The development of science is uninterrupted: Interview with Prof. Katalin Karikó, elaborator of the mRNAmediated therapy

Abstract

Both Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s corona virus vaccines have been developed on the basis of the mRNA-mediated therapy, discovered by Katalin Karikó, Hungarian-born professor and senior vice president of BioNTech and her co discover, Drew Weissman, professor of the University of Pennsylvania. The greatest scientific achievement of Katalin Karikó’s research work over more than two decades is the elaboration of the mRNA-mediated method for therapeutic application. For Professor Karikó the special milestone was the moment when the first vaccine for COVID-19 was created based on this technology. Her breakthrough discovery has a potent scientific importance in vaccine research, as people are all around the world are hoping for the end of pandemic and lockdown restrictions with arrival of vaccines, wishing that life could finally return to normality. However, we have to remark that several questions emerge concerning the mechanism of action of this new type of vaccines, their side or long-term effects, as well as the duration of immunity or the risk of reinfection. These questions lead to uncertainty in connection with vaccination, therefore clear answers needed. In the fight against the virus, beside healthcare workers, military and police personnel belong to the category of highest risk of infection, therefore, it is crucial to achieve as high vaccination rates in their ranks as possible. To reach this goal, it is important to have authentic information about the vaccine and the indicators of the immune response. As, the unknown always creates fear and uncertainty we intend to put an end to such fears with the help of this interview with Katalin Karikó and to support hesitant colleagues’ decision-making process to get themselves vaccinated. We asked Professor Katalin Karikó about vaccine research, the wide area of application of the mRNA-mediated therapy, about skepticism concerning vaccination and about her personal connections to police forces and to scientific research in the field of law enforcement. She was interviewed by Valér Dános and Csaba Szabó.