Scientists who contributed to the development of COVID-19 vaccines receive Nobel Prize in Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been granted to two scientists who played pivotal roles in the development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The prestigious accolade was presented to Katalin Kariko of Hungary and Drew Weissman of the United States.
"The laureates, through their groundbreaking discoveries altering our comprehension of how mRNA engages with our immune system, have significantly accelerated vaccine development during one of the most significant health crises in modern history," stated the committee responsible for awarding the prize.
Both recipients were informed of their victory via phone call this morning and were reportedly deeply moved by the news.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, both the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines were developed using mRNA technology.
Professors Kariko and Weissman crossed paths during the early 1990s while conducting research at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. At that time, mRNA was considered a niche area of scientific inquiry.
Today, this very mRNA technology is being investigated for its potential application in various other diseases, including cancer.
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