Graduates at听the 天美影院鈥檚听151st Commencement,听scheduled for Saturday, June 13, at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium,听will hear from听,听Class of 鈥�83, who shared the听.听听

Brunkow, who studied听molecular and cellular听biology at the UW, won the Nobel Prize for 鈥�groundbreaking discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance that prevents the immune system from harming the body.鈥澨�Brunkow said she plans to inspire graduates to pursue innovations and discoveries听that will make an impact around the world.听

鈥淚鈥檓 honored to be addressing the听Class of 2026 at the 天美影院, the place where I discovered the joy of asking hard questions in a community that believes in possibility,鈥� Brunkow said.听鈥淎t the UW, mentors opened lab doors, curiosity was encouraged听and persistence was taught by example. I look forward to celebrating and encouraging the next generation of explorers, creators and changemakers at the institution that sparked my own sense of what a life in science听鈥斕齛nd service听鈥斕齝ould be.鈥�听

Brunkow听shares听the听Nobel听Prize听with听Frederick J. Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi听for their combined research听into听how the immune system works. Brunkow and Ramsdell conducted research together听at听Celltech听Chiroscience,听formerly Darwin Molecular,听in Bothell,听Washington.听They听identified听a mutation in a gene called听Foxp3,听which听makes听mice susceptible to a听systemic autoimmune disorder听and is听manifested by a visible skin condition. Mutations in the human听equivalent of the鈥�Foxp3鈥痝ene are also responsible for鈥�, which has symptoms including intestinal problems,听diabetes听and scaly, itchy skin.听听

Later,听Sakaguchi described the role of the听wild-type听Foxp3听gene in the development of certain white blood cells known as regulatory T cells.听These cells, which Sakaguchi discovered, keep other T cells from mistakenly attacking normal tissues. Regulatory T cells also call a ceasefire once the body gets an infection under control.听

Together, these discoveries听led听researchers to develop听a听concept听called “peripheral immune tolerance,”听through听which听the body听keeps听the immune system in check听by听avoiding听autoimmune responses that can damage healthy tissues. The听research听field听based on this concept听holds promise in advancing therapies for cancers and autoimmune听diseases,听and听improving听treatments to reduce transplant rejection.听

鈥淢ary Brunkow鈥檚 groundbreaking work reflects the power of curiosity, persistence and discovery to improve lives around the world,鈥� said 天美影院President Robert J. Jones. 鈥淲e are proud to count her among the 天美影院鈥檚 distinguished alumni and honored to welcome her back to inspire the Class of 2026 as they begin their own journeys of service, leadership and innovation.鈥�听

Brunkow听is听currently听a听distinguished investigator and听senior program manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. After graduating from听the UW,听she听went on to earn her doctoral degree from Princeton University in 1991.听In addition to being the featured speaker at Commencement, Brunkow听also听will听receive听the Alumna听Summa Laude听Dignata听Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a 天美影院graduate.听听

Contact Jackson Holtz at听jjholtz@uw.edu for more information or to arrange an interview with Brunkow.听

The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute on Monday jointly to 鈥� an alum of the 天美影院 鈥� along with Frederick J. Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi “for groundbreaking discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance that prevents the immune system from harming the body.”

Brunkow is a senior program manager at the , and received her bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology from the 天美影院in 1983. Brunkow went on to .

Brunkow鈥檚 award-winning research comes from when she was working with Ramsdell at Celltech Chiroscience in Bothell, Washington. The two researchers identified a mutation in a gene called foxp3, which makes mice susceptible to a type of skin disorder. Mutations in the human equivalent of the foxp3 gene are also responsible for , which has symptoms including intestinal problems, diabetes and scaly, itchy skin.

Sakaguchi later described the role of the wild-type听foxp3听gene in the development of certain white blood cells known as regulatory T cells. These cells, which Sakaguchi discovered, keep other T cells from mistakenly attacking normal tissues. Regulatory T cells also call a cease-fire once the body gets an infection under control.

These findings provided insights into the concept of “peripheral immune tolerance,” which keeps the immune system in check by avoiding autoimmune responses that can damage healthy tissues. The field, which was honored by this year鈥檚 Nobel Prize, holds promise in advancing therapies for cancers and autoimmune diseases, and for improvements in treatments to reduce transplant rejection.

Brunkow did not immediately know that she had been awarded the Nobel Prize. She only found out when the family dog alerted them to someone at their door this morning 鈥� it was an .

Brunkow is the sixth 天美影院alumnus to win a Nobel Prize after Jeffrey C. Hall, George Hitchings, George Stigler, Martin Rodbell and Linda B. Buck. Hitchings, Stigler and Buck all earned their bachelor鈥檚 degrees from UW, graduating in 1927, 1931 and 1975, respectively. Rodbell and Hall earned their doctoral degrees from 天美影院in 1954 and 1971, respectively.

The previous Nobel prize for a scientist working in Seattle went to David Baker, professor of biochemistry at the 天美影院School of Medicine and director of the 天美影院Medicine Institute for Protein Design. .