October 19, 2015, New York—Alexander “Sasha” Rudensky, director of the Ludwig Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, has been elected to the US National Academy of Medicine. He joins a select group of 80 other inductees from around the world who received the honor this year. The Academy provides independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation on complex issues related to medicine and health, and helps to inform public policy decisions.
Rudensky is being recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to immunology. He is noted in particular for significantly advancing our understanding of regulatory T cells and the genetic mechanisms that give rise to these peacemakers of the immune system. Through sustained, ambitious inquiry, Rudensky has unraveled how T regs are generated, and has elucidated the molecular processes that establish their identity, differentiating them from their inflammation-promoting T cell peers. His work has illuminated almost every aspect of the immunology, genetics and molecular signaling essential to their generation and maintenance and has opened the door to powerful new strategies to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer.
Ludwig extends its congratulations to Sasha Rudensky for this well-deserved recognition of his life’s work.