‘Nobody Called’: Katalin Karikó on the mRNA breakthrough that changed medicine

Decades of curiosity and determination helped Katalin Karikó turn overlooked research into a technology that changed the course of a pandemic. The mRNA pioneer and Nobel laureate joins Søren and AJ to discuss how she navigated demotion and threats of deportation to find peace and joy in the lab. Kati grew up in Hungary before leaving with her family to start a new life in the US – smuggling money hidden in her daughter’s teddy bear as she left. She faced a language barrier and intense career headwinds upon arrival in the States. Then, one day, a serendipitous encounter with Drew Weissman at a photocopier triggered a collaboration that would lead to one of medicine’s biggest breakthroughs and the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Kati talks about rejected grants, losing academic positions, and finding a new home for her research at BioNTech. She reflects on what it was like receiving the phone call confirming the COVID-19 vaccine worked. Søren and AJ reflect on the myriad uses for mRNA tech beyond vaccines and Kati explains why scientists need to get better at talking about what they do to prevent misinformation from filling the gaps. In this episode 04:18 – Explainer: What is mRNA and why does it matter?09:04 – Nourishing a thirst for science in Hungary15:20 – How Kati found her way into RNA research16:53 – Leaving Hungary and starting again in the US24:08 – Facing unemployment and the threat of deportation29:01 – Meeting Drew Weissman at the photocopier36:34 – “Nobody was interested”: when a breakthrough goes unnoticed38:54 – Losing her position at Penn and finding a way forward44:16 – Founding RNARx and the trouble with university patents48:49 – Finding a new home for mRNA research at BioNTech51:03 – The call that confirmed the COVID vaccine worked52:49 – What could mRNA do beyond vaccines? 55:24 – Why scientists need to explain their work60:01 – Being an immigrant and a woman in science63:38 – Learning to handle setbacks and keep going65:46 – Wrap-up and key takeaways71:11 – Season one reflections About the guest Katalin Karikó is a biochemist whose pioneering work with Drew Weissman helped make mRNA vaccines and therapeutics possible. After decades working on the technology in academic labs and later at BioNTech, Kati was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine alongside Weissman. She is currently a professor at the University of Szeged and an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Dose of Discovery is cohosted by Søren Hough and Ayokunmi Ajetunmobi (AJ) and produced by Suze Cooper. Read moreFrom not likely to Nobel Prize: mRNA’s rise to fame by Millie Nelson (BioProcess Insider) ‘Absolutely horrified’: Experts reject HHS officials’ disparagement of mRNA technology by Søren Hough Improving parenthood chances with endometrium-targeted mRNA by Millie Hoe AI-designed, bespoke mRNA therapy reduces melanoma recurrence, metastasis, and death by Søren Hough Transcript in the machine: How AI paved the way for customized mRNA cancer treatments by Søren Hough mRNA HIV vaccine clears hurdles in proof-of-concept clinical trials by Søren Hough You can find a fully annotated transcript of the episode here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.