Steinman was awarded the prize for his 1973 discovery where he found a new cell type, the dendritic cell. Dendritic cells activate T-cells and had a important role in regulating adaptive immunity, or “when antibodies and killer cells fight infections”. The cells developed a sort of memory that helps the immune system better prepare itself for the next attack. Pretty interesting stuff!
The Nobel Foundation thought so too, that’s why they gave him the award today. But here’s where the story takes an ugly turn. Since Steinman’s been dead for three days already, the Nobel prize originally awarded to him might be taken away from him. As in rescinded, nullified, gone. Why?
Because Nobel statutes don’t allow for posthumous awards.
They do make room for people who pass away after the official announcement but before the December 10th award ceremony, but as Steinman died before the announcement entirely, he might lose out on the award because he was technically ineligible. The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, the people who decide who wins the Nobel Prize in medicine, will have to reconvene to decide on what to do but hopefully, they make an exception as it’s more their fault for not knowing Steinman had passed than Steinman’s fault for dying. [Seattle Times]
Image: UCI
PranoyG
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 9:32 AMLooks like they will honour the prize since it was made in “good faith”. This is going to open the flood gates since I believe that Gandhi and Rosalind Franklin both need to get posthumous prizes in “good faith” too
EckyThump
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 9:59 AM1973? If he made such a big break through that far back, why did it take so long to acknowledge his work? And now he wins it, but after his death? Me thinks Something hinky is going on there eh!!
Mike
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 12:11 PMHow much would that suck if you knew that happened after you kicked the bucket. Lifetime with no award, then three days after you die you get awarded a Nobel prize.
umad?
RobbyM
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 5:21 PMMust be a slow year if they have to go back to 1973? Maybe they should just award it to another US politicians? Michele Buchman apparently discovered that Carbon Dixode never hurt anyone.