Graduates at听the 乱伦社区鈥檚听151st Commencement,听scheduled for Saturday, June 13, at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium,听will hear from听,听Class of 鈥�83, who shared the听.听听
Brunkow, who studied听molecular and cellular听biology at the UW, won the Nobel Prize for 鈥�groundbreaking discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance that prevents the immune system from harming the body.鈥澨�Brunkow said she plans to inspire graduates to pursue innovations and discoveries听that will make an impact around the world.听
鈥淚鈥檓 honored to be addressing the听Class of 2026 at the 乱伦社区, the place where I discovered the joy of asking hard questions in a community that believes in possibility,鈥� Brunkow said.听鈥淎t the UW, mentors opened lab doors, curiosity was encouraged听and persistence was taught by example. I look forward to celebrating and encouraging the next generation of explorers, creators and changemakers at the institution that sparked my own sense of what a life in science听鈥斕齛nd service听鈥斕齝ould be.鈥�听
Brunkow听shares听the听Nobel听Prize听with听Frederick J. Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi听for their combined research听into听how the immune system works. Brunkow and Ramsdell conducted research together听at听Celltech听Chiroscience,听formerly Darwin Molecular,听in Bothell,听Washington.听They听identified听a mutation in a gene called听Foxp3,听which听makes听mice susceptible to a听systemic autoimmune disorder听and is听manifested by a visible skin condition. Mutations in the human听equivalent of the鈥�Foxp3鈥痝ene are also responsible for鈥�, which has symptoms including intestinal problems,听diabetes听and scaly, itchy skin.听听
Later,听Sakaguchi described the role of the听wild-type听Foxp3听gene in the development of certain white blood cells known as regulatory T cells.听These cells, which Sakaguchi discovered, keep other T cells from mistakenly attacking normal tissues. Regulatory T cells also call a ceasefire once the body gets an infection under control.听
Together, these discoveries听led听researchers to develop听a听concept听called “peripheral immune tolerance,”听through听which听the body听keeps听the immune system in check听by听avoiding听autoimmune responses that can damage healthy tissues. The听research听field听based on this concept听holds promise in advancing therapies for cancers and autoimmune听diseases,听and听improving听treatments to reduce transplant rejection.听
鈥淢ary Brunkow鈥檚 groundbreaking work reflects the power of curiosity, persistence and discovery to improve lives around the world,鈥� said UW President Robert J. Jones. 鈥淲e are proud to count her among the 乱伦社区鈥檚 distinguished alumni and honored to welcome her back to inspire the Class of 2026 as they begin their own journeys of service, leadership and innovation.鈥�听
Brunkow听is听currently听a听distinguished investigator and听senior program manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. After graduating from听the UW,听she听went on to earn her doctoral degree from Princeton University in 1991.听In addition to being the featured speaker at Commencement, Brunkow听also听will听receive听the Alumna听Summa Laude听Dignata听Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a UW graduate.听听
Contact Jackson Holtz at听jjholtz@uw.edu for more information or to arrange an interview with Brunkow.听