Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

The Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology is one of the most prestigious awards in the field of medicine in the world. The prize, which was first awarded in 1901, is one of six in various fields that are together referred to as the Nobel Prizes. The Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology began because Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, known for inventing dynamite, directed its creation in his will along with prizes in chemistry, literature, and peace. An economics prize was added years later.

Because the field of medicine is broad, the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology has been awarded for various discoveries and advancements, including those in biochemistry and genetics. Examples include the discovery of penicillin, the discovery of vitamin K, the understanding of how the genetic code affects protein synthesis, and the understanding of the chemical structure of antibodies. Such discoveries have changed how doctors practice medicine and improved people’s health and lives. The Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology is awarded annually, although the Nobel Foundation has skipped awarding the prize during some years. The recipients receive a medal, a diploma, and a monetary prize at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.

Background

The Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology and four other Nobel Prizes were created through the bequest of the Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. Nobel was born in 1833 in Stockholm, Sweden, where he became interested in studying science and chemicals from a young age. His family moved to Russia when he was a child, but he moved back to Sweden as a young adult to pursue a career as a chemist and an inventor. Nobel studied explosives, and his work helped develop dynamite and other explosives still used today. His inventions made him very wealthy. However, some historians have suggested that seeing the destructive potential of his creations inspired Nobel to try to improve the world in other ways.

Near the end of his life, Nobel wrote a will that set aside money for the creation of five prizes that would recognize those who have greatly benefited humankind during the previous year. The prizes were intended to recognize people who helped advance the fields of medicine and physiology, peace, chemistry, physics, and literature. Nobel died in 1896, and the prizes in his name were first awarded in 1901. Decades later, a prize in economics was also created in his honor. Today, the Nobel Prizes are among the most esteemed awards in their respective fields and garner international attention for the winners and their work.

Overview

The Nobel Foundation was founded after Nobel’s death to facilitate awarding the various prizes each year. The foundation first awarded the prize in medicine and physiology in 1901. The first winner was Emil Adolf von Behring, who was recognized for his work in fighting disease, specifically diphtheria. Many other prize recipients have also won for research that has helped people treat and cure diseases. Notable winners, or laureates, in this realm include Robert Koch, who won in 1905 for his research into tuberculosis, and Frederick Grant Banting and John James Rickard Macleod, who won for the discovery of insulin in 1923. Although the prize normally recognizes only one person or team, on occasion it has been shared across multiple areas of research. For example, in 1966, the prize in medicine and physiology was awarded to both Peyton Rous for his discovery of viruses that cause tumors and to Charles Brenton Huggins for his discovery of hormonal treatments for prostatic cancer.

The process of choosing the Nobel laureates takes more than a year. The Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology is awarded annually by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Originally, the assembly was an informal group of professors at the institute. Over time, however, the body became formalized and comprised of highly accomplished professors, doctors, and scientists. The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute chooses members of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, which conducts the nomination and selection process. The committee sends invitations to qualified individuals and groups asking for nomination submissions in the September before the award is given. Only qualified individuals and groups may submit nominations, and those who may nominate include members of the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute, members of the medical class of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, former Nobel Laureates in Medicine and Physiology, certain European doctors, scientists, and professors, and other practitioners of natural sciences whom the assembly designates as being qualified.

Professionals who are qualified to nominate must submit their nominations by January 31 of the following year. Once the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine receives all the nominations, the group begins a review of the nominees. The committee reviews the nominations and calls in experts when needed to help them understand the nominations. Through the review process, the committee narrows the list of nominees. Then, it conducts extended research on the smaller list of potential recipients and writes a report about each nominee it feels should be considered for the award. The committee then sends a report to the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute, so the larger group can consider the remaining nominees. The report is generally submitted by the middle of August, and the assembly spends time in August and September discussing and choosing the most qualified candidates. The assembly has a final vote to decide the winner or winners in early October. The majority vote wins, and the decision is final once the vote is held.

The winner of the prize is usually announced to the public in October. The official award ceremony is held in December in Stockholm, Sweden. The winner of the award receives a monetary prize (the amount of which has varied over time, but by the 2020s was roughly $1 million US dollars), a gold medal, and a diploma. Nobel laureates are also provided the opportunity to give a speech at the event.

Bibliography

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Ashrafian, Hutan, et al. “Nobel Prizes in Medicine: Are Clinicians Out of Fashion?” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. vol. 104, no. 9, 2011, pp. 387–389.

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"The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine." The Nobel Prize, www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

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