COVID research: Masks, Vaccines, Social Distancing, Treatments
Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:55 am
Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for research enabling mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
Posted 1h ago1 hours ago, updated 55m ago
Scientists Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, from Hungary and the United States respectively, have received the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries enabling the development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
Key points:The prize, among the most prestigious in the scientific world, is selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden's Karolinska Institute medical university, and also comes with 11 million Swedish crowns (about $1.56 million).
- Dr Katalin Karikó and Dr Drew Weissman identified a way to alter messenger RNA to enable its safe introduction to cells
Their 2005 research enabled the future development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, administered to billions during the pandemic
The recipients of the remaining five Nobel Prizes for 2023 will be announced over the coming days
"The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19," the body said.
"The laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times."
Nobel Assembly secretary Thomas Perlman said both scientists were "overwhelmed" by news of the prize when he contacted them shortly before the announcement.
Dr Karikó was senior vice-president and head of RNA protein replacement at BioNTech until 2022, and has since acted as an adviser to the company.
She is also a professor at the University of Szeged in Hungary, and adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine.
Dr Weissman is professor in vaccine research at the Perelman School.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-02/ ... /102926620