In the 1970s, while most researchers focused on how proteins are formed, Professors Hershko, Ciechanover, and their colleague, Professor Irwin Rose, took a different approach by studying how proteins are broken down in the cell. They uncovered the mechanism by which proteins marked with a molecule called ubiquitin are transported to proteasomes, where they are degraded. This process is crucial for maintaining cellular health and stability, ensuring proteins that are no longer needed or are defective are efficiently removed.

Their discovery had a profound impact on understanding diseases like cancer, cystic fibrosis, and neurological disorders, all of which can be caused by failures in the protein degradation process. This groundbreaking research has laid the foundation for developing new treatments, with ongoing studies still being guided by their work today.