Hiking Hero: Nobel Prize Winner Fred Ramsdell Learned of His Award While Off-Grid
The Call That Couldn’t Get Through
The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute announced the winners of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine on Monday. The award recognized the groundbreaking discoveries of Dr. Ramsdell, Mary Brunkow, and Shimon Sakaguchi concerning **peripheral immune tolerance**—work crucial to understanding and treating autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes.
However, while his co-laureates were quickly contacted, Dr. Ramsdell, a scientific adviser at Sonoma Biotherapeutics, was unreachable. His lab confirmed he was “living his best life” on an “off the grid” hiking and camping trip across the mountain ranges of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.
A Grizzly Yell Turns into a Golden Moment
The hilarious moment of discovery finally arrived a day late. While heading back to their hotel, Ramsdell and his wife, Laura O’Neill, stopped to fix something on their car. His wife switched on her phone and, suddenly regaining cell service, was instantly flooded with congratulatory messages.
The ensuing scream startled Dr. Ramsdell, who was deep in the American backcountry. His first thought? A terrifying grizzly bear sighting! The reality was much more pleasant: “You just won the Nobel Prize!” she reportedly yelled.
Speaking to the media shortly after, Dr. Ramsdell expressed his shock and delight. “I certainly didn’t expect to win the Nobel Prize. It never crossed my mind,” he said. His commitment to a complete digital detox meant he was blissfully unaware of the global excitement surrounding his monumental achievement.
The Power of a Digital Detox
Dr. Ramsdell’s experience highlights a growing trend: the importance of disconnecting. While he missed the historic call from Stockholm, his three-week escape allowed him to truly recharge. His story is an inspiring reminder that even at the pinnacle of scientific achievement, maintaining work-life balance and stepping away from the digital noise is vital.
Congratulations to Dr. Fred Ramsdell and his co-laureates for their life-changing work! It goes to show that sometimes, the biggest news finds you even when you’re trying to hide from the world.
