Bruce Beutler was born in Chicago and is a graduate of the University of Chicago. He shares the honor with French scientist Jules Hoffman and the late Canadian cell biologist Ralph Steinman. They won for their discoveries about the immune system.
"It's very exciting news because it's a very fundamental discovery in immunology that impacts much of the work we do here at the University of Chicago," said Prof. Cathryn Nagler, UofC.
Steiman died of pancreatic cancer three days ago without knowing he would be honored for the research he used to prolong his own life. His family had not announced his death.
The Nobel committee considers only living scientists. The committee made the award believing Steinman was alive and will stand by it.
