Better future for India in medicine means embracing immunology today
Immunology is increasingly coming into the spotlight in modern biomedicine and has powerfully captured the popular imagination. From revolutionizing vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic to providing profound insights into the treatment of autoimmune disorders and cancer, immunological research is now more importantly driving biomedical innovations than ever before. The latest pandemic has revealed that immunology is not an esoteric science but a cornerstone of public health, economic stability, and human resilience.
The field of immunology began to benefit humanity before its mechanisms were fully understood. The classic example is undeniable: Edward Jenner’s predictions led to the invention of vaccines in 1796, two centuries before immunology was formalized as a specialized field. The significant number of Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine awarded to immunologists underscores the critical importance of the field. Looking ahead, strategically advancing immunology expertise, especially in populous countries with unique health challenges like India, will be crucial to address global health threats and advance personalized medicine.
critical role
Consistent recognition of immunological discoveries by the Nobel Foundation highlights the transformative impact of the field. In total, immunology has been awarded the Nobel Prize for 31 awards in 16 different years. In the last 50 years alone, 21 immunologists have been awarded this award. This model illustrates how knowledge and technological advances in immunology have transformed our understanding of human health and disease over the last half century.
The latest addition to this distinguished legacy is the 2025 Prize awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for their discoveries regarding peripheral immune tolerance. Their collective work identified regulatory T cells and revealed the body’s complex mechanism for preventing autoimmune attacks. These ‘safety guards’ of the immune system maintain balance by suppressing overactive immune responses; This is a discovery that opens new avenues for treating autoimmune diseases, cancer and organ rejection. In addition to celebrating specific breakthroughs, the 2025 Prize also highlights immunology’s continued centrality to biomedical advancement.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the critical role of immunology in global health security. The record-breaking development of effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 was made possible by decades of basic immunological research, especially on mRNA vaccine technology (awarded the Nobel Prize in 2023). The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of new vaccine platforms and revealed their potential to address future health crises. The response demonstrated how immunological knowledge, when effectively translated into technologies, can change the course of global events and underlined the need to maintain robust research ecosystems to prepare for future infectious disease threats.
Expansion of scope
Immunology has also fundamentally transformed cancer treatment through immunotherapies that use the immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells. Checkpoint inhibitors (2018 Nobel Prize), CAR-T cell therapies and cancer vaccines now represent a new pillar of oncology that complements traditional methods such as chemotherapy and radiation.
The scope of immune-based therapies, once considered separate from immunology, is expanding into clinical contexts. Scientists are investigating the immune system’s connection to the brain and how inflammation may contribute to depression and neurodegenerative diseases. There is growing evidence that the immune system plays a role in metabolic disorders and aging, enabling immune-modulating treatments for conditions such as diabetes and the promotion of healthier, longer lives.
It turns out that the immune system is not just a shield against microbes: It is a master regulatory network that is intricately linked to the function of every organ and biological process.
Therefore, the strategic importance of immunology in the future of biomedicine cannot be ignored. From Nobel Prize-winning basic research to revolutionary clinical applications, immunological knowledge continues to drive medical progress. For a country like India, with its enormous population and unparalleled burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases, the immunology revolution presents both a tremendous opportunity and a significant challenge. By addressing existing weaknesses in training programs and leveraging its unique population resources, India can position itself as a leader in immunological research relevant to both domestic and global health priorities. Nurturing this field through education, research investment and international collaboration will be essential to realize its full potential to improve human health worldwide.
Investing in immunology
The strength of Indian medicine has traditionally been its clinical acumen and ability to manage large numbers of patients. However, to truly participate in and benefit from the coming era of immune medicine, a solid foundation in immunology training is not a luxury: it is an urgent necessity. Therefore, we must fundamentally reshape the way we teach and practice immunology by encouraging stronger collaborations between basic immunologists in laboratories and clinicians on the hospital front lines. This also requires a redesign of immunology pedagogy in basic biology. Undergraduate and graduate curricula must give due emphasis to immunology not only to keep pace with scientific progress but also to keep students informed of the field’s technological innovations.
Reforms to better prepare our biologists and medical professionals for the future will also support domestic research tailored to India’s specific needs. Can we design uniquely effective vaccines for our societies? Why do some autoimmune diseases occur more commonly or differently here? How can we develop more affordable versions of cutting-edge immunotherapies for Indian cancer patients? The answers to these questions should not come from abroad; They must be trained in our own institutions.
Looking ahead, the countries that lead in biomedicine will be those that invest not only in research infrastructure but also in human capital: by educating a generation of scientists, doctors and technologists who are fluent in the complex language of immunology.
For India, embracing this ‘immunological era’ is key to transforming its healthcare system from a broad provider of primary care to a global leader in the next wave of medical innovation and ensuring that the wonders of modern immunology reach every one of its citizens.
Dipyaman Ganguly is professor and head of the Department of Biology, Ashoka University, Sonipat.
It was published – 20 October 2025 05:30 IST
