The Nobel laureates behind mRNA COVID vaccines 07:11. At the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó (known as Kati) met by chance at a copy machine in 1998.

Kati had been working on RNA for around 10 years and wasn’t getting very far with it. We met at the photocopier and started talking and working together, and that led us to here.

Kati had been working on RNA for around 10 years and wasn’t getting very far with it. We met at the photocopier and started talking and working together, and that led us to here.

"But Kati (Karikó) lit the match and we spent the rest of our 20 plus years working together figuring out how to get it to work." Sponsor Message. Karikó, 68, had to overcome big challenges.

Penn Medicine researchers Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman at a press conference in the University Guest House on Oct. 2. Credit: Anna Vazhaeparambil Penn Medicine researchers Katalin Karikó and Drew ...

Karikó told the DP in 2020, as the first COVID-19 vaccines became available to Penn Med's frontline health workers and researchers, that she knew the the discovery in 2005 would lead to major ...