The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded in part to Dr Shimon Sakaguchi, professor emeritus of Kyoto University. (6 October 2025)
Comments from President Nagahiro Minato
On behalf of Kyoto University, I wish to offer my deepest congratulations to Dr Shimon Sakaguchi, professor emeritus of KyotoU and former director of the Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences (now the Institute for Life and Medical Sciences), on being awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Amongst the advances in immunology for which he was awarded the prize, Dr Sakaguchi is particularly noted for discovering a new type of regulatory T-cell that suppresses excessive immune responses. The medical community has high hopes that this discovery will lead to even more treatments for autoimmune diseases, cancer, and allergies.
Dr Sakaguchi’s determination to pursue the research he pioneered, including during his time at Kyoto University, and to achieve this highest honor, is an inspiration to all young researchers, not just in medicine.
Once again, I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Dr Sakaguchi on this highest honor and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.
Comments from Director Hiroshi Kawamoto of the Institute for Life and Medical Sciences (LiMe)
All of us at Kyoto University’s Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, at which Dr Shimon Sakaguchi previously served as director (when it was known as Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences) are extremely pleased and deeply moved that he has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Dr Sakaguchi tackled the challenge of immune tolerance, one of the most important questions in immunology, and single-handedly elucidated the manner in which its mechanism is mediated by regulatory T-cells. This is a significant achievement not only in immunology but in the field of life sciences as a whole.
Furthermore, his discovery has already seen wide application in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer, making broad and significant contributions to medicine. As someone who has witnessed the development of his research first-hand, I am extremely humbled.
Dr Sakaguchi’s strong commitment to achieving his research goals, in spite of at times facing daunting headwinds, no doubt has led to his great achievement. We hope that his award will encourage a new generation of researchers and lead to many more outstanding discoveries in the future.
AloJapan.com