The University of California has achieved a new milestone by receiving more Nobel Prizes in a single year than any other university system worldwide. In October 2025, UC faculty were awarded four Nobel Prizes over three days, and with alumni included, the total number of UC-affiliated laureates reached five. The awards span the fields of medicine, physics, and chemistry.

The Nobel-winning research included advances in understanding the immune system, leading to improved treatments for diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. Other recognized work included foundational research for quantum computing and the development of molecular materials to remove air pollution and extract drinking water from arid environments.

“These remarkable achievements by five UC-affiliated Nobel Prize winners reflect the very best of the world-changing teaching, research, and public service happening across our University,” said UC President James B. Milliken. “Our nation and world will be better off because of these discoveries. More communities will have clean drinking water, more people will be protected from cyberattacks, and more patients will have access to better treatments for diseases like arthritis and multiple sclerosis.”

University officials emphasized that these scientific breakthroughs were enabled by sustained federal investment in university research. They also noted that current threats to federal research funding could jeopardize future discoveries and the United States' position in global scientific leadership. Earlier in the year, UC launched the Speak Up for Science campaign to advocate for renewed federal support for research and innovation in the United States.

Since 1934, University of California faculty and staff have received 75 Nobel Prizes across several disciplines, with 49 awarded to individuals affiliated with UC at the time of the award—more than any other institution.

This year’s Nobel laureates with UC ties include:

- Frederick J. Ramsdell, an alumnus of UC San Diego and UCLA, was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for discoveries related to peripheral immune tolerance.

- John Clarke (UC Berkeley), John M. Martinis (UC Santa Barbara), and Michel H. Devoret (UC Santa Barbara) received the 2025 Nobel Prize in physics for their work on quantum mechanical tunneling and energy quantization in electric circuits.

- Omar M. Yaghi (UC Berkeley) was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing metal-organic frameworks.

The research leading to these awards was supported by agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense. Their funding played a crucial role in supporting discoveries that contribute to advances in medicine, technology, and environmental science.