nobel in Medicine

OHSUMI’S RESEARCH

Breakdowns in the autophagy process have been linked to a number of grave diseases including Parkinson’s, diabetes and cancer. The Karolinska Institute said researchers had known about autophagy for half a century, but its wide-ranging significance was only made clear by Ohsumi’s experiments.

WHY NOW?

It is common for Nobel judges to honour people for discoveries that were actually made years or decades earlier to assure that the research was valid and its importance borne out over time.

It may take many years before the relevance and value of some discoveries becomes clear.

SIGNIFICANCE

The Karolinska Institute said there is a surge in research about how to develop drugs that can target autophagy for the treatment of cell problems. Because of Ohsumi’s research, the role of autophagy in controlling vital physiological functions is better understood and may be put to therapeutic use.

REACTION

Nobel secretary Thomas Perlmann, who conveyed the news that he had won to the scientist, said that “the first thing he said was ‘ahhh.’ He was very, very pleased.” Ohsumi said: “as a scientist, I’m extremely honoured.” He said he had wanted to pursue “something different from other people”.