In early November 2024, people in Szeged might easily spot Nobel laureates in the city, thanks to the upcoming international conference at the University of Szeged. Staring on November 7, the event will bring together Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman, and other leading experts in mRNA technology.
Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, the 2023 Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine, will join other top mRNA researchers from around the world at a scientific conference, supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, on November 7–8 at the University of Szeged.
“Those interested in the topic will have a unique opportunity to hear about the latest developments and breakthroughs in mRNA technology directly from researchers engaged in the most advanced work in the field. Perhaps even more importantly, the conference will provide a glimpse into the remarkable future prospects of this technology. Additionally, this event should significantly enhance the University of Szeged’s visibility within the elite circles of the biomedical research community,” said Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice Rector for Strategic Planning at the University of Szeged.
The conference is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. In the spring of 2022, this foundation, associated with the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, awarded a prize to Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman, Uğur Şahin, and Özlem Türeci in recognition of their contributions to mRNA research. Three of these four prominent researchers will now attend the conference in Szeged.
The Novo Nordisk Prize, which aims to promote European biomedical research, came with a grant of 5 million Danish kroner. Katalin Karikó donated her share to the University of Szeged, with part of the funds allocated to setting up a specialized animal research facility. Beyond that, the foundation provides additional support for organizing scientific conferences at the institutions where the prize-winning researchers are based. That is why the mRNA summit is being held at the University of Szeged – Katalin Karikó’s alma mater, which she specifically chose as the venue for this international event.
“While the conference promises to be a truly remarkable event for Szeged, I believe it will also stand out at the European level as an exceptional scientific gathering. Its significance lies in featuring two Nobel Prize winners, Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó, alongside Uğur Şahin, CEO of BioNTech, and several other leading researchers in the field. These include Robin Shattock from Imperial College, UK, as well as Hungarian experts Norbert Pardi from the University of Pennsylvania, USA, and Tamás Kiss from the University of Toulouse, France – all prominent figures in mRNA research,” said Prof. Dr. Attila Gácser, head of the Institute of Biology at the University of Szeged and the conference’s chief professional organizer.
Speaker information and abstracts are available on the conference website.
At the conference, participants will explore – and, in some cases, even answer – the following questions: Why may mRNA technology be referred to as the ‘Swiss Army knife” of medical science? How can mRNA contribute to the fight against cancer, allergies, and infectious diseases? In which areas will these revolutionary procedures first make their mark in patient care? What has advanced to clinical trials, and what is still being tested in animal studies?
The University of Szeged will keep you updated on the conference topics and speakers leading up to the event.
Original Hungarian text by Ferenc Lévai
Previous articles on the mRNA Conference Szeged:
University of Szeged to host two-day conference on the ‘Swiss Army knife’ of medical science
Top Researchers from Around the World will Present at the November 2024 mRNA Conference at the University of Szeged
Ordinary days in the extraordinary life of a Nobel laureate: Katalin Karikó talks about a park bench in Philadelphia and mRNA researchers
