Katalin Karikó, a Nobel Prize laureate, Penn professor, and renowned mRNA researcher from Abington, has been inducted into the 2024 Class of Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania, writes Gabriel Steinberg for The Daily Pennsylvanian.

Gov. Josh Shapiro honored Karikó and the other inductees of the year at a special ceremony that took place at the Governor’s Mansion in Harrisburg.

The recognition celebrates the scientist’s career as an adjunct professor of neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine. Specifically, it acknowledges her research that provided the foundation for the mRNA vaccines which saved millions of lives.

Last year, Karikó won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine together with Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research Drew Weissman. Their research from nearly two decades ago was key in developing Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines. Penn has earned about $1.2 billion from their research.

Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania is an initiative of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities. It honors women for their service and contributions to the Commonwealth. The foundation looks to inspire and empower “women and girls in Pa. and beyond to achieve their fullest potential.”

Read more about Katalin Karikó and the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania in The Daily Pennsylvanian.