While researchers first observed the process of autophagy in the 1960s, Dr. Ohsumi’s research led to a new understanding of how a cell recycles its content, according to a press release issued by the organization.
“His discoveries opened the path to understanding the fundamental importance of autophagy in many physiological processes, such as in the adaptation to starvation or response to infection,” the institute said in a statement. “Mutations in autophagy genes can cause disease, and the autophagic process is involved in several conditions including cancer and neurological disease.”
Mr. Ohsumi was born in Fukoka, Japan, and received a PhD from the University of Tokyo. He is now a professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Mr. Ohsumi is the sixth person from Japan to win the $930,000 prize.
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