The development of science is uninterrupted

The development of science is uninterrupted

DOI: 10.38146/BSZ.2021.2.8                                                                                                                                                                                                                          cc-by-nc-nd

 

 

OVERVIEW

Valér Dános – Csaba Szabó

 

The development of science is uninterrupted

Interview with Prof. Katalin Karikó, elaborator of the mRNA-mediated therapy

 

 

Karikó Katalin_2

 

Abstract

Both BioNTech-Pfizer’s and Moderna’s corona virus vaccines have been developed on the basis of modified mRNA technology, invented by Katalin Karikó, Hungarian-born professor and senior vice president of BioNTech and her colleague, Drew Weissman, a professor of the University of Pennsylvania. The main result of Katalin Karikó’s scientific achievement is the development of mRNA modification technology for therapeutic application. The moment when the first vaccine for the new coronavirus was created with the help of this technology meant an extraordinary landmark for her. This discovery is also a major scientific breakthrough in vaccine research. All around the world, people are looking forward to the end of pandemic and lockdown restrictions with the arrival of the vaccine, hoping that life could finally return to normal. However, many questions emerge concerning the mechanism of this new type of vaccines, their side or long term effects, as well as the duration of immunity, or the risk of reinfection. These questions lead to uncertainty in connection with vaccination, calling for clear answers. In the fight against the virus, beside healthcare workers, military and police personnel are at the highest risk of infection, therefore, it is crucial to achieve as high vaccination rates in their ranks as possible. To reach this goal, it is important to have authentic information about the vaccine and its immunological effect, as the unknown always creates fear and uncertainty. Hopefully, this interview with Katalin Karikó can put an end to such fears and support hesitant colleagues’ decision-making process to get themselves vaccinated. We asked Professor Katalin Karikó about vaccine research, the broad spectrum of modified mRNA applications, skepticism concerning vaccination, and her personal connections to the police forces and scientific research in the field of law enforcement. She was interviewed by Valér Dános and Csaba Szabó.

 

Keywords: mRNA, science, vaccine, COVID–19

 

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