The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to American scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA, a new type of small RNA molecule that plays a crucial role in gene regulation.
The research, based on a small worm scientifically known as C. elegans, revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation. This principle is essential for multicellular organisms, including humans, and is closely related to how organisms around the world move and develop.
The award was announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences at 12:00 PM on October 7 (Stockholm time, which is 4:45 PM in Hanoi).
American scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. (Photo: Nobel Prize).
The Nobel Prize is a system of awards granted to individuals and organizations that have achieved significant accomplishments benefiting humanity since 1901, according to the will of the renowned scientist Alfred Nobel. This award honors individuals who have made notable contributions in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Peace; the Nobel Peace Prize can be awarded to individuals or organizations.
From 1901 to the present, the committee has awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to a total of 227 individuals who have made important contributions in the field. The youngest laureate of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is Canadian scientist Frederick Banting, who received the prize in 1923 at the age of 31 for his discovery of the hormone insulin for diabetes treatment. The oldest laureate is Francis Peyton Rous, who was awarded the prize in 1966 at the age of 87 for discovering the virus that causes cancer.
Following the announcement of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on October 7 in Stockholm, awards for Physics (October 8), Chemistry (October 9), Literature (October 10), Peace (October 11), and Economics (October 14) will be presented in succession. The laureates will receive a Nobel certificate, a Nobel medal, and a cash prize of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $989,000) on December 10.
A Nobel Prize is typically awarded to a maximum of three individuals. If a prize is refused or not accepted, the prize money will be returned to the fund.
