Dr. Lucky Tran Oct 2, 2023
Katalin Karikó was the daughter of a butcher. She wanted to be a scientist, although she had never met one. She immigrated to the US in her 20s, but for decades never found a permanent position, receiving little support from the scientific establishment. Now she’s a Nobel winner!
TremblayGilOct 3, 2023
Show threadDr. Lucky Tran 

Katalin Karikó won a Nobel Prize for her work on the COVID mRNA vaccines. Yet just 10 years earlier, UPenn kicked her out of academia.

"They told me that they’d had a meeting and concluded that I was not of faculty quality. When I told them I was leaving, they laughed at me and said, ‘BioNTech doesn’t even have a website.'"

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/mrna-coronavirus-vaccine-pfizer-biontech

How mRNA went from a scientific backwater to a pandemic crusher

For decades, Katalin Karikó's work into mRNA therapeutics was overlooked by her colleagues. Now it's at the heart of the two leading coronavirus vaccines

WIRED UK
Oct 2, 2023 at 6:27pmWeb
Show threadRichard R LeeOct 2, 2023

Another one of #Penn’s’ finest moments. They awarded #Trump an #MBA as well.

@luckytran

Show threadEl DuvelleOct 2, 2023
@InfoMgmtExec @luckytran whaaat
Show threadNick's worldOct 2, 2023
@luckytran From being kicked out to being a superstar! Now that's the best revenge ever! Screw the board!
Show threadMichael PorterOct 2, 2023

@luckytran This has a strong “Decca rejected the Beatles” vibe 😄

If you are rejecting someone or letting them go, don't make fun of them on their way out… It could come back to bite you in the ass.

…Unless they're MAGAats -- in that case, knock yourself out…

Show threadjforOct 2, 2023
@luckytran
The article is from 2020, but hey, what a story.
How many millions of lives saved? It's incomprehensible.
Show threadOriginal SunshineOct 2, 2023
@luckytran How embarrassing for UPENN. I do wish that this wasn't a fairly common thing in medical research.
Show threadOriginal SunshineOct 2, 2023
@luckytran UPENN bragging about MRNA vaccine science: https://www.pennmedicine.org/mrna
Show threadaldekaOct 2, 2023
@luckytran And UPenn is of course crowing about her win as one of “theirs” https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/katalin-kariko-and-drew-weissman-penns-historic-mrna-vaccine-research-team-win-2023-nobel 🙄
Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, Penn’s historic mRNA vaccine research team, win 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine | Penn Today

The highest honor was bestowed for foundational discoveries that gave the world a vaccine to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Penn Today
Show threadAndrei KucharavyOct 2, 2023

@luckytran reminds me of the superrez microscope inventor. He was no longer in academia for 10 years by that time and did the first one in his parent’s garage, from spare parts from a foreclosed company.

Says something about the way academia is currently operating…

Show threadSquidAceBoiOct 2, 2023
@luckytran I’m extremely grateful that they created the Covid vaccine. So many lives saved. I’m glad she persisted. A personal thank you and congratulations to her!
Show threadMary Ann HornOct 2, 2023
@luckytran . Let’s hear it for all cutting edge adjuncts, often first in the door with new insights and independent research.
Show threadKirill OsenkovOct 3, 2023
@luckytran why is it always like this
Show threadUnprecedented 2023Oct 3, 2023
@luckytran The same folks who protected Sandusky. 😤
Show threadJon Het.Oct 3, 2023
@Mallulady @luckytran , that was Penn State, not U of P.
Show threadEllenMarch2Oct 3, 2023
@luckytran shame on @upenn
Show threadwheatley gamingOct 3, 2023
@luckytran
I’m sorry for replying to a serious post with memes but this shirt was the the only thing I could think about
Show threadJon Het.Oct 3, 2023
@luckytran , Imagine being one of the guys who got rid of her.... The shame they will have to live with for the rest of their lives. They fired a woman who saved millions of lives, and made billions of dollars.