• Send Us A Tip
  • Calling all Tech Writers
  • Advertise
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
  • Login
TechStory
  • News
  • Crypto
  • Gadgets
  • Memes
  • Gaming
  • Cars
  • AI
  • Startups
  • Markets
  • How to
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Crypto
  • Gadgets
  • Memes
  • Gaming
  • Cars
  • AI
  • Startups
  • Markets
  • How to
No Result
View All Result
TechStory
No Result
View All Result
Home Trending

Scientists Honored with Nobel Prize in Medicine for Pioneering messenger RNA Vaccine Breakthroughs

by Sneha Singh
October 3, 2023
in Trending
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Scientists Honored with Nobel Prize in Medicine for Pioneering messenger RNA Vaccine Breakthroughs
TwitterWhatsappLinkedin

On Monday, the Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to two remarkable scientists whose groundbreaking research paved the way for messenger RNA vaccines, drastically altering the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. In her early career, Katalin Kariko, a scientist originally from Hungary, recognized the medical potential of mRNA and dedicated herself to its exploration with unwavering determination. However, this passion often led her to the fringes of the scientific community. Around 25 years ago, a chance encounter at the University of Pennsylvania brought her together with Drew Weissman, an immunologist. Weissman shared Kariko’s vision and saw the technology’s potential to revolutionize vaccine development. Their collaboration laid the foundation for the messenger RNA vaccines we know today.

You might also like

Starting Today, Marriott Implements AI for Smarter Upgrades

Reddit Rolls Out Age Verification for UK Users Amid New Online Safety Rules

Hackers Take Over Elmo’s X Account, Post Anti-Semitic Slurs and Attacks on Trump

Today, the potential of messenger RNA (mRNA) is widely recognized, particularly in the rapid development of coronavirus vaccines that have been administered billions of times. However, for decades, the notion that this delicate genetic material could serve as a medical tool seemed like a distant and improbable concept at the fringes of mainstream science.

The combined expertise of Kariko and Weissman played a crucial role in understanding how to modify messenger RNA chemically, transforming fundamental biology into a practical medical technology just in time for the pandemic. Their breakthrough has been integrated into the coronavirus vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer in collaboration with BioNTech, which have seen extensive use globally.

A Pioneering Journey: From Adversity to Nobel Laureate

Over the years, Kariko and Weissman encountered remarkable ideas, underappreciated successes, and numerous rejections. Since 2021, they have been honored with many esteemed awards in the field of science, leading to mounting expectations of a future Nobel Prize recognition. In a recent interview, Weissman mentioned his struggle with sleep, and on a Monday morning at his residence in Philadelphia, he was up early. However, he did not anticipate a call from Stockholm this year, estimating it would likely be another six years before their groundbreaking work received the Nobel spotlight.

He received the news about the award not directly from the Nobel committee but through a text from Kariko. She informed him that she had received the call and the committee was trying to locate his phone number. They exchanged congratulations in a state of disbelief. The official call came in at approximately 5:20 a.m.

Scientists Honored with Nobel Prize in Medicine for Pioneering messenger RNA Vaccine Breakthroughs
Credits: The Conversation

Weissman described it as an incredible moment. He celebrated with his wife and had a FaceTime celebration with his daughter.

Thomas Perlmann, the secretary general of the Nobel Assembly, mentioned that when he spoke to Kariko early that Monday, she reflected on the sudden change in her circumstances. A decade ago, she faced challenges and was far from being considered a traditional scientific success. She struggled for years to secure essential grant funding for her scientific pursuits. Moreover, she did not have tenure at the University of Pennsylvania.

In an interview for the Nobel Prize website, Kariko recollected that she was “kicked out and forced to retire!” from Penn exactly a decade ago. Nonetheless, she remained passionate about science. She made the decision to relocate to Germany and work for a lesser-known startup called BioNTech, which was focusing on harnessing mRNA for medical purposes.

Unlocking the Potential of Messenger RNA

Weissman played a crucial role in making ‘hugs and closeness possible again.’ Eventually, that company partnered with Pfizer to develop an mRNA vaccine against the coronavirus.

“Every once in a while, you get a discovery that is transformative in that it’s not only for a specific discovery itself, but it essentially impacts multiple areas of science — and that’s what mRNA technology is,” said Anthony S. Fauci, a professor at Georgetown University and the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Weissman worked in Fauci’s lab for several years early in his career. Fauci said that Weissman and Kariko brought different skill sets to a difficult scientific problem, and he praised their “persistent, dogged” work over decades.

“There was a great deal of skepticism early on. They didn’t have a lot of support, but they persisted,” remarked Fauci. “It was an amazingly productive collaboration.”

Messenger RNA is essentially a code composed of four letters, dictating genetic instructions for constructing proteins within cells. In theory, the potential for utilizing the body’s inherent machinery to build proteins was vast. However, Kariko and Weissman encountered a critical issue: messenger RNA alone could trigger an inflammatory response.

In 2005, they made a breakthrough by chemically modifying one of the RNA letters, nearly eradicating the inflammatory response. While the Nobel committee recognized this pivotal discovery, the scientific community initially paid little attention.

Revolutionizing Medicine: mRNA’s Global Impact and Potential in Sickle Cell Disease

Over time, biotechnology companies started showing interest in this technology. Yet, the urgency of the pandemic, demanding the rapid development of vaccines, truly highlighted its potential to the public.

Weissman expressed his enthusiasm for expanding the use of messenger RNA to combat novel diseases. He aspires to employ messenger RNA in crafting a gene therapy for treating sickle cell disease, administered through a single shot. This innovation could cure regions with a high disease prevalence and limited resources, notably in Africa and India.

Cutting-edge experimental therapies for sickle cell disease are on the horizon. Still, they necessitate the extraction of patients’ bone marrow cells, specialized laboratory modifications, and subsequent reinfusion—a laborious and costly process not feasible in countries lacking extensive medical resources.

The endeavor is still in its early developmental phases.

“Their approach costs a few million dollars per person, and in my view will never be useful worldwide,” Weissman asserted. “Ours is: You line people up, give them an IV injection, and they’re cured. That can be done anywhere in the world easily.”

The Nobel Assembly highlighted the significance of their work in accelerating “the unprecedented pace of vaccine development during one of the most significant threats to human health in modern history.”

 

 

 

Tags: global impactmrnaNobel LaureateNobel PriceSickle Cell Disease
Tweet54SendShare15
Previous Post

Tesla Q3 Deliveries Disappoint, But Company Poised for Rebound in Q4

Next Post

Spain’s LaLiga clubs approve CVC deal after opt-out concession

Sneha Singh

Sneha is a skilled writer with a passion for uncovering the latest stories and breaking news. She has written for a variety of publications, covering topics ranging from politics and business to entertainment and sports.

Recommended For You

Starting Today, Marriott Implements AI for Smarter Upgrades

by Sneha Singh
July 16, 2025
0
Starting Today, Marriott Implements AI for Smarter Upgrades

Marriott has begun using artificial intelligence to handle room upgrades for elite members, marking a significant shift in how the hotel giant manages one of its most valued...

Read more

Reddit Rolls Out Age Verification for UK Users Amid New Online Safety Rules

by Harikrishnan A
July 16, 2025
0
Surge in Reddit’s MOON Token Price Following Deflationary Strategy Unveil

Reddit has begun enforcing age verification for users in the United Kingdom in response to the country’s new Online Safety Act. The law, which is set to take...

Read more

Hackers Take Over Elmo’s X Account, Post Anti-Semitic Slurs and Attacks on Trump

by Harikrishnan A
July 16, 2025
0
Hackers Take Over Elmo’s X Account, Post Anti-Semitic Slurs and Attacks on Trump

The official X account of Elmo, one of Sesame Street’s most cherished characters, was hijacked on Sunday by unknown hackers who posted a barrage of hateful and conspiratorial...

Read more
Next Post

Spain's LaLiga clubs approve CVC deal after opt-out concession

Please login to join discussion

Techstory

Tech and Business News from around the world. Follow along for latest in the world of Tech, AI, Crypto, EVs, Business Personalities and more.
reach us at [email protected]

Advertise With Us

Reach out at - [email protected]

BROWSE BY TAG

#Crypto #howto 2024 acquisition AI amazon Apple Artificial Intelligence bitcoin Business China cryptocurrency e-commerce electric vehicles Elon Musk Ethereum facebook funding Gaming Google India Instagram Investment ios iPhone IPO Market Markets Meta Microsoft News NFT samsung Social Media SpaceX startup startups tech technology Tesla TikTok trend trending twitter US

© 2024 Techstory.in

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Crypto
  • Gadgets
  • Memes
  • Gaming
  • Cars
  • AI
  • Startups
  • Markets
  • How to

© 2024 Techstory.in

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?