By Callie Wyckoff
The Nobel prize for physiology or medicine was awarded Monday morning to the two scientists who worked together to make the COVID vaccine possible.
When Dr. Weissman and Dr. Kariko started working together years ago, they were hoping to team up to create an H.I.V. Vaccine.
Their goal: to alter mRNA so that it can fight off invading pathogens while protecting the mRNA rather than having the mRNA be destroyed after fighting against the pathogens.
After countless attempts, they figured out if they could chemically alter the cells around the mRNA, the cells would in turn protect the mRNA while it was working to kill off pathogens.
"The discovery fundamentally changed our understanding of how mRNA interacts with our immune system," the panel who chose the prize winners stated.
This new discovery paved the way for the ability for the COVID vaccine to be made and released to the public in less than a year.
Both Dr's were notified of their winning at 4 am in the morning through a text message.
Furthermore, Dr. kariko is the 13th woman to have won the Noble prize for this category since 1901.
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