Overview

How one woman's extraordinary determination saved millions of lives- the inspiring memoir from the Winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine Katalin Karik began life as a butcher's daughter in communist Hungary. Raised in a one-room home of clay and straw with no running water, she saw potential everywhere- in the promise of a seed, in the alchemy of soap, in the scarlet of a carcass. Breaking Through is the extraordinary story of her courageous determination - first to become a scientist, and then to unlock an elusive molecule she believed could revolutionise medicine. Others disagreed, and for decades she endured demotions, discrimination and even threats of deportation. Yet Karik persevered, ultimately making a world-shifting discovery- the mRNA vaccine technology that saved millions of lives and will transform healthcare forever.

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9781529936391

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Reviews

Riveting . . . few have overcome adversity like Katalin Karikó . . . This remarkable memoir . . . is a joy to read, written in a direct style that revels in personal details while explaining clearly the science behind Karikó’s research -- Clive Cookson * Financial Times * This engrossing, touching tale of the tribulations of a scientist now recognised as one of the world’s greatest biochemists, a woman who helped create the vaccines that saved millions during the Covid-19 pandemic . . . How this success affected Karikó is explained in one of the most moving moments in Breaking Through . . . a vividly written, absorbing memoir of a life filled with triumphs . . . over near-constant adversity -- Robin McKie * Guardian * A classic in the genre of underdogs succeeding against the odds * New Scientist * Little did the public know that this feat [a Covid vaccine] was largely down to one woman's relentless perseverance. Breaking Through . . . charts the painstaking journey she undertook as a woman and an immigrant to convince the scientific community to take her work seriously . . . rich with colourful metaphors that bring the immune system to life . . . Karikó also lays bare a startling truth: even life-saving scientific discovery is not immune to ego, favouritism and sexism * New Statesman * Riveting. A true story of a brilliant biochemist who never gave up or gave in. You’ll be inspired by Karikó’s tenacity in the face of countless roadblocks and forever grateful for her life-saving contribution -- BONNIE GARMUS, author of Lessons in Chemistry

A classic in the genre of underdogs succeeding against the odds * New Scientist * Little did the public know that this feat [a Covid vaccine] was largely down to one woman's relentless perseverance. Breaking Through . . . charts the painstaking journey she undertook as a woman and an immigrant to convince the scientific community to take her work seriously . . . rich with colourful metaphors that bring the immune system to life . . . Karikó also lays bare a startling truth: even life-saving scientific discovery is not immune to ego, favouritism and sexism * New Statesman * A riveting testament to resilience and the power of unwavering belief -- JENNIFER DOUDNA, Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry The rousing story of a remarkable woman and her lifesaving contributions to medicine * Publishers Weekly * An outstanding memoir with a happy ending * Kirkus Reviews (starred) *

Author Information

Katalin Karik is a biochemist and winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Her pioneering research was the foundation of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 and paves the way for a host of treatments for cancer, HIV, malaria and other life-threatening diseases. Now an honorary professor at many universities, she has been awarded over a hundred prizes, had two children's books have been written about her and a minor planet named after her. She and her husband Bela are the parents of two-time Olympic rowing champion Susan Francia.

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