David Nemazee
David Nemazee, PhD. Credit: Scripps Research

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded David Nemazee, PhD, professor of Immunology and Microbiology at Scripps Research, the 2025 Crafoord Prize in Polyarthritis for foundational research that could pave way for treatments into conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis.

The prize, shared with Professor Christopher Goodnow of Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Australia, recognizes Nemazee and Goodnow’s discovery into the critical mechanisms that prevent B cells from attacking the body’s own tissues, which occurs in autoimmune disease. Uncovering the underlying process of these B cells could enable the development of new therapeutics for these diseases.

The Crafoord Prize is awarded as part of a partnership between the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Crafoord Foundation in Lund, Sweden. The disciplines under the award alternate each year and include mathematics and astronomy, geosciences, biosciences, and polyarthritis, which focuses on systemic diseases that cause inflammation in the joints.

At Scripps Research, the Nemazee lab studies lymphocytes, including the development of B lymphocytes and how they factor into the body’s immune response and tolerance. His work has contributed greatly to the understanding of vaccinology, including methods to target HIV and influenza. In a recent Structure paper, Nemazee and additional scientists created near-atomic-level structural models of enzymes associated with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including lupus and Alzheimer’s.

“I was of course honored and delighted to learn about being chosen to receive the Crafoord Prize along with Chris. I want to especially thank the technicians, students, collaborators and postdocs who have worked with me over the years to further this research,” Nemazee says.

The prize includes $543,000 to be shared between Nemazee and Goodnow. The awarded will be presented by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during Crafoord Days in Lund and Stockholm from May 5 and 8, 2025.

“They have given us a new and detailed understanding of the mechanisms that normally prevent faulty B cells from attacking tissues in the body, explaining why most of us are not affected by autoimmune diseases,” says Olle Kämpe, member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and chair of the prize committee.

Watch the award announcement below: