How unfortunate and sad that Ralph Steinman, M.D., died just three days before learning he was a Nobel Prize for Medicine winner. The Nobel Prize committee awarded this highest prestige honor before learning of Steinman’s death from pancreatic cancer. Although Nobel Prizes are not awarded posthumously, the committee appears to be willing to let the award stand under such unique circumstances. This high-interest news item certainly draws extra attention to immune system science, since Dr. Steinman’s award was for his work in revealing the critical role our body’s immune function plays in the healing process. One would expect world recognition for developing yet another drug, discovering a new virus, or inventing a new invasive surgery technique. But, adding medical credibility to the immune system? Many physicians, laboratory scientists, and medical educators must be shaking their heads.
