Nobel Prize In Medicine Shared By Three Scientists Studying Hypoxia

Nobel Prize in Medicine shared by three scientists studying hypoxia

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three scientists who studied the body's adaptation to hypoxia (a decrease in oxygen levels in the environment).

Photo: Niklas Elmehed / nobelprize.org /

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three scientists who studied the body's adaptation to hypoxia (a decrease in oxygen levels in the environment).

In 2019, the most prestigious science award was shared by William G. Kaelin of Harvard University, Peter J. Ratcliffe of Oxford University and Gregg L. Semenza of Johns Hopkins University.

"The historic discoveries of this year's Nobel laureates have shown the mechanism of one of the most important adaptive processes in the body," said the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Details about the discoveries of scientists are reported in a press release.

The work of scientists was related to how the body with a low level of oxygen in the environment adapts to produce more red blood cells (erythrocytes). They focused primarily on how genes responsible for the synthesis and work of erythropoietin work, and how the level of this hormone in the body is regulated.

The Nobel Committee noted that the award-winning discoveries could lead to new strategies in the fight against anemia, cancer and many other diseases. Professor Randall Johnson of the University of Cambridge said the scientists "have greatly expanded our knowledge of how the body's physiological response makes life possible."

The prize was 9 million Swedish kronor (913 thousand dollars) and will be equally divided among the three laureates.