The 2001 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to three scientists for their “seminal discoveries at the molecular level of how the cell is driven from one phase to the next in the cell cycle,” (CNN.com, 8 October 2001).

The joint winners of this prestigious award are Leland H. Hartwell, professor of medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle for his discovery of the START gene; and R. Timothy Hunt and Sir Paul M. Nurse from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, UK, for their discoveries of cyclins and cdc2, respectively.

”Findings from their research are about to be applied to the development of tests for cancer and may lead to new cancer therapies, according to the Nobel Assembly,” reported The New York Times (9 October 2001).

But this is also a victory for 'blue-sky' research, wrote The Guardian. “It is yet another justification for spending money on pure research which doesn't have any obvious outcome when it is embarked upon. Practically every major breakthrough, from Darwin's discovery of evolution to X-rays, lasers and microwaves has been sparked by curiosity-driven research without pecuniary motives,” (10 October 2001).

The scientists will receive their award plus a share of the $943,000 prize in a ceremony in December, which marks the 100th anniversary of the first prizegiving. As to how he will spend the money, Nurse revealed to Reuters that he plans to research another kind of cycle. “I know it's the male menopause — but I do have my eye on a motorbike,” (8 October 2001).