In a groundbreaking triumph for scientific innovation, Katalin Karikó, a Hungarian-born biochemist, has been awarded the 2022 Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research and the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, alongside Drew Weissman and Pieter Cullis. This prestigious recognition honors their groundbreaking work in developing messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, a cornerstone of the highly effective vaccines against COVID-19..
Karikó’s journey to this remarkable achievement was marked by unwavering determination and a profound belief in the potential of mRNA. Born in a small village in Hungary in 1955, she embarked on a scientific career, obtaining a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Szeged in 1982. Her early research focused on studying the role of lipids and nucleic acids in cell structure and function..
In the late 1980s, Karikó joined the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Biochemistry as a research fellow. There, she encountered a new research area that would forever change her career trajectory: mRNA. mRNA carries genetic instructions from DNA to the ribosomes, where proteins are synthesized. Karikó hypothesized that mRNA could be used to deliver genetic information into cells, potentially enabling the production of specific proteins for therapeutic purposes..
However, mRNA faced a significant hurdle. When introduced into the body, it often triggered an immune response, rendering it unusable for therapeutic applications. Undeterred, Karikó embarked on a quest to find a solution to this problem..
In 1990, Karikó met immunologist Drew Weissman, then at the University of Pennsylvania. Together, they conducted a series of experiments to modify mRNA, reducing its immunogenicity. Their breakthrough came in 2005 with the discovery that replacing uridine with pseudouridine in the mRNA sequence significantly reduced the immune response..
This discovery opened the door to the development of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics. In 2006, Karikó and Weissman filed a patent for their modified mRNA technology. However, their research initially faced skepticism and limited funding..
Undeterred, Karikó continued her work, eventually joining the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 2013. There, she collaborated with Pieter Cullis, a lipid chemist, to develop lipid nanoparticles that could deliver mRNA into cells more effectively..
Their collective efforts laid the foundation for the mRNA vaccines that proved instrumental in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the first mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, developed by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, were authorized for use. These vaccines have demonstrated remarkable efficacy and safety, significantly reducing the severity and mortality of COVID-19 infections..
Karikó’s pioneering work has revolutionized the field of vaccinology and holds immense promise for the development of new treatments for various diseases. Her unwavering dedication, resilience, and groundbreaking discoveries have earned her a well-deserved place among the scientific giants of our time..
