"Maverick Scientist's Overlooked mRNA Research Paves the Way for COVID Vaccine and Cancer Immunization"

Katalin Karikó, a Hungarian biochemist, will receive the Nobel Prize for her research on mRNA that led to the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Like Frederick Banting, who discovered insulin, Karikó faced dismissal and belittlement from colleagues and her university for decades. Both scientists encountered resistance due to their personalities and how they were viewed, rather than the quality of their ideas. The stories of Karikó and Banting highlight the need to cast a wide net and consider scientists who do not fit the expected mold. Science does not care about personality or prestige, only about truth. However, scientists must also become skilled communicators to effectively explain threats and solutions to the public.