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Nobel prize in doubt after death
3 October 2011 Last updated at 11:45 ET
Ralph Steinman died of pancreatic cancerA decision will be made in the next 24 hours about whether Ralph Steinman can be posthumously awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine.
The award, to be shared by three researchers, was announced on Monday, before the Nobel Foundation knew Prof Steinman had died of pancreatic cancer.
The rules state that “work produced by a person since deceased shall not be considered”.
A spokesperson said a decision should be made tonight or on Tuesday morning.
Prof Steinman received the award for revolutionising the understanding of the immune system.
He discovered the dendritic cell, which helps the body fight off infection.
A statement on the Rockefeller University web, where Prof Steinman worked, said the scientist died on 30 September at the age of 68.
He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer four years ago.
Marc Tessier-Lavigne, president of the university, said: “The Rockefeller University is delighted that the Nobel Foundation has recognised Ralph Steinman for his seminal discoveries concerning the body’s immune responses.
“But the news is bittersweet, as we also learned this morning from Ralph’s family that he passed a few days ago after a long battle with cancer.
“Our thoughts are with Ralph’s wife, children and family.”
Prof Steinman was being treated with a dendritic-cell based therapy which he designed himself.
Doubt
The Nobel Foundation expressed “deep sadness and regret” and said that “our thoughts are with Ralph Steinman’s family and colleagues”.
It confirmed that it was told of the death after making the award announcement.
Ralph Steinman was awarded for his discovery of the dendritic cellThere is now doubt about whether Prof Steinman will still receive the award.
The Nobel Foundation’s rules state: “Work produced by a person since deceased shall not be considered for an award. If, however, a prizewinner dies before he has received the prize, then the prize may be presented.”
The issue is being discussed at the moment and a decision should be made by Tuesday.
Three pioneers of the immune system shared this year’s award for medicine.
Prof Bruce Beutler and Prof Jules Hoffman discovered how the body’s first line of defence was activated.
The Nobel prize committee said: “Together Bruce Beutler, Jules Hoffmann and Ralph Steinman have revoluntionised understanding of the immune system by discovering key principles for its activation.
“They have opened up new avenues for prevention and therapy.”
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