Breaking Through

Viac o knihe

A story of perseverance and conviction from a groundbreaking immigrant scientist whose 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, nurturing a dream of becoming a scientist. This determination brought her to the United States in 1985 as a postdoctoral fellow, armed with $1,200 sewn into her toddler’s teddy bear. In the U.S., Karikó faced obscurity, battling cockroaches in a windowless lab and enduring derision and deportation threats from colleagues. She resisted the trend of conflating science with money in prestigious research institutions. Despite numerous setbacks, she remained steadfast in her belief that messenger RNA (mRNA) could revolutionize medicine, envisioning a future where cells could produce their own medicines on demand. Her relentless pursuit over three decades culminated in the development of mRNA vaccines that have protected millions from COVID-19, marking just the beginning of mRNA’s potential. The medical community now looks forward to more mRNA vaccines for flu, HIV, and other diseases. This narrative is not only about an extraordinary woman but also critiques closed-minded thinking, showcasing her dedication to saving lives, even in obscurity, against a backdrop of prestige and privilege.