Katalin Karikó

Katalin Karikó is a Hungarian-born biochemist who specializes in RNA research. She is best known for her pioneering work in mRNA technology, which has been instrumental in the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

Early life and education

Karikó was born in Szolnok, Hungary, in 1955. She developed an interest in science at a young age, and went on to study at the University of Szeged, where she earned a PhD in biochemistry in 1982.

Career

After completing her PhD, Karikó moved to the United States to continue her research. She faced numerous challenges in her early career, including funding rejections and a demotion at the University of Pennsylvania. Despite these setbacks, she remained committed to her research on mRNA.

In the early 2000s, Karikó and her colleague Drew Weissman made a significant breakthrough in their research. They discovered a method to utilize synthetic mRNA to fight disease, a finding that would later prove crucial in the development of mRNA vaccines.

mRNA research and COVID-19 vaccines

Karikó's research has been fundamental in the creation of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines use mRNA technology to instruct cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune response to the virus.

Despite the initial skepticism towards her work, Karikó's research has had a profound impact on global health, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recognition

In recognition of her contributions to science and medicine, Karikó has received numerous awards and honors. These include the Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical Research and the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award.

See also

• mRNA vaccine
• COVID-19 pandemic
• BioNTech
• Moderna