Congratulations to Nobel Prize Laureates Katalin Karikó, PhD, and Drew Weissman, MD, PhD! Dr. Karikó and Dr. Weissman have been awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their development of mRNA vaccines. After a chance meeting at Penn in the late ’90s, Drs. Karikó and Weissman began investigating mRNA as a potential therapeutic. In 2005, the scientists discovered that messenger RNA could be modified and delivered effectively into the body to activate a protective immune response. 15 years later when the pandemic struck, this breakthrough proved invaluable by allowing for the rapid development of mRNA COVID vaccines. The Nobel Prize is awarded to those whose contributions “have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.” Rarely has the work of an honoree had such an immediate relevance to so many. We are so proud of these scientists and their groundbreaking discoveries, which have not only met the challenge of a global pandemic, but will have a profound impact on ...