África González-Fernández
Professor of Immunology at the University of Vigo, researcher at the Galicia Sur Research Institute (IIS-GS) and member of the RAFG
We should all congratulate ourselves that the Nobel Academy has awarded this prestigious prize to Dr Katalin Karikó and Dr Drew Weissman, a biochemist and immunologist respectively, a clear example of the importance of collaboration between disciplines, for their pioneering work in the development of RNA vaccines. It took a pandemic for this technology to make the leap to clinical use. We will never know if it could have remained in a forgotten drawer, like many other discoveries, if we had not had the arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Dr. Katalin Karikó, a Hungarian-born scientist, has been the pioneer in studying and believing for decades that it was possible to use RNA (ribonucleic acid) to develop vaccines. Later collaborating with Dr Drew Weissman, and after several modifications, they demonstrated the usefulness of this new technology, which was held up for many years by misunderstanding, lack of funding and little support from the international scientific community.
The RNA vaccine, instead of traditional vaccines that use the whole micro-organism or parts of it, uses only instructions (RNA sequences) for the cell itself to produce the specific protein. In order to make the RNA stable, it is introduced into lipid nanoparticles, which will allow it to remain stable and trigger an effective immune response.
Thanks to this vaccine, millions of people have been saved from becoming seriously ill or dying in the covid-19 pandemic, but it has also opened the door to the development of new therapies with this technology: they are already working on other vaccines, and on therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases thanks to this technology.
It is a real source of pride for Immunology that the Swedish Academy has awarded them this prize for the development of RNA vaccines. I propose that streets in Spanish towns and cities be named after Katalin Karikó.