The Hungarian-born biochemist Katalin Kariko, whose decades of work with mRNA technology was instrumental in the development of the BioNTech/Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, will be awarded an honorary doctorate by her alma matter, the University of Szeged (SE Hungary).

Ms Kariko, who is a senior vice president at BioNTech, filed the patent for the mRNA technology in the BioNTech/Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine now being used to inoculate people in Hungary and the rest of the European Union.

Ms Kariko participated in the University of Szeged’s programme for fostering young talent already as a pupil in the town of Kisujszallas (SE Hungary), and she went on to complete her university studies in Szeged in 1973-1978. She worked toward her PhD at the Szeged Biological Research Centre in 1978-1982 and was awarded her doctorate in 1983. She later did research as a biochemist in the United States.

The University of Szeged senate voted unanimously to award Ms Kariko the honorary doctorate.