Nobel for mRNA Vaccines: Penn Varsity Claims Credit After Sacking Laureate|Vantage with Palki Sharma

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3 Oct 202305:14

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TLDRThe Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to scientists Catalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their groundbreaking mRNA vaccine research. However, controversy arises as the University of Pennsylvania, where the research was conducted, claims credit despite having forced Kariko to retire a decade ago when her work was deemed unworthy. The scientific community is now calling for an apology and promotion for Kariko, highlighting the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity in scientific research.

Takeaways

🏆 Catalin Kiko and Drew Whisman won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their work on mRNA vaccines.
📚 The University of Pennsylvania is claiming credit for the research conducted by these scientists, despite previously forcing Kiko to retire.
💉 The mRNA vaccine technology, for which they received the Nobel Prize, was being researched by Kiko since the 1990s.
🚫 The University did not see merit in the research and refused further funding, leading to Kiko's demotion and eventual departure.
🔄 Kiko joined BioNTech as Senior Vice President, where she continued her research, contributing to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine.
🎓 The tenure system in the U.S. provides strong job security for professors, but the path to full professorship is challenging and Kiko was almost there before being demoted.
🤝 Despite the controversy, Kiko rejoined the University of Pennsylvania as an Adjunct Professor after her success with BioNTech.
🏛 The scientific community is criticizing the University of Pennsylvania for claiming credit and is calling for an apology and promotion for Kiko.
📉 The story of Kiko's ordeal highlights the challenges researchers face, including securing funding and institutional support.
🏁 The narrative emphasizes the importance of perseverance in scientific research, as demonstrated by Kiko's journey from demotion to Nobel laureate.
🌟 The success stories of Kiko and others serve as an inspiration, showing that dedication and persistence can lead to groundbreaking achievements.

Q & A

What were Catalin Kiko and Drew Whisman awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for?
-Catalin Kiko and Drew Whisman were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their groundbreaking work on mRNA vaccines.
Why is there controversy over the credit for the mRNA vaccine research?
-The controversy arises because the University of Pennsylvania is claiming credit for the research, despite having previously forced Catalin Kiko to retire and not supporting her work on mRNA vaccines.
What happened to Catalin Kiko at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1990s?
-In the 1990s, Catalin Kiko faced difficulties at the University of Pennsylvania due to lack of funding and patience from her bosses, which led to her being forced to retire.
How did the University of Pennsylvania treat Catalin Kiko's research on mRNA vaccines in the 1990s?
-The University of Pennsylvania did not see merit in Kiko's research on mRNA vaccines and refused to allocate more funds for it, eventually demoting her and forcing her to retire.

Outlines

00:00

🏆 Nobel Prize Controversy: University's Claim Over mRNA Research

The script discusses the recent announcement of the Nobel Prize winners in the field of medicine, Catalin Kiko and Drew Whisman, for their groundbreaking work on mRNA vaccines. However, controversy arises as the University of Pennsylvania claims credit for the achievement, despite having previously forced Kiko to retire due to lack of funding and belief in her research. The summary highlights the university's statement, Kiko's forced retirement, and the subsequent success of her research with BioNTech, leading to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prize is an international award given annually in several categories, including Medicine, to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions in their fields. In the video, the focus is on the Nobel Prize in Medicine, awarded to Catalin Kiko and Drew Whisman for their groundbreaking work on mRNA vaccines. The prize symbolizes the recognition of their scientific achievements and the impact on global health.

💡mRNA vaccines

mRNA vaccines are a type of vaccine that use a small piece of the virus's genetic code called messenger RNA (mRNA) to stimulate an immune response. The script discusses the development of mRNA vaccines as a result of the research by Kiko and Whisman, which has been pivotal in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and represents a significant advancement in the field of medicine.

💡Catalin Kiko

Catalin Kiko is a central figure in the video, being one of the scientists awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for her work on mRNA vaccines. The video narrates her journey, including the challenges she faced at the University of Pennsylvania, her forced retirement, and her eventual vindication through the success of her research.

💡Drew Whisman

Drew Whisman is the co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine alongside Catalin Kiko. The script mentions him as a team member whose research contributed to the development of mRNA vaccines. His role is integral to the narrative of scientific collaboration and achievement.

💡University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League institution where the research for mRNA vaccines was conducted. The video discusses the controversy surrounding the university's claim to credit for the achievement, despite having previously forced Kiko to retire due to lack of funding and belief in her research.

💡Tenure

Tenure is a system that provides job security to professors, typically granting them a lifetime appointment once

Highlights

Nobel Prize in medicine awarded to Catalin Kiko and Drew Whisman for their work on mRNA vaccines.

Controversy over credit for the achievement, with the University of Pennsylvania claiming credit.

Catalin Kiko was forced to retire from the University of Pennsylvania 10 years ago.

Kiko faced funding issues and a lack of support for her mRNA vaccine research in the 1990s.

The University of Pennsylvania did not see merit in Kiko's research and offered her to leave or accept a demotion.

Kiko's tenure as a professor was almost achieved before being demoted by the University.

Kiko accepted a position at BioNTech as Senior Vice President in 2013.

Kiko's move to BioNTech allowed her to continue her research on mRNA technology.

BioNTech partnered with Pfizer to create the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, propelling the company to fame.

Despite her contributions, the University of Pennsylvania did not reinstate Kiko with her former title.

Kiko returned to the University of Pennsylvania as an Adjunct Professor.

The scientific community is calling for an apology and promotion for Kiko from the University.

The story of Kiko emphasizes the importance of perseverance in scientific research.

Scientific research is challenging and often faces obstacles such as funding and institutional support.

The journey to a Nobel Prize or scientific success is marked by years of dedication and overcoming failures.

Kiko's story serves as an inspiration for the perseverance needed in the field of research.

Transcripts

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