As per a recent announcement, the Nobel Prize in Medicine will be awarded to Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun. They are being awarded for their discovery of microRNA- a fundamental principle governing how gene activity is regulated.

The Nobel Assembly said the discovery is proving fundamentally important for how organisms develop and function.

Ambros performed the research that led to his prize at Harvard University. He is currently a professor of natural science at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Ruvkuns research was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School, where hes a professor of genetics.

This is informed by Mr Thomas Perlmann, the Secretary-General of the Nobel Committee.

Last year, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to Hungarian-American Katalin Karik and American Drew Weissman.  It was for discoveries that enabled the creation of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 that were critical in slowing the pandemic.

The prize carries a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million) from a bequest left by the prizes creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel.

The announcement launched this years Nobel Prize Award season. Nobel announcements will continue with the physics prize on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Thursday. The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences on Oct. 14.

The laureates are invited to receive their awards at ceremonies on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Nobels death.