Congrats to 2011 Nobel Laureates: A Strong Transplant Link

This week in Stockholm, the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was awarded to Bruce Beutler, Jules Hoffmann, and Ralph Steinman (posthumously) for their work in defining the roles of dendritic cells and the innate immune system in immunologic responses. Even a clinician like me appreciates the significance of these discoveries, and the rapidly evolving understanding of their role in alloinjury. While working primarily in tumor immunology, these visionary scientists remind us of the interplay between the lab and the clinic; nowhere is this interplay more important than transplantation. Our society is blessed with investigators devoted to advancing our field, and one of our primary missions is to support them. Congratulations Drs. Beutler, Hoffmann, and Steinman, and courage for the journey to all of you seeking to build on their efforts.

Robert S. Gaston