He went backpacking in the Rockies, ignoring his phone, until his wife's sudden shout changed everything. Immunologist shares his Nobel Prize moment

In the quiet expanses of Wyoming’s Rocky Mountains, immunologist Dr. Fred Ramsdell was enjoying three weeks of backpacking with his wife and two dogs, completely disconnected from the digital world. Phones on airplane mode, serene trails, and untouched nature were all that mattered — until a sudden shout changed everything.

A Nobel Prize Among the Pines

Ramsdell’s wife had finally reached cell service and was inundated with dozens of notifications. Her excited shouts startled Ramsdell, who assumed a wild animal encounter. Instead, the messages revealed that Ramsdell had been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology. The scientist, a self-described skeptic, initially dismissed the news, saying, “I did not,” unaware that over 200 texts confirmed the announcement.

The couple had to drive an additional hour to southern Montana before Ramsdell could connect with the Nobel Committee. Dr. Thomas Perlmann, secretary-general of the Nobel Assembly, told The New York Times that reaching Ramsdell was “the most difficult” he had encountered in nine years.

“It turns out it was not a grizzly bear and she said, “You won the Nobel Prize!”

Yesterday Fred Ramsdell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine but, at the time, he and his wife were completely off-grid camping in Yellowstone National Park.

Unsurprisingly when… pic.twitter.com/A2klC3hNFw

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 7, 2025

Groundbreaking Work in Immunology

Ramsdell shares the award with colleagues Mary E. Brunkow and Shimon Sakaguchi for their discovery of a previously unknown group of T cells that regulate the immune system. According to the Nobel Committee, their work has paved the way for major advances in cancer treatment, autoimmune disease management, and organ transplantation.

Reflecting on the honor, Ramsdell admitted he never considered a Nobel could be in his future. Brunkow expressed a similar disbelief: she initially dismissed the call from Sweden as spam, according to an interview on NobelPrize.org, before realizing the significance.

For Ramsdell, this unexpected twist highlights a unique balance between scientific dedication and personal respite. His philosophy of immersing in nature while unplugged, even during one of the most consequential moments of his career, underscores the value of slowing down in an increasingly connected world.