Katalin Karikó received this year's William B. Coley Award from the American Cancer Research Institute (CRI) together with her fellow researchers (Drew Weissman, Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci).
According to the organization, the four scientists played a key role in the research that led to new mRNA-based therapeutics that are still used to fight cancer and infectious diseases, including the two most effective vaccines against the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. .
This technology can create opportunities for new types of treatment of various diseases, so the possibility of its application in the field of influenza, HIV, malaria, sickle cell anemia, multiple sclerosis and heart diseases is currently being investigated.
"Many present will probably be surprised that the mRNA technology that has changed lives during the current Covid-19 epidemic comes from research aimed at fighting cancer years ago," explained the organization's decision, Jill O'Donnell-Tormey, CEO and Scientific Director of CRI.
"And just as importantly for millions of patients, mRNA will play a major role in cancer treatment in the future," CRI said in a press release. The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) expects the acceleration of cancer immunotherapy and vaccine development after the vaccination against Covid-19, reads the announcement of the University of Szeged. CRI established the award in 1975 to honor William B. Coley, who is now considered the father of cancer immunotherapy.
Source: Itthon.ma
