Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-04-27

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

Context

On 2026-04-27, Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7) delivered a floor speech titled "CONGRATULATING DR. MARY E. BRUNKOW AND THE INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY ON WINNING THE 2025 NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSIOLOGY O" in the House.

Full Text

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 73 (Monday, April 27, 2026) [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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CONGRATULATING DR. MARY E. BRUNKOW AND THE INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY ON WINNING THE 2025 NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 73 (Monday, April 27, 2026) [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. ____________________