Katalin Karikó said that mRNA technology is extremely adaptable. It could be used to cure afflications such as influenza, HIV, and perhaps even cancer.
Hungarian Creator of Pfizer Vaccine Receives Human Dignity Award
For her overwhelmingly positive impact on millions of people’s lives, Katalin Karikó, the creator of the technology that was instrumental in developing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, received the honors for human dignity from the Council of Human Dignity on Friday.
István Bajkai, a representative of Fidesz in the National Assembly, gave Karikó the award, saying in his speech that Karikó is now in the footsteps of the other greats of Hungary’s healthcare history; Ignác Semmelweis, Pál Heim, and Albert Szent-Györgyi.
FactThe Council of Human Dignity awards its medal to individuals who, in addition to their professional activities, have made a significant contribution to public life. It was founded in 2010, and has since then played an important role in executing public service needs for the community on a national and international level. The Council’s former honorary president, Nobel Prize winning chemist G
Katalin Karikó, the Hungarian biochemist who was fundamental in the creation of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine, is currently in Hungary until May 27. While her schedule and work responsibilities have kept her very busy, since she has arrived she has spoken at the Hungarian Academy of Science (MTA), given interviews to Hungarian media, and met with the rector of Semmelweis University, Béla Merkely.
At her speech for the 194th conference of the Hungarian Academy of Science (MTA), Katalin Karikó spoke about her career path, which started at the University of Szeged, and gave details on the scientific know-how of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology. It was Karikó’s decades of hard work which led to this technology becoming the foundation for Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine.
Public Trust in Hungarian Academy of Sciences Remains Unchanged, Says Chairman
Surveys show that public trust in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) remains unchanged but the prestigious institution’s situation has thoroughly changed since it lost its network of research institutions, the academy’s chairman said on Monday.
Tamás Freund told the 194th general meeting, held online, that “we must work in this new field of force on developing the most suitable role for the academy, demonstrating our indispensableness”.
Freund said MTA must fulfil the role of “advisor to the nation” and promote a science-friendly approach in society, which he said required stronger participation as a public body.