Drew Weissman
Who was Drew Weissman?
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2023)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Drew Weissman (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Drew Weissman, born on September 7, 1959, is an American physician and immunologist known for his pivotal work in RNA biology that dramatically changed vaccine development. He was born in Lexington, Massachusetts, and studied at Brandeis University before earning a medical degree from Boston University. His career is marked by groundbreaking advancements in messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which became the basis for the COVID-19 vaccines that played a crucial role during the pandemic.
Weissman is the first Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research and the director of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. His partnership with biochemist Katalin Karikó was key in tackling the challenges that initially hindered the therapeutic use of mRNA. Together, they figured out how to modify nucleosides in synthetic mRNA to prevent triggering unwanted immune responses, a discovery that paved the way for the development of effective mRNA vaccines.
The impact of Weissman's research was clear during the COVID-19 pandemic when BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna used his foundational work to create successful mRNA vaccines. These vaccines were developed quickly and showed high efficacy, proving the value of decades of fundamental research. Beyond COVID-19, the mRNA platform also shows potential for treating various diseases such as cancer, genetic disorders, and other infections.
Weissman's achievements have earned him many high-profile awards, including the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, shared with Katalin Karikó. The Nobel Committee honored their work on nucleoside base modifications that enabled effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. His other significant honors include the 2021 Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, the 2021 Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize, and the 2022 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. In 2022, he was also elected to the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, solidifying his place as a leading figure in immunology and vaccine research today.
Before Fame
Growing up in Lexington, Massachusetts, Weissman got interested in science early on, which led him to study biology at Brandeis University. He didn't jump straight into RNA research, starting instead with medical training at Boston University School of Medicine. In the 1980s and 1990s, RNA biology was making big strides, and scientists were beginning to see RNA's roles beyond just protein synthesis.
Weissman got into immunology and RNA research at a time when the scientific community was struggling to use RNA for therapies. Early attempts to use mRNA therapeutically faced problems because the molecule was unstable and often triggered inflammatory immune responses. With his medical background and interest in vaccine development, Weissman was well-equipped to tackle these persistent challenges in the field.
Key Achievements
- Co-discovered nucleoside modifications that prevent mRNA from triggering unwanted immune responses
- Enabled the development of highly effective COVID-19 mRNA vaccines used by billions worldwide
- Received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2023) with Katalin Karikó
- Won the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award (2021), often called 'America's Nobel'
- Established the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation to advance mRNA therapeutic applications
Did You Know?
- 01.Weissman's initial mRNA research faced significant skepticism from the scientific community, with grant applications frequently rejected due to doubts about the technology's viability
- 02.He met his Nobel Prize co-recipient Katalin Karikó at a photocopying machine at the University of Pennsylvania, leading to their transformative collaboration
- 03.The mRNA modification technique he developed was initially published in a 2005 paper that received little attention until the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted its importance
- 04.Weissman chose not to patent some of his most important early mRNA discoveries, prioritizing scientific advancement over commercial gain
- 05.His research lab continues to work on mRNA vaccines for diseases including malaria, tuberculosis, and various cancers
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | 2023 | for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 |
| Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research | 2021 | — |
| Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences | 2022 | — |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences | 2022 | — |
| Rosenstiel Award | 2020 | — |
| Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize | 2021 | — |
| Jessie Stevenson Kovalenko Medal | 2022 | — |
| Warren Alpert Foundation Prize | 2022 | — |
| Albany Medical Center Prize | 2021 | — |
| Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award | 2021 | — |
| National Inventors Hall of Fame | 2023 | — |
| Cameron Prize of the University of Edinburgh | — | — |
| Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research | 2021 | — |
| Canada Gairdner International Award | 2022 | — |
| William B. Coley Award | 2021 | — |
| John Scott Award | 2021 | — |