A story of perseverance and conviction from a groundbreaking immigrant scientist whose decades-long research led to the COVID-19 vaccines, praised as “an inspiration” by Bill Gates. Katalin Karikó's journey began in postwar communist Hungary, where she grew up in a one-room home without running water. Inspired by the wonders of nature, she aspired to become a scientist. Her determination brought her to the U.S. in 1985 as a postdoctoral fellow with $1,200 sewn into her toddler’s teddy bear and a dream to transform medicine. Karikó faced obscurity, battled cockroaches in a windowless lab, and endured derision and deportation threats from her colleagues. She resisted the trend of conflating science with money at prestigious research institutions. Despite numerous setbacks, her unwavering belief in the potential of messenger RNA (mRNA) fueled her perseverance. She envisioned mRNA transforming ordinary cells into factories producing medicines on demand, sacrificing nearly everything for this dream. Her three-decade investigation into mRNA culminated in vaccines that protected millions from COVID-19, marking just the beginning of mRNA's potential. The medical community now anticipates further mRNA vaccines for flu, HIV, and other diseases. This narrative is not only about an extraordinary woman but also a critique of closed-mindedness and a testament to her commitment to saving lives, often in obscurity.
