SWEDEN : This tiny class of RNA molecules plays a critical role in regulating gene activity, providing essential insights into the development and function of multicellular organisms.

The Nobel Assembly hailed their work as revealing a “completely new principle of gene regulation,” emphasizing the essential nature of microRNAs for multicellular organisms, including humans. Current research indicates that the human genome codes for over a thousand microRNAs, underscoring the profound impact of their discovery on genetic science.

Victor Ambros, born in 1953 in Hanover, New Hampshire, earned his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1979. He has held various prestigious positions, including a Principal Investigator at Harvard and his current role as Silverman Professor of Natural Science at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Gary Ruvkun, born in 1952 in Berkeley, California, completed his PhD at Harvard University in 1982 and has since served as a Principal Investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he is now a Professor of Genetics.

This year’s prize, which carries a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1 million), marks the start of the 2024 Nobel Prize announcements. Last year’s medicine prize recognized Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their contributions to mRNA vaccine development, pivotal in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nobel Prize season will continue with announcements for the Physics prize on Tuesday, Chemistry on Wednesday, and Literature on Thursday. The Nobel Peace Prize will be revealed on Friday, followed by the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences on October 14. The laureates are set to receive their awards at ceremonies on December 10, commemorating the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.