Drew Weissman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Drew Weissman
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Weissman at 2024 Nobel Week
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| Born | September 7, 1959 Lexington, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Known for | Modified mRNA technologies used in COVID-19 vaccines |
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| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Pennsylvania |
| Thesis | Regulation of b lymphocytes with reagents that cross-link surface immunoglobulin (1987) |
| Doctoral advisor | Ann Marshak-Rothstein |
Drew Weissman (born September 7, 1959) is an American doctor and immunologist. An immunologist is a scientist who studies the body's immune system, which fights off sickness. He is famous for his important work on RNA biology.
Weissman is a professor at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He also leads the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation.
His research helped create mRNA vaccines, especially the ones used for COVID-19. These vaccines were made by companies like BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna. In 2023, Weissman and biochemist Katalin Karikó won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. They won for their discoveries about how to change RNA so it could be used in vaccines. Weissman has also received many other awards, including the important Lasker–DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award.
Early Life and School
Drew Weissman was born in Lexington, Massachusetts, on September 7, 1959. His parents were Hal and Adele Weissman. He grew up celebrating Jewish holidays.
He went to Lexington High School and finished in 1977. After high school, he studied at Brandeis University. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in 1981. He focused on biochemistry, which is the study of chemical processes in living things.
Later, he went to Boston University. There, he earned both his medical degree (M.D.) and a Ph.D. in 1987. His Ph.D. was in immunology and microbiology. After that, he worked at a hospital and then did a special fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He worked under Anthony Fauci, a well-known doctor and scientist.
His Important Work
In 1997, Weissman started his own lab at the University of Pennsylvania. He wanted to study RNA and how the immune system works. Today, he is a top professor there, focusing on vaccine research.
At the university, Weissman met Katalin Karikó. She was a biochemist who was also studying RNA. They met at a photocopier and talked about how hard it was to get money for RNA research. They decided to work together.
One big problem they faced was that RNA often caused unwanted immune reactions in the body. Starting in 2005, they found a way to change the RNA. They used special "synthetic nucleosides" to stop the body from breaking down the RNA too quickly. This was a huge step forward for using RNA in medicine.
They also figured out how to deliver the mRNA safely into the body. They put the mRNA inside tiny fat bubbles called lipid nanoparticles. These bubbles protect the fragile mRNA until it reaches the right place in the body. They showed that this delivery system worked well in animals.
In 2006, Weissman and Karikó started a company called RNARx. Their goal was to create new RNA treatments. In 2020, their modified RNA technology became a key part of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines were used all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Weissman also works with scientists in Thailand. They are helping to develop and provide COVID-19 vaccines for Thailand and nearby countries. This helps countries that might not easily get vaccines.
His lab is still researching how to use mRNA for future vaccines and treatments. They are working on vaccines for other viruses like influenza and herpes. They also hope to use mRNA to help with gene editing and treat serious inflammatory conditions.
Awards and Recognition
For their groundbreaking work on mRNA, Drew Weissman and Karikó have received many awards. The most famous is the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Some of their other awards include the 2020 Rosenstiel Award and the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award. In 2021, he received the Princess of Asturias Award for Scientific Research. In 2022, he won the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and the Japan Prize. He was also chosen to be part of the National Academy of Medicine.
People from all over the world send Weissman fan mail. They thank him for his work that made the COVID-19 vaccine possible. One person wrote, "You've made hugs and closeness possible again."
Patents
Drew Weissman is listed as an inventor on several patents. These patents describe the important changes needed to make RNA work for vaccines and other treatments. These patents were later licensed to companies like Moderna and BioNTech. This allowed them to use the technology in their COVID-19 vaccines.
See also
In Spanish: Drew Weissman para niños
