The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

"…The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with in the following way: The capital shall be invested by my executors in safe securities and shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind ... ; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; ... The prizes for ... shall be awarded by ... that for physiology or medicine by the Carolinska Institute in Stockholm; ... "

This is the exact wording of part of the translation into English of Alfred Nobel's will, which was signed in Paris on 27 November 1895. Together with the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, which were officially approved by the Swedish Government on 29 June 1900, the will constitutes the basis on which the Prize-Awarding Institutions execute their work.

The key words in the will are discovery and greatest benefit on mankind. The essence of these words was thoroughly discussed during the preparatory work with the statutes of the Nobel Foundation. However, in the end no guidelines were provided. As a consequence, it has been up to the Prize-Awarding Institution to interpret how these terms should be applied in the selection of Prize winners. A further complication is that the corresponding wording is different for the two other Prizes within the natural sciences. In physics it is discovery and invention while in chemistry it is discovery or improvement

Karolinska Institutet as a Nobel Prize-Awarding Institution

Karolinska Institutet awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, as stated in Alfred Nobel's will. The task was originally handled by the entire professorial staff, which in 1901 comprised 19 members. The practical work was taken care of by a Nobel Committee comprised of three members, one of whom was the President of Karolinska Institutet and also the chairman of the committee. The first secretary of the Nobel Committee, Professor Göran Liljestrand, was not elected until 1918, and held the position for 42 years. During this period, the prestige of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine grew. Nevertheless, this long period of control by one person was one of several factors which later prompted changes in the organization.

the Nobel Assembly - was instituted in 1977.

The Nobel Assembly has very strong connections with Karolinska Institutet but, legally and financially, it is independent of the institute and the state. Its entire budget comes from the Nobel Foundation, which handles all financial matters for the Prize-Awarding Institutions. The Nobel Assembly has 50 members, all of whom are active full professors at the institute. Members resign at the age of 65 years, i.e. when they retire from their positions at Karolinska Institutet. New members are elected by the assembly. A new chairman is elected every year according to seniority.

The Nobel Committee, which is the executive committee of the Nobel Assembly, is made up of five members and an executive secretary.

Nominations

The timetable for the prize has remained more or less the same since 1901. Thus, in September the year before the prize is to be awarded, confidential, personal invitations to nominate candidates for the prize are sent to 2500-3000 scientists who are members of medical faculties or academies outside Scandinavia. Scientists are invited according to a rotating system. Previous Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine and professors at medical faculties in the Nordic countries have the right to nominate every year. Nominations are made on special forms sent only to those who are formally invited to nominate. The Nobel Committee receives many informal letters with invalid nominations. These are not included among the documents examined by the Nobel Committee.

The deadline for the submission of nominations is 31 January (late incoming nominations are held over to the following year), after which the evaluation of the candidates begins.

All nominated candidates are evaluated by members of the Nobel Assembly and a written protocol is created for each new candidate.

For the Nobel Assembly, the task of selecting the Nobel Laureates is a very stimulating one and the lectures of the Nobel Laureates are memorable occasions. The announcement of the Nobel Prize-winners in October as well as the award ceremony and festivities in December each year attract international media attention. This presents the Prize-Awarding Institutions with excellent opportunities to explain the achievements of the Laureates, to actively promote greater public understanding of science, and to interest young scholars in biomedical research.

Facts on the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

On 27 November 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, giving the largest share of his fortune to a series of prizes, the Nobel Prizes. As described in Nobel's will, one part was dedicated to "the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine". Learn more about the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine from 1901 to 2014.

Number of Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine

105 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine have been awarded since 1901. It was not awarded on nine occasions: in 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1921, 1925, 1940, 1941 and 1942.

Why were the Medicine Prizes not awarded in those years? In the statutes of the Nobel Foundation it says: "If none of the works under consideration is found to be of the importance indicated in the first paragraph, the prize money shall be reserved until the following year. If, even then, the prize cannot be awarded, the amount shall be added to the Foundation's restricted funds." During World War I and II, fewer Nobel Prizes were awarded.

Shared and Unshared Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine

38 Medicine Prizes have been given to one Laureate only. 32 Medicine Prizes have been shared by two Laureates. 35 Medicine Prizes have been shared between three Laureates.

Why is that? In the statutes of the Nobel Foundation it says: A prize amount may be equally divided between two works, each of which is considered to merit a prize. If a work that is being rewarded has been produced by two or three persons, the prize shall be awarded to them jointly. In no case may a prize amount be divided between more than three persons.

Number of Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine

207 individuals have been awarded 1901-2014.

Youngest Medicine Laureate

To date, the youngest Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine is Frederick G. Banting, who was 32 years old when he was awarded the Medicine Prize in 1923.

Oldest Medicine Laureate

The oldest Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine to date is Peyton Rous, who was 87 years old when he was awarded the Medicine Prize in 1966.

Female Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine

Of the 207 individuals awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, only 11 are women. Of these 11, Barabara McClintock is the only one who has received an unshared Nobel Prize.

Medicine Laureates and their Fields

The most common research field for Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine is genetics. It is the field for 48 Nobel Laureates.

The Nobel Medal for Physiology and Medicine

The Nobel Medal for Physiology and Medicine was designed by Swedish sculptor and engraver Erik Lindberg and represents the Genius of Medicine holding an open book in her lap, collecting the water pouring out from a rock in order to quench a sick girl's thirst.