Thomas Perlmann, Professor of Molecular Biology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, is the secretary of the committee that decides the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine each year. Below is a brief interview with the Professor, who gave a lecture on the Nobel Prize at HUN-REN’s IV. Strategic Workshop.
Q: One of your favorite photos included in your presentation was of Katalin Karikó, where the professor, with almost childlike curiosity, looks at her freshly received award.
A: That photo speaks for itself, showing why working on the Nobel committee is such joyful work aside from its scientific significance. Receiving the award has a profound impact on the laureates' identity and highlights the great individual achievements in scientific progress. We are aware that these are the key factors fueling the worldwide excitement that sweeps across countries every October during the so-called Nobel Week. It’s important to note that while the 50-member Nobel committee votes on the laureates in complete secrecy, only on the day of the public announcement, earlier discussions may give rise to speculations about the year's winners. As the secretary, I have learned that we must be very careful not to accidentally let anything slip or hint to the broader public.
Q: Your research field is molecular developmental biology, which involves very timely and complex topics. How do you manage to balance these two demanding and time-consuming roles?
A: Both roles are practically full-time, so I had to make compromises. Alongside my secretarial duties, I had to reduce the size of my research group because the work related to the Nobel Prize is very intense. Moreover, I am also a member of the board of directors of the Nobel Foundation. Part of my compromise with myself is to limit my travels and accept fewer speaking engagements abroad, whether related to the Nobel Prize or my scientific work, thus saving time. So yes, the Nobel Prize work does take away some of my focus from my research, but I continue to advance my scientific career because it is a valuable, productive, and intellectually satisfying part of my life.
Q: What do you consider the greatest achievement in your scientific career and professional work?
A: I am a researcher, and I hope that the greatest professional successes and discoveries are still ahead of me. My research team and I are doing extremely important work to understand how the brain develops, how neurons in the brain develop, and how they differentiate from stem cells. We specifically study the neurons that produce a neurotransmitter called dopamine. When these cells gradually die, Parkinson's disease develops. Our research aims to identify critical factors in neurodegenerative diseases and supports ongoing clinical trials using stem cells. I believe this is the most important aspect of my professional work. Overall, I find this dual role very enjoyable.
You can watch the presentation from the Workshop here: