Nobel prize winners in medicine

The Nobel Prizes are awards in physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and physiology or medicine. The prizes were instituted by the Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel through his will in 1895; they were first awarded in 1901. The prize for Economic Science was instituted in 1968. The Prizes are announced in October, but awarded on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

The Peace Prize ceremony has been held at the Norwegian Nobel Institute (1905-1946); the Aula of the University of Oslo (19471990): and most recently at the Oslo City Hall. As of 2005, the other Prize ceremonies have been held at the Stockholm Concert Hall.

Each award can be given to a maximum of three recipients per year. Each consists of a gold medal; a diploma; the extension of Swedish citizenship; and a cash grant. The grant is currently approximately 10 million SEK, slightly more than €1 million (US$1.4 million). The original purpose of the grant was to fund laureates’ further work, although nowadays many are retired at the time of award.