The Nobel Prize has been awarded to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice, who have had a significant impact on improving global health. Thanks to their discovery, there are now highly sensitive blood tests that enable hepatitis C to be eliminated after a blood transfusion

The studies carried out by the prize-winners William G. Kaelin, Gregg L. Semenza and Peter J. Ratcliffe describe the mechanisms of one of life’s most essential adaptive processes