RNA, one of the oldest and most versatile biomolecules, has recently entered the therapeutic arena. While for many observers the success of mRNA vaccines seemed to come out of the blue, its build on the fundament of research that has large gone ignored. Now mRNA therapeutics are enjoying the limelight of great economic success for companies like BioNTech / Pfizer and Moderna, and the awarding of the 2023 Nobel Prize to two mRNA researchers. But with the fame also comes a huge public backlash of anti-vaxxers who fear the perceived novelty of mRNAs. In the 19th episode of We're doomed, we're saved Louise von Stechow and Andreas Horchler talk with their guest, mRNA researcher Lucia Lapazio who has known the field before and after the hype.
RNA, one of the oldest and most versatile biomolecules, has recently entered the therapeutic arena. While for many observers the success of mRNA vaccines seemed to come out of the blue, its build on the fundament of research that has large gone ignored. Now mRNA therapeutics are enjoying the limelight of great economic success for companies like BioNTech / Pfizer and Moderna, and the awarding of the 2023 Nobel Prize to two mRNA researchers. But with the fame also comes a huge public backlash of anti-vaxxers who fear the perceived novelty of mRNAs. In the 19th episode of We're doomed, we're saved Louise von Stechow and Andreas Horchler talk with their guest, mRNA researcher Lucia Lapazio who has known the field before and after the hype.
Content and Editing: Louise von Stechow and Andreas Horchler
Disclaimer: Louise von Stechow & Andreas Horchler and their guests express their personal opinions, which are founded on research on the respective topics, but do not claim to give medical, investment or even life advice in the podcast.
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References: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(22)00372-2/fulltext https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(22)00372-2/fulltext https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/no-covid-mrna-vaccines-wont-damage-your-dna1/ https://www.science.org/content/article/mrna-discovery-paved-way-covid-19-vaccines-wins-nobel-prize-physiology-medicine https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2023/advanced-information):/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41568-023-00586-2 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41419-022-05075-2 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0251605 https://www.nature.com/articles/s12276-022-00757-5