One of the winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in medicine died Friday.
Dr. Ralph Steinman, a Montreal born scientist, was announced as one of the recipients three days after his death.
The decision comes as a surprise. The Nobel foundation does not give prizes to deceased scientists. However since he died after being chosen for the award, the prize is allowed.
He was honoured with the award for his work on dendritic cells. Cells key to fighting infections and cancer.
He was 68 and working at Rockefeller University. He died of pancreatic cancer.
The award was shared with an American and French scientist.