Nobel Prize: On Monday, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2023 was awarded to scientists Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, hailing from Hungary and the United States, for their groundbreaking contributions that paved the way for the development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, as announced by the Nobel committee.
Nobel Prize award for ground-breaking discovery
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, considered one of the most esteemed awards in the scientific realm, is chosen by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute medical university and carries a monetary reward of 11 million Swedish crowns, equivalent to approximately $1 million. The body said, “The 2023 NobelPrize 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.”
Katalin Kariko previously held the position of Senior Vice President and Head of RNA Protein Replacement at BioNTech until 2022 and has since continued as an advisor to the company. Additionally, she serves as a professor at the University of Szeged in Hungary and holds the role of adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. Drew Weissman is a professor specializing in vaccine research at the Perelman School of Medicine.
Kariko made a groundbreaking discovery by devising a method to inhibit the immune system’s inflammatory response to synthetic mRNA, a significant obstacle in the therapeutic application of mRNA. In collaboration with Weissman, they demonstrated in 2005 that modifications to nucleosides, the building blocks of mRNA’s genetic code, could render the mRNA less detectable by the immune system.
Awards to be presented on December 10
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine marks the commencement of this year’s awards, with five more to be announced soon. These prestigious awards, established in 1901 by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, recognise exceptional accomplishments in the fields of science, literature, peace, and economics. The prizes will be formally presented by the Swedish king during a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, coinciding with the anniversary of Nobel’s passing, followed by an extravagant banquet at city hall.
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