Katalin Karikó received the Semmelweis Budapest Award
Katalin Karikó, Széchenyi Award-winning Hungarian research biologist and research professor at the University of Pennsylvania, received the Semmelweis Budapest Award on Thursday in Budapest.
He saved the lives of millions of people
Béla Merkely, rector of Semmelweis University, presented the award to the biologist living in the United States of America.
“With the discovery of Katalin Karikó, you can save the lives of millions of people, and it is also thanks to her that we can live in a safer world today, as we have a weapon against the pandemic-causing Covid-19 virus, which can be deployed more quickly in the future, even in the next pandemic,” he emphasized in his greeting, Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University,
adding that Katalin Karikó will join the Semmelweis Budapest Award honorees so far,
including neurobiologist Roska Botond and vascular surgeon Péter Gloviczki.
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As he said, the result of the researcher, who founded the development of the medical technology of mRNA-based vaccines with his discoveries, gave the most in an incomparably short time, to an incomparably many people: a cure for trouble, the ability to defend oneself, health, protection of life.
The university maintains an active professional relationship with the researcher living in America
He also emphasized that the technology developed by Katalin Karikó and her colleagues can be used effectively to fight not only viruses, but also a number of other diseases – oncology or heart disease. And this “can open hitherto unforeseeable horizons in the future in healing”.
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Péter Ferdinandy, the vice chancellor for science and innovation of the university, spoke of
that Katalin Karikó has several patents related to mRNA technology.
With Karikó’s support, his student Norbert Pardi has been cooperating with the research group of Zoltán Jakus at Semmelweis University for many years.
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Recently, through the expression of a lymphatic vessel growth factor, they induced organ-specific lymphatic vessel growth and reversed the experimental lymphedema, reported the vice-chancellor.
He wants to keep up with science
After receiving the award, Katalin Karikó, who has received numerous awards, gave a scientific lecture entitled Thoughts of a biologist about research about mRNA technology, from its discovery in 1961 to the development of the Covid vaccine. Speaking to journalists after the presentation, he justified his resignation from the position of vice president of BioNTech by saying that he did not have enough time to immerse himself in science in addition to managing the company.
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He said he wants to keep up with science, but needs more time to do so. His relationship with the company has not been completely severed, he still works together with his work group. In response to a journalist’s question, Katalin Karikó also spoke about
to investigate mRNA technology for the treatment of cancer.
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Semmelweis University’s highly prestigious international award, the Semmelweis Budapest Award, was founded in 2009 by its university senate. The award is given to scientists working in the field of natural sciences who achieve recognized results and whose work shows a new path and serves the development of humanity.
(Source: MTI)