Chancellor Frenk shared a message with the Bruin community.
Dear Bruin Community:
We are delighted to share that UCLA alumnus Fred Ramsdell has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, along with Mary Brunkow of the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle and Shimon Sakaguchi of Osaka University in Japan. Dr. Ramsdell earned his Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from UCLA in 1987. He was notified early this morning of the award, which honors his breakthroughs in the area of peripheral immune tolerance.
Dr. Ramsdell discovered how a tiny change in a single gene, called Foxp3, can cause the immune system to attack the body instead of protecting it. His research showed that special cells called regulatory T cells are crucial for keeping the immune system in check and preventing diseases like multiple sclerosis. Thanks to his contributions, scientists are developing better treatments for autoimmune diseases, improving organ transplant success and even creating new cancer therapies. These advances are already helping to save and improve the lives of millions of people around the world.
Dr. Ramsdell is currently scientific advisor at Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco.
All of us should take pride in seeing a Bruin receive this extraordinary honor. The Nobel Prize is a global recognition of discovery, progress and excellence — and receiving one is a profound acknowledgment of a person’s impact on their discipline and on society. This award reminds us that the UCLA experience truly sets up our graduates to change the world.
Dr. Ramsdell is the ninth UCLA alum to receive a Nobel Prize, joining Ralph Bunche (peace, 1950), Glenn Seaborg (chemistry, 1951), Bruce Merrifield (chemistry, 1984), William Sharpe (economic sciences, 1990), Elinor Ostrom (economic sciences, 2009), Richard Heck (chemistry, 2010), Randy Schekman (physiology or medicine, 2013) and Ardem Patapoutian (physiology or medicine, 2021). In addition to these distinguished alumni, eight UCLA faculty have received the Nobel Prize.
Dr. Ramsdell’s research and this well-deserved recognition are major sources of pride for Bruins everywhere.
We are One UCLA.
Julio Frenk
Chancellor
John C. Mazziotta
Vice Chancellor for UCLA Health Sciences
CEO, UCLA Health