Professors Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman published a paper in 2005 that showed the mRNA could be modified to create more effective vaccines.
When Karikó and Weissman met in 1998, they started studying messenger RNA which was so delicate that the cells destroyed it. However, the two scientists discovered that by slightly altering the mRNA, they were able to direct it to force the cells to make the type of protein they chose.
. “More than 15 years after their visionary laboratory partnership, Kati and Drew have made an everlasting imprint on medicine.”Historically, scientists updated vaccines to introduce a piece of the virus that would prompt the mRNA to respond by giving the immune system a chance to fight the illness in case the person is exposed to the virus at a later time. But Karikó and Weissman changed everything when their paper attracted the attention of Moderna and BioNTech.
. It added: “The laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times.”The chair of the Nobel committee, Professor Gunilla Carlssom said during the announcement: “I think in terms of saving lives, especially in the early phase of the pandemic, it was very important,”reported. Karikó and Weissman received 11 million Swedish kronor for their contributions to medicine.
The Nobel Prize announcements will continue throughout the rest of the week including awards in physics, chemistry, literature, and economics. The final award for the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced in Norway on Friday.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Scientists whose work on mRNA paved the way for first COVID-19 vaccines win Nobel PrizeNobel Prize winners Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman harnessed messenger RNA, an advance that led to the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
Read more »
Two scientists win Nobel Prize in medicine for enabling development of COVID vaccinesTwo scientists have won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
Read more »
Penn mRNA scientists Karikó and Weissman win Nobel PrizeResearch by Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman paved the way for two COVID-19 vaccines: the ones by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.
Read more »
2 COVID Vaccine Tech Scientists Win Nobel PrizeHungarian scientist Katalin Kariko and U.S. colleague Drew Weissman, who met in line for a photocopier before making mRNA molecule discoveries together that paved the way for COVID-19 vaccines, won the 2023 Nobel Prize for Medicine on Monday.
Read more »
Scientists whose work enabled mRNA Covid vaccine win medicine Nobel prizeTwo scientists have been awarded the 2023 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine for their contributions to RNA biology that contributed to the unpr...
Read more »
Penn mRNA scientists Karikó and Weissman win Nobel PrizeResearch by Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman paved the way for two COVID-19 vaccines: the ones by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. Their work has won the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
Read more »