Tal Ben-Shahar
Founder, Happiness Studies Academy | Creator, World's First MA in Happiness Studies | Former Harvard Lecturer | New York Times Bestselling Author | Positive Psychology Expert
Drew Weissman
2023 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine | Co-Inventor of mRNA Vaccine Technology | Director, Penn Institute for RNA Innovation
Drew Weissman is the 2023 Nobel Laureate whose discovery of nucleoside-modified mRNA made the world's first mRNA vaccines possible. As Director of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation at UPenn, he is now pushing mRNA into cancer, HIV, and gene therapy. Audiences gain rare insight into how patient, perseverant science produces civilizational breakthroughs — and what the RNA revolution means for medicine next.
Want to book Drew Weissman as a speaker for your event? Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
Drew Weissman biography
Drew Weissman is the 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine whose foundational research on modified mRNA technology made the world’s first mRNA vaccines possible — transforming not just how humanity fought COVID-19, but how medicine will develop vaccines and therapeutics for generations to come. He is the Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research and Director of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, where he has led pioneering work at the intersection of immunology and RNA biology since 1997.
Amongst Nobel laureate speakers, Drew Weissman is best known for a discovery — made alongside biochemist Katalin Karikó — that solved one of the central roadblocks to RNA-based medicine: the fact that synthetic mRNA triggered dangerous inflammatory responses in the body. By identifying that chemically modifying the nucleoside bases of mRNA could suppress these immune reactions while dramatically increasing protein production, Weissman and Karikó unlocked a platform that Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna used as the critical backbone of their COVID-19 vaccines. Their landmark 2005 paper in Immunity was initially overlooked — and at the time, rejected by both Nature and Science — yet it eventually became one of the most consequential publications in modern biomedical history. Over 13 billion doses of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines have since been administered globally.
Weissman earned dual bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biochemistry and enzymology from Brandeis University, followed by an M.D. and Ph.D. in immunology and microbiology from Boston University. He completed his fellowship at the National Institutes of Health under Dr. Anthony Fauci, then director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He is the co-inventor on multiple foundational patents covering mRNA modification technology and has published over 300 scientific papers.
The mRNA Revolution Beyond COVID-19
The implications of Weissman’s work extend well beyond the pandemic. His laboratory is actively developing pan-coronavirus and universal influenza vaccines, mRNA-based cancer therapeutics, treatments for autoimmune diseases, and in vivo gene therapy platforms that can target specific cells, tissues, and organs. The Penn Institute for RNA Innovation is also part of the NSF’s AI-driven RNA Foundry — an $18 million initiative that uses artificial intelligence to design superior RNA particles and accelerate the development of next-generation therapeutics. His recognition spans the field’s most prestigious awards, including the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the Princess of Asturias Award for Scientific Research, the Albany Medical Center Prize, and the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award.
As a speaker, Drew Weissman brings the full weight of lived scientific history to any stage — including two decades of fighting for funding and recognition before seeing his research reshape global medicine. He speaks with clarity and depth on mRNA technology, pandemic preparedness, the future of vaccine development, the role of basic science in producing world-changing breakthroughs, and the innovation ecosystems that enable — or suppress — scientific progress. Senior audiences, from healthcare executives to government leaders to biotech investors, consistently find his talks both intellectually rigorous and profoundly inspiring: a reminder that the most transformative discoveries often emerge from patient, persistent work done far from the spotlight.
Drew Weissman Speaking Videos
Nobel Prize lecture: Drew Weissman, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023
How a Xerox machine saved lives and won me a Nobel Prize | Drew Weissman | TEDxPenn
Drew Weissman Keynote Topics
Weissman recounts the full arc of the mRNA breakthrough — two decades of dismissed grant applications, rejected papers, and scientific skepticism — before a single platform reshaped vaccine development forever. He unpacks the science accessibly, addresses what it takes to keep pursuing an idea the world isn't ready for, and explores what the mRNA platform can do next: from universal flu and pan-coronavirus vaccines to cancer immunotherapy and gene repair. A rare combination of scientific depth and genuine human story.
Drawing on his experience developing mRNA technology before, during, and after COVID-19, Weissman outlines what the world must build to respond faster to the next pathogen. He examines the gaps that nearly cost us — in funding structures, regulatory frameworks, and global manufacturing capacity — and shows how mRNA platforms, combined with AI-driven design tools, can compress vaccine development timelines from years to weeks. Directly relevant to healthcare leaders, public health policymakers, and life sciences executives.
One of the defining lessons of the COVID-19 vaccine story is that 25 years of underfunded basic research produced the platform that ended a pandemic. Weissman makes the case — with his own career as evidence — for why organizations and governments must invest in foundational science long before its applications are visible. He explores what innovation ecosystems, funding cultures, and institutional patience look like when they work, and what it costs when they don't.
A forward-looking session on the expanding frontier of RNA therapeutics: mRNA-based treatments for cancer, autoimmune disease, genetic disorders, and infectious diseases once considered untreatable. Weissman shares the current state of his lab's work and places it in the broader context of a field now accelerating through AI-assisted RNA design and lipid nanoparticle innovation. Ideal for biotech investors, pharma leaders, hospital systems, and anyone navigating the intersection of science and strategy.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Drew Weissman
Why Drew Weissman?
Booking Drew Weissman for your event means bringing one of the most consequential scientists alive today to your stage. As the 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine and the co-inventor of the mRNA modification technology that made COVID-19 vaccines possible, Weissman offers audiences an unparalleled window into how breakthrough science actually happens — from two decades of underfunded, largely ignored research to a discovery that saved millions of lives. His talks resonate deeply with healthcare, biotech, pharmaceutical, policy, and innovation-focused audiences. He covers mRNA's future applications — from cancer to HIV to gene therapy — with the authority of someone who built this field from scratch. Booking Drew Weissman through Aurum Speakers Bureau ensures your event is anchored by a voice that is equal parts scientific pioneer and compelling human story.
What did Drew Weissman win the Nobel Prize for?
Drew Weissman was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, jointly with Katalin Karikó, for their discovery that chemically modifying the nucleoside bases of messenger RNA (mRNA) could prevent unwanted inflammatory responses and improve protein production. This breakthrough solved a fundamental obstacle that had blocked RNA-based medicine for decades, and directly enabled Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna to develop the first approved mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. The Nobel Committee recognized the discovery as having contributed to the unprecedented speed of vaccine development during one of the most serious public health crises in modern history.
What research is Drew Weissman working on now?
Beyond his Nobel Prize-winning work on COVID-19 vaccines, Weissman's lab at the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation is pursuing a wide range of next-generation applications for mRNA technology. These include pan-coronavirus and universal influenza vaccines, mRNA-based cancer therapeutics that can bypass tumor defenses, treatments for autoimmune diseases and food allergies, and in vivo gene editing delivered via lipid nanoparticles. The Institute is also part of the NSF's AI-driven RNA Foundry, which uses artificial intelligence to design more effective RNA delivery systems and accelerate translation of laboratory findings into clinical therapeutics.
What topics does keynote speaker Drew Weissman cover?
As a keynote speaker, Drew Weissman speaks on mRNA technology and its future across medicine, pandemic preparedness and global health resilience, the science and strategy behind rapid vaccine development, the role of basic research in producing transformative innovation, and how AI is accelerating the next wave of RNA therapeutics. His talks are particularly well-suited to audiences in healthcare, life sciences, biotech and pharma, government and policy, and innovation leadership. To inquire about fees and availability, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Drew Weissman as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Drew Weissman as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Drew Weissman's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Drew Weissman or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Drew Weissman speaking fee?
Drew Weissman speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Drew Weissman to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Drew Weissman.
How can I contact Drew Weissman?
We only work with Drew Weissman on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Drew Weissman and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Drew Weissman speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Drew Weissman for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Drew Weissman for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Drew Weissman is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Drew Weissman for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
