“Acceptance Speech” Frontiers of Knowledge Award 2022 in Biology and Biomedicine

Acceptance speech by Drew Weissman, winner of the 2022 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Biology and Biomedicine, who was honored alongside Katalin Karikó and Robert Langer for their contributions to the development of messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and technologies for delivering mRNA into cells. Weissman and Karikó’s research made it possible to modify mRNA to prevent unwanted inflammatory responses, a decisive advance in the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

Weissman recalls his 25 years of scientific collaboration with Karikó and highlights how sustained research made it possible to harness the potential of messenger RNA during the pandemic. He outlines his laboratory’s ongoing work to develop vaccines against influenza, malaria, HIV and different coronaviruses. He also emphasizes the importance of expanding access to these technologies in low- and middle-income countries, i

Acceptance speech by Drew Weissman, winner of the 2022 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Biology and Biomedicine, who was honored alongside Katalin Karikó and Robert Langer for their contributions to the development of messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and technologies for delivering mRNA into cells. Weissman and Karikó’s research made it possible to modify mRNA to prevent unwanted inflammatory responses, a decisive advance in the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

Weissman recalls his 25 years of scientific collaboration with Karikó and highlights how sustained research made it possible to harness the potential of messenger RNA during the pandemic. He outlines his laboratory’s ongoing work to develop vaccines against influenza, malaria, HIV and different coronaviruses. He also emphasizes the importance of expanding access to these technologies in low- and middle-income countries, improving public understanding of science and recognizing the work of researchers who continue developing new treatments.