Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, the scientists who developed the mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines, have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
The technology, which was experimental before the pandemic, is now being used by millions worldwide to protect against Covid-19.
Now, the same mRNA technology is being researched for other diseases, including cancer. According to BBC News, the Nobel Prize committee said: "The laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times." Both winners received phone calls this morning informing them of their victories, and they were described as "overwhelmed."
Photo: BBC
mRNA vaccines train the immune system to recognise and fight threats such as viruses and bacteria. Traditional vaccine technology has been based on dead and weakened viruses by using fragments of the infectious agent. Amid the Covid pandemic, both the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines utilized mRNA technology.
Back in the early 1990s, Professors Kariko and Weissman crossed paths while conducting research at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. During this time, the scientific community considered mRNA research to be a less prominent field.
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