Three physiologists – two Americans and one German who discovered the behavior of cells in the body in transporting the molecules they create, received Monday the Nobel Peace Prize in medicine for their outstanding achievement. The three awardees are James E. Rothman, 62, Randy W. Schekman, 64, both Americans and Thomas C. Sudhof, 57, a German.
Breakthrough in medical science
The Nobel Peace Prize Committee picked the three physiologists since their discovery is a major breakthrough in medical science. Through their research, the mystery on how cells act in exporting molecules to the proper place at the proper time has been unraveled. According to the Committee, failure of this system to carry out its role results to certain conditions such as diabetes, immunological problems and neurological disorders. With the recent discovery of Rothman, Schekman and Sudhof, medical scientists now have the leverage to pursue other researches and find treatment for various illnesses. The discovery points to the tiny components of cells known as vesicles which are responsible in mobilizing hormones and molecules inside and outside cells like in the case of insulin release to the bloodstream.
Budgetary constraints
Federal science research is in the dark nowadays but the recent Nobel Peace Prize bestowed to the three winners has given hope to the future of medicine. The National Institutes of Health spent some $49 million dollars to assist the three scientists in their work. However due to the ongoing government shutdown the said agency has dismissed many of its staff members. The type of research executed by the recent Nobel Prize winners is perceived as susceptible to budget cuts from the government. Dr. Francis Collins, N.I.H. director said that this serves as reminder that American biomedical research is indeed promising but compromised at the same time. He added that while the awardees celebrate their victory, the N.I.H. is being threatened by the government deadlock and risk of being impounded.
Shutdown impact on scientific research
Dr. Collins further noted that even prior to the shutdown, scientists have already been facing severe budgetary problems that restricted the kind of research that has led to this year’s Nobel Prize. He noted that there are numerous potential Nobel Prize winners who are working hard to obtain support for their research works and yet many of them have been furloughed. The N.I.H. director said that a good number of these scientists might just change career paths or move to another location. He also pointed out that it is ironic that while science is rapidly advancing, the N.I.H. is constrained. One of the winners, Dr. Rothman, pointed out as well during a news conference that a scientist begins with a great idea and is willing to take risks despite the difficulties. He said he failed on the first five years of his attempt in his career and was disappointed that support to the risks on discoveries and ideas has been greatly diminishing.
The three new laureates work in prestigious universities. Rothman is a Yale University professor, Suedhof started his career at Stanford University in 2008 and Schekman is connected with the University of California, Berkeley.
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