards across science, literature, and humanitarian efforts. The other Nobel Prizes will be revealed over the coming days.
Established in the will of Swedish inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Prizes have been awarded since 1901 to honor significant achievements in science, literature, and peace. The Nobel Prize in Economics was later added to the roster. While most of the prizes are awarded in Stockholm, the Peace Prize is presented in Oslo, reflecting the historical political union between Sweden and Norway at the time of Nobel’s will.
Last year, the Nobel Prize in Medicine went to Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their contributions to the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Other notable past laureates include Ivan Pavlov, known for his behavioral experiments with dogs, and Alexander Fleming, who received the prize in 1945 for his discovery of penicillin.
The science, literature, and economics laureates will receive their awards on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, during a formal ceremony in Stockholm. The Peace Prize will be awarded in Oslo on the same day, followed by a grand celebration.
