Compléter Katalin KarikoVersion en ligne Review activity of the article par 芳君 劉 1 tackle licensed merit whose track against obtained paid demoted chance fascinated geared partnered position paved defenses immune Sometimes the greatest scientific discoveries are made by those work is ignored but who persevere against all odds until they succeed . Katalin Kariko , whose research the way for today's mRNA COVID - 19 vaccines , is one such person . Born in Hungary in 1955 , Kariko was by science from an early age . She began her career as a researcher at the Biological Research Center of the University of Szeged , where she had her PhD . But when the center lost its funding * in 1985 , she moved to the United States with her family . " It was a one - way ticket , " she said . " We didn't know anybody . " In 1989 , Kariko began working at the University of Pennsylvania . She was on to become a full professor , but in 1995 the university her because her work had failed to attract grant money . Kariko's focus was mRNA , the material in a cell that carries instructions from the DNA and directs the cell to take specific actions . Kariko believed that modified mRNA could be introduced into cells to direct them to fight diseases . At the time , the scientific community was focused on DNA , and many believed that Kariko's work lacked . A meeting in 1997 with immunologist Drew Weissman changed everything . A major problem for mRNA researchers was that the body's system * tended to attack and destroy any man - made mRNA that was introduced . Kariko and Weissman decided to this problem to see if they could find a solution ? and in 2005 , they succeeded . Eventually , the two scientists their technology to the German company BioNTech , where Kariko now holds the of senior vice president . The company demonstrated the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines against the Zika virus in 2017 , and in 2018 it began developing mRNA vaccines for the flu . Then , in 2020 , COVID - 19 hit . As the world up to fight the virus , BioNTech up with Pfizer to design an mRNA vaccine for COVID - 19 . The coronavirus has a spike protein that it uses to enter cells . The vaccine " teaches " cells to create this spike protein . The body's then kick in , recognizing and attacking the foreign spike protein . These vaccines have proven to be powerfully effective COVID - 19 , and since their release , they have helped bring disease levels down dramatically . Kariko's perseverance has finally off , to the benefit of us all .
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