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THE early history of vaccines is a field dominated by men. Science, which is currently showing spectacular results, is now led by women. Therein lies a lesson in talent allocation.
Consider the history of the mRNA vaccine, which is the technology foundation for the Moderna and Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines, the two main competing vaccines for the U.S. To oversimplify, mRNA vaccines teach cells how to make a protein It triggers an immune system response, rather than injecting live or dead virus material.
Done correctly, this makes the vaccine faster to develop, safer to use, and easier to make at scale. In addition to its upcoming role in fighting Covid-19, the mRNA vaccine platform can likely be adapted to fight other viruses, and other mRNA products may have additional uses, such as helping treat skin disorders.
The main work behind the mRNA approach comes from Katalin Karikó, a Hungarian-born émigré who came to the United States to work on RNA-related issues. Her career had its starts and starts, including trouble raising money for research and a fight against cancer, but she persisted. He ended up working with Drew Weissman, and they figured out how to inject RNA material into humans without causing excessive inflammation, which had previously been the critical barrier to progress.
Karikó ended up working with BioNTech, a German startup founded by Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci, a husband and wife team whose parents were Turkish guest workers in Germany.
Then there’s the vaccine from Novavax, which is based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The Novavax results have yet to be published, but they are said to be very promising. This vaccine is also based on new ideas, using an unusual system of moth cells to produce proteins in a very innovative way.
The Novavax team is led by Nita Patel, an immigrant from Gujarat, India. Her vaccine team is identified as “exclusively female.” Patel is from a very poor family; her father nearly died of tuberculosis when she was four years old and often had to beg to pay for bus fare.
The common theme here is that of outsiders, as women and immigrants have featured prominently at crucial points. Phase one of Moderna’s trial, for example, was led by Lisa A. Jackson at the University of Washington. Moderna’s co-founder and president, Noubar Afeyan, is a two-time immigrant. Born in Lebanon, his parents later emigrated to Canada and then he moved to the United States.
The rapid development of all these vaccines could turn out to be the biggest scientific advance in decades, and it has been driven by people who, in another time, would never have had the chance.
This is a positive development, a sobering truth, and a warning about the future. In business, academia, and other fields of science, women do not have as prominent roles as they do now in vaccine development. Given what women have contributed to vaccines this year, think about what kind of impact they might have in other areas.
The argument is not that women and men achieve exactly the same results. There may well be reasons why talented women are more attracted to vaccine development than other areas. Still, the recent and unprecedented impact of women in this field means that there are other endeavors that concern society and that would greatly benefit from greater participation by women.
The history of vaccines in the 21st century shows two things. The first is that society could still do a much better job of allocating talent and making similar gains in a wider variety of areas. The second is that talent misassignments can be remedied if we are willing to take the necessary steps.
If you’re looking for something hopeful amid millions of tragic Covid experiences, that’s not a bad place to start.
