Gregg L Semenza (Left), Peter J Ratcliffe (Middle) and William G Kaelin (Right) (Screengrab via Nobel Prize’s YouTube channel)Three researchers, two from United States and one from Britain, on Monday (7 October) shared the Nobel prize in Medicine for their discoveries that paved the way for promising new ways to fight anaemia, cancer and many other diseases.
The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute announced that the three recipients, two Americans William G Kaelin and Gregg L Semanza and Briton Peter J. Ratcliffe, were recognized "for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability", Efe news reported.
With their work they were able to understand how oxygen levels affect cell metabolism and physiological function.
Their discoveries could pave the way in the development of new strategies to fight anemia, cancer and other diseases, according to the institute.
Kaelin, born in New York in 1957, is a specialist in internal medicine and oncology.
Semenza, born in 1955 and also a New Yorker, is a paediatrician.
And Ratcliffe was born in Lancashire in 1954, and is an expert in nephrology, a medicine specialising in kidneys.
The announcement in Medicine kicks off this year's prestigious awards, which will be followed in the coming days by prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace and Economics.
This edition will see two prizes in Literature being announced as an exception, as last year's were postponed owing to allegations of sexual abuse within the Swedish Academy.
The awards will be presented on 10 December, the anniversary of the death of its founder Alfred Nobel, in a double ceremony at the Konserthus in Stockholm and Oslo City Hall, for the Peace Prize.
All prizes include a cash prize, which this year amounts to 9 million Swedish kronor ($912,000).
(With inputs from IANS)
An Appeal...
Dear Reader,
As you are no doubt aware, Swarajya is a media product that is directly dependent on support from its readers in the form of subscriptions. We do not have the muscle and backing of a large media conglomerate nor are we playing for the large advertisement sweep-stake.
Our business model is you and your subscription. And in challenging times like these, we need your support now more than ever.
We deliver over 10 - 15 high quality articles with expert insights and views. From 7AM in the morning to 10PM late night we operate to ensure you, the reader, get to see what is just right.
Becoming a Patron or a subscriber for as little as Rs 1200/year is the best way you can support our efforts.