Portuguese-Swedish Neuroscientist Joins Nobel Medicine Committee

Gonçalo Castelo-Branco, a Portuguese-Swedish professor at the Karolinska Institute, has been chosen for the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine. His work in glial cell biology, particularly on oligodendrocyte diversity and epigenetic regulation, has earned recognition from Portugal's head of state.

The Nobel Prizes were founded in 1895 by Alfred Nobel and first awarded in 1901. Each year, the Nobel Assembly—made up of 50 professors from the Karolinska Institute—selects five members for the Physiology or Medicine committee, each serving a three-year term. Ten associate members also join annually, working from March to October.

Castelo-Branco specialises in single-cell genomics and neural development. His research, published in *Nature* (2018), *Cell* (2021), and *Nature Neuroscience* (2023), has deepened understanding of multiple sclerosis and brain function. Though his studies do not automatically qualify him for the committee, his expertise aligns with its scientific focus. The Nobel Prize itself includes a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (around one million euros). Winners are selected through a rigorous process overseen by the committee and assembly.

Castelo-Branco's appointment highlights his influence in neuroscience. His role on the committee will contribute to selecting future laureates in physiology or medicine. The Nobel Assembly's decision reflects both his research achievements and institutional standing at the Karolinska Institute.