[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 73 (Monday, April 27, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING DR. MARY E. BRUNKOW AND THE INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS 
   BIOLOGY ON WINNING THE 2025 NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PRAMILA JAYAPAL

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 27, 2026

  Ms. JAYAPAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my heartfelt 
congratulations to Dr. Mary E. Brunkow and the Institute for Systems 
Biology (ISB) in Seattle on the award of the 2025 Nobel Prize in 
Physiology or Medicine, one of the most prestigious honors in science.
  A resident of Seattle and a Distinguished Investigator at ISB, Dr. 
Brunkow has made transformative contributions to immunology through her 
groundbreaking research on regulatory T cells and the FOXP3 gene, a key 
regulator of peripheral immune tolerance--the process by which the 
immune system avoids attacking the body's own tissues. In collaboration 
with Dr. Fred Ramsdell and building on foundational work by Dr. Shimon 
Sakaguchi, she helped uncover the genetic and cellular mechanisms that 
safeguard immune balance, reshaping the field and laying the foundation 
for new treatments for autoimmune diseases, improved organ 
transplantation, and cancer immunotherapy.
  Dr. Brunkow's pioneering work has fundamentally advanced our 
understanding of how the immune system functions and stands as a 
powerful example of the kind of federally supported biomedical research 
that improves lives, fuels innovation, and keeps the United States at 
the forefront of global scientific leadership.
  This Nobel-winning discovery reflects the return on our Nation's 
investment in science. Dr. Brunkw's work is a reminder of why we must 
continue to support institutions like ISB and ensure that scientists 
have the resources they need to make the next breakthrough.
  On behalf of Washington's 7th Congressional District and the broader 
scientific community, I extend my deepest congratulations to Dr. Mary 
E. Brunkow. Her discoveries have reshaped medicine and immunology, and 
her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of scientists, 
clinicians, and innovators. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating her extraordinary contributions to science, health, and 
humanity, and to recommit to strong, sustained federal investment in 
biomedical research.

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