On Monday, two scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for their discoveries that enabled the development of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
Katalin Karikó, a professor at Sagan’s University in Hungary and an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and Drew Weissman, who co-authored the prizewinning research with Karikó at the University of Pennsylvania, received the honour.
The Panel that awarded the award said, “through their groundbreaking findings, which have fundamentally changed our understanding of how mRNA interacts with our immune system, the laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times.”
The prize was announced by Thomas Perlmann, secretary of the Nobel Assembly, who stated both scientists were “overwhelmed” by the news when he contacted them just before the announcement.
Gunilla Karlsson Hedestam, a member of the panel that selected the winners, said of their work, “In terms of saving lives, especially in the early phase of the pandemic, it was very important.”
Svante Paabo, a Swedish scientist, got the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine last year for discoveries in human evolution that unlocked the secrets of Neanderthal DNA, providing crucial insights into our immune system, especially our vulnerability to severe COVID-19.
The honour was the family’s second. Sune Bergstrom, Paabo’s father, was awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1982.
The Nobel Prize in Physics will be announced on Tuesday, Chemistry on Wednesday, and Literature on Thursday. The Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded on Friday, while the Nobel Prize in Economics will be awarded on October 9.
The financial reward is worth 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million). The money was left by the prize’s originator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who died in 1896.
Because of the Swedish currency’s depreciation, the prize money was increased by one million kronor this year.
The laureates have been invited to accept their honours during events on December 10, Nobel’s death anniversary.
According to his preferences, the famous peace prize is awarded in Oslo, while the other award event is conducted in Stockholm.