Nobel Prize for medicine won by British scientist Sir Peter Ratcliffe

[Sly Saint]

In a number of publications.

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been won by William Kaelin, Sir Peter Ratcliffe and Gregg Semenza.

The three winners were awarded for their discoveries of “how cells sense and adapt to oxygen and availability”, which is one of the most vital processes for sustaining animal life.

“The fundamental importance of oxygen has been understood for centuries, but how cells adapt to changes in levels of oxygen has long been unknown,” the Nobel Committee announced.

“Thanks to the groundbreaking work of these Nobel Laureates, we know much more about how different oxygen levels regulate fundamental physiological processes.”

Discoveries made by the trio of scientists have opened up new routes for researchers to understand and treat a huge range of diseases and conditions, ranging from altitude sickness to cancer.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...fe-william-kaelin-gregg-semenza-a9145721.html

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The Nobel Committee said that the three scientists had discovered "the molecular switch for how to adapt" when oxygen levels vary.

The group also noted that the most fundamental job for cells is to convert oxygen to food, and that cells and tissues experience changes in oxygen availability.

Professor Randall S Johnson, a member of the Nobel Assembly, explained how the findings would impact people's lives and healthcare.

He said: "[The discoveries] really will help us, and is already helping people, develop new medicines.

"Finding different ways to influence this fundamental process has already shown itself to be potentially very useful in very clear medical applications."

https://news.sky.com/story/british-...-of-nobel-prize-winners-for-medicine-11829947