Science Friday The Leap: I Was Considered A Nobody
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May 12, 2025 
Kati Karikó, a pioneering biochemist and Nobel Prize winner renowned for her groundbreaking mRNA research, shares her incredible journey from being regarded as a nobody to a scientific trailblazer. She discusses the challenges and skepticism she faced while developing the mRNA technology that became crucial for COVID-19 vaccines. Kati emphasizes resilience and self-belief, drawing from her immigrant background. Her daughter, Olympic gold medalist Susan Francia, reflects on the life lessons learned from Kati's unwavering determination.
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Kati's Demotion and Bold Prediction
- Kati Karikó was considered a nobody at the University of Pennsylvania and was even demoted and forced out after 24 years.
- She boldly told the chairman the place would be a museum someday, confident her work would change the world.
Humble Roots to Scientific Determination
- Kati grew up in rural communist Hungary with humble beginnings and a modest but determined family.
- Her early love of biology and determination led her to pursue science despite no family legacy in the field.
RNA Challenges Seen as Solveable
- RNA is fragile and unstable, which made many researchers skeptical it could be harnessed therapeutically.
- Kati saw these challenges as solvable technical problems, not barriers, which was a paradigm shift.