Research on microRNA wins the 2024 Nobel Prize in Biomedicine

At the ceremony taking place at 12:00 on October 7 (Stockholm time, ie 4:45 pm – Hanoi time), the representative of the Swedish Academy announced the name of the above research.

In the early 1990s, two scientists studied the genetic makeup of a 1 mm long C. elegans roundworm. Despite its small size, this worm possesses many specialized cell types, such as nerve and muscle cells. Those cells are also found in larger, more complex animals like humans, making it a useful model for studying how tissues grow and mature in multicellular organisms. It is closely related to how organisms in the world move and develop.

The Nobel Committee explained the work of the two scientists: “The information stored in our chromosomes can be compared to an instruction book for all cells in the body. Each cell contains the same chromosomes, containing exactly the same set of genes and the same set of instructions”. However, different types of cells, such as muscle cells and nerve cells, have different characteristics. The two biologists have devoted their careers to studying the mechanisms by which these differences arise.

“The answer lies in gene regulation, which allows each cell to select only the relevant ‘instruction manuals’. This ensures that only the correct set of genes is active in each cell type,” said the Commission. stated clearly.

During their research, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun continued to discover microRNA, a new type of small RNA molecule (essential nucleic acid for most biological functions), essential for gene regulation. This discovery helped reveal that the human genome encodes more than 1,000 microRNAs.

Genetic studies show that cells and tissues will not develop normally without microRNA. Abnormal regulation of microRNAs – which potentially contribute to cancer development and mutations in genes encoding microRNAs – have been discovered in humans, leading to problems such as congenital hearing loss, eye and bone disorders.

Thomas Perlmann, Secretary of the Nobel Committee for Biomedicine, added: “I have not been able to contact Victor Ambros, but have left a message on his mobile phone and hope he will call back soon.” While the call to Gary Ruvkun was successful. Mr. Perlmann said the scientist “seemed tired when he first answered the phone, but quickly became excited and happy” when he learned he had won a prestigious award.

“He and his wife were both happy. They were very happy to be going to Stockholm next December,” Perlmann recounted.

Victor Ambros was born in 1953 in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. He received his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1979. This is also where he conducted postdoctoral research from 1979 to 1985. He is currently a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. And Gary Ruvkun was born in 1952 in Berkeley, California, USA. He received his doctorate from Harvard University in 1982. He is currently a professor at Harvard Medical School.

The winner will be awarded a Nobel certificate, Nobel medal and a prize money of 11 million Swedish kronor (about 989,000 USD), on December 10. Scientists often have to wait decades for their work to be recognized by the Nobel Jury.

In 2023, the Nobel Committee named two scientists Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their research on an mRNA vaccine to prevent Covid-19. Announced in 2005, their discovery paved the way for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against Covid-19. This research also shows potential against other diseases such as HIV, cancer, autoimmune and genetic diseases.

Since 1901, the Committee has awarded the Nobel Prize in Biomedicine to a total of 227 individuals who have made important contributions in the field. The youngest person ever to win the prize was scientist Frederick G. Banting, honored at the age of 32, for his discovery of insulin. The oldest person is Peyton Rous for his work discovering tumor-causing viruses. He was named in 1966, at the age of 87.