According to the tribute on Leopoldina’s website, Katalin Karikó has made a significant contribution to the basic research underlying current mRNA technology. The Hungarian-American neuroscientist and biochemist early on realized the potential of synthetically produced mRNA in the treatment of immunological and oncological diseases, as well as in the development of vaccines. As Senior Vice President of BioNTech, he has played an important role in the development of a coronavirus vaccine.
Carico reported his current research on the application of mRNA technology in the production of therapeutic proteins needed to treat tumors at the lecture held on Wednesday in Katalin-Halle, Leopoldina.
Founded in 1652 as Academia Naturae Curiosorum, Leopoldina was elevated to academic status by Emperor Leopold I in 1677. The company began publishing its journal in 1670 and is one of the oldest scholarly journals. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Charles Darwin, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, and Niels Bohr were also members of the Academy.
On April 15, Katalin Carrico received the Breakthrough Award also known as the “Oscar of Science” in Hollywood.
Cover photo credit: MTI / Zoltán Balogh
