Two brilliant scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for their groundbreaking discoveries that paved the way for the development of highly effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Katalin Karikó, a professor at Sagan’s University in Hungary and an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and Drew Weissman, who worked alongside Karikó at the University of Pennsylvania, were recognized for their exceptional contributions to medical science. The panel that awarded the prize acknowledged that their discoveries have revolutionized our understanding of how mRNA interacts with the immune system, leading to the remarkable speed at which vaccines have been developed to combat one of the greatest health crises in modern history.
Secretary of the Nobel Assembly, Thomas Perlmann, announced the highly anticipated prize and revealed that both scientists were “overwhelmed” with joy upon receiving the news. Last year, the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded to Swedish scientist Svante Paabo for his remarkable contributions to the understanding of human evolution through the study of Neanderthal DNA. These discoveries also shed light on the vulnerabilities of our immune system, including our susceptibility to severe cases of COVID-19. Notably, Paabo’s father, Sune Bergstrom, also won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1982, making this award a family achievement.
The excitement continues as the Nobel announcements for other categories approach. The physics prize will be revealed on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday, and literature on Thursday. On Friday, the highly prestigious Nobel Peace Prize will be announced, followed by the economics award on Oct. 9. Each prize carries a substantial cash reward of 11 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to $1 million. This funding is made possible by a bequest from Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who passed away in 1896. Due to the devaluation of the Swedish currency, the monetary reward was increased by 1 million kronor this year. The laureates will have the honor of receiving their awards at special ceremonies held on Dec. 10, which marks the anniversary of Nobel’s death. The peace prize ceremony will take place in Oslo, as specified by Nobel’s wishes, while the other award ceremony will be held in Stockholm. (Read more Nobel Prize for Medicine stories.)
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