The pioneering work of Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell began with a mysterious mutant mouse known as “scurfy,” leading them to identify the FOXP3 gene and unlock how regulatory T cells prevent autoimmune disease — discoveries that now point to new treatments in cancer and autoimmunity.
The prize recognizes foundational discoveries about regulatory T cells and the FOXP3 gene that redefined immune tolerance and opened avenues to treat autoimmune disease, enable transplantation, and advance immuno-oncology. ISB celebrates Dr. Brunkow’s leadership and collaborative science.
ISB Co-founder Dr. Leroy (Lee) Hood has been named one of the inaugural recipients of the Michael Sela Prize in Biomedical Sciences, awarded by the Weizmann Institute of Science. Hood shares the honor with Dr. Francis S. Collins and Dr. Eric S. Lander for pioneering work that has reshaped modern medicine and advanced human health.
Postdoctoral fellows are the lifeblood of research institutions, yet their contributions are often underrecognized. At the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), postdocs enter the scientific workforce with passion, vision, and advanced training – bringing the fresh ideas that fuel discovery.
The Biomedical Data Translator is now publicly available, offering a powerful open-source platform that integrates diverse biomedical datasets. Designed to accelerate discovery and patient care, Translator helps users explore complex data and uncover actionable insights with ease.
Carole Ellison has supported ISB’s research and STEM programs for over a decade. She established the K. Carole Ellison Fellowship in Bioinformatics, funding groundbreaking research that has enabled young scientists to make critical discoveries.
Reflecting on the past year, ISB has a lot to celebrate: groundbreaking research published in leading scientific journals, well-earned promotions, widespread media coverage, and more. Enjoy our year-in-review roundup highlighting some of the important, interesting, and impactful highlights of 2024.