Dr. Drew Weissman conferred with Genome Valley Excellence Award for mRNA COVID-19 vaccine work

The 19th edition of BioAsia, the largest annual global Biotechnology and Life Sciences summit of Asia, organised by the Government of Telangana and the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations [FABA], has announced that the coveted Genome Valley Excellence Award for the year 2022 will be conferred upon Dr. Drew Weissman M.D. Ph.D.

The award has been announced in recognition for his breakthrough pioneering research and development of effective mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, that has helped save billions of lives globally. Dr. Weissman is a Professor at the Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

He is also acknowledged for his contributions to the development of various vaccines including COVID-19, universal flu vaccine, herpes vaccine, etc. besides several other therapeutic developments.

Dr. Weissman was named as one of 2021's "Heroes of the Year" by the Time Magazine and is also a Lasker-DeBakey 2021 and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences 2022 awardee.

Dr. Weismann’s extensive efforts in collaboration with fellow scientists led to his discovery of the ability of modified nucleosides in RNA to suppress activation of innate immune sensors and increase the translation of mRNA containing certain modified nucleosides.

Dr. Drew Weissman

The nucleoside-modified mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine platform, Dr. Weissman’s lab created, is used in the first two approved COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. They continue to develop other vaccines that induce potent antibody and T cell responses with mRNA–based vaccines.

He is also known for his work in cancer therapeutics, protein therapeutics, and gene therapy. Dr. Weissman’s lab develops methods to replace genetically deficient proteins, edit the genome, and specifically target cells and organs with mRNA-LNPs, including lung, heart, brain, CD4+ cells, all T cells, and bone marrow stem cells. He received his graduate degree from Boston University School of Medicine.


Speaking on the announcement of the 2022 Genome Valley Excellence Award, Mr. KT Rama Rao, Hon’ble Minister for Industries & Commerce, Government of Telangana said, “The Genome Valley Excellence Award is one of the most coveted awards bestowed upon the most exemplary achievers in the global Life Sciences community.

"This year we are honoured to present the award to Dr. Drew Weissman for his pioneering research and development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine that has been administered to billions saving their lives. Dr Weissman’s perseverance is worth inspiring thousands of researchers in the life science fraternity and under his leadership, the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania has made tremendous achievements.”

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Weissman at BioAsia 2022. Albeit virtually, I am sure his participation will inspire the younger generation to pursue science and engage more actively with the research world that focuses on applied research rather than the armchair research.

"As we look forward to our youth and future generations to shoulder much of the scientific, economic and social progress, we need to encourage them to take up research that finds a purpose in moments of crisis such as these and Dr. Weissman is a perfect role model for this.” said Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary (I&C), Government of Telangana

“Over the years the Genome Valley Excellence Award has been awarded to individuals with extraordinary merit - be it individuals or organisations for their immensely valuable contribution to the Lifesciences Research and Public Health. This year too we are honoured to confer the award upon Dr. Drew Weissman whose discovery of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine helped the world combat one of the worst health challenges the human kind has ever faced,” said Mr. Shakthi M. Nagappan, CEO, BioAsia and Director (Lifesciences and Pharma), Government of Telangana

Some of the past Genome Valley Excellence Award winners include Nobel laureates such as Dr. Kurt Wuthrich, Ada Yonath, Harald zur Hausen, Barry Marshall, Martin J Evans, Food Laureates, Lasker Awardees, and eminent leaders like CEO of Novartis Mr. Vas Narasimhan, Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy and CAR-T cell therapy pioneer , Dr. Carl June, CEO of GAVI Dr. Seth Berkley, among others. The 2021 Genome Valley Excellence award was presented to Padma Bhushan awardees Dr. Krishna Ella and Mrs. Suchitra Ella of Bharat Biotech International Ltd. for the development and commercialisation of vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin. - TWL Bureau