2025 Anders Jahres Prize Awarded to Swedish Researchers
Two KI researchers honored with the 2025 Anders Jahres Prize for their pioneering medical research.
Key Points
- • Sten Eirik Wælgaard Jacobsen recognized for research on blood stem cells and leukemia.
- • William Nyberg awarded for developing T-cell immunotherapy for cancer.
- • Both emphasize the importance of fundamental research and academic freedom.
- • The awards will be presented at the University of Oslo on November 6.
The prestigious Anders Jahres Prize for 2025 has been awarded to two distinguished researchers from the Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Sweden. Professor Sten Eirik Wælgaard Jacobsen received the large prize for his innovative studies on blood stem cells and their concerning transformation into leukemia cells. His findings illuminate the processes by which blood stem cells in the bone marrow generate millions of blood cells every second, thereby providing valuable insights into leukemia development. Jacobsen remarked, "We live in a fact-resistant time, which will require more from us as knowledge-based researchers," stressing the importance of academic freedom amid current global challenges.
William Nyberg, an assistant professor at KI, secured the Anders Jahres prize for younger researchers for his pivotal work in T-cell immunotherapy against cancer. His research is notable for its success in instructing T-cells to target and destroy cancer cells, demonstrating effectiveness in both mouse models and human applications. Nyberg shared this honor with Dr. Thomas McWilliams from the University of Helsinki, who was recognized for his research on autophagy in brain cells. Nyberg celebrated the award as an affirmation of the need to advance scientific boundaries, stating, "The award is a confirmation of the importance of pushing the boundaries of science and medicine forward."
The awards ceremony will be held on November 6 at the University of Oslo, signifying a key event in the recognition of medical research advancements in Sweden and beyond.