Katalin Karikó, PhD, Adjunct Professor of Neurosurgery, and Drew Weissman, MD, PhD, Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research, Director of Vaccine Research, Infectious Diseases Division Director, and Penn’s Institute for RNA Innovation, received the 2022 Breakthrough Prize Award at a global ceremony hosted by television host James Corden.
Surrounded by A-list celebrities, Karikó and Weissman, co-inventors of the breakthrough mRNA technology that made covid-19 vaccines possible, ended the night with a unique project: assembling IKEA furniture together.
“These awards are opportunities to talk about science and expose people to science, and I feel like it’s my responsibility now to engage with people,” said Karikó in Penn Today. “I also want young people to see how exciting research can be. I often talk about the challenges and difficulties, but it’s also a lot of fun.”
Read the full story here.
Watch the video of the Breakthrough Prize Awards Ceremony here:
11:56-12:21 ~ Kariko and Weissman are thanked by James Corden
51:24-58:15 ~ video of covid-19 breakthrough; Karikó and Weissman accept their award
1:15 to 1:17:45 ~ Corden speaks with Karikó and Weissman at their table