Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman, Philip Felgner, Uğur Şahin, Özlem Türeci, Derrick Rossi and Sarah Gilbert 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research

Statement by Katalin Karikó, following the conferral of the 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research

“I am greatly honored to be the recipient of the prestigious Princess Asturias Award. I am very happy to share this prize with my excellent colleagues and fellow scientists.”

Katalin Karikó
Abington (Pennsylvania), 24th June 2021

Statement by Drew Weissman, following the conferral of the 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research

“I am sincerely honored to be awarded el Premio Princesa de Asturias de Investigación Científica y Técnica 2021. Every day, I am grateful that work from our lab laid a groundwork for vaccine advancement that has been a tool for humanity at a time of great need. There is a bright future for mRNA vaccines, and I’m excited to continue working with my colleagues on ways that mRNA technology can prevent diseases and ultimately help people. That is what science is for. Muchas gracias a la Fundacion Princesa de Asturias.”

Drew Weissman
Philadelphia, 24th June 2021

Statement by Philip Felgner, following the conferral of the 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research

“It is a great honor and I am so happy that your jury decided to select me for this prestigious award. It gives me the opportunity to reward my team for their years of dedication and commitment. I’m proud to be included with six other distinguished recipients representing their teams that have been working for decades preparing their science to be responsive to the COVID outbreak at his moment.
I’m so looking forward to Oviedo to experience you community, to meet you, and your King Felipe and Queen Letizia. For me this will be a wonderful finale to the demanding outbreak year we all experienced, truly a time to celebrate.”

Philip Felgner
Irvine (California), 23rd June 2021

Statement by Uğur Şahin, following the conferral of the 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research

“The Princess of Asturias Award is a wonderful recognition that science can make a difference for humanity. I am very grateful that we have been able to contribute to the fight against this pandemic and help so many people with our research and work.”

Uğur Şahin
Mainz (Germany), 23rd June 2021

Statement by Özlem Türeci, following the conferral of the 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research

“It is an honor to be among the recipients of the Princess of Asturias Award. I am deeply humbled to be considered a worthy ambassador for the cause this award represents: The improvement of life as the noblest goal of science.”

Özlem Türeci
Mainz (Germany), 23rd June 2021

Statement by Derrick Rossi, following the conferral of the 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research

“It is a great honor to be selected as a recipient of the Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research. It is truly humbling to be in the presence of such distinguished scientific company as the current and past awardees of this award."

Derrick Rossi
Newton (Massachusetts), 23rd June 2021

Statement by Sarah Gilbert, following the conferral of the 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research

“I am delighted to receive this award along with others who have worked so hard to create and develop vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, which are now being deployed at large scale to save lives around the world. Together we have made a difference.”

Sarah Gilbert
Oxford, 23rd June 2021