Drew Weissman Biography
Drew Weissman (born September 7, 1959), an accomplished American physician-scientist, has made significant contributions to the field of RNA biology. He is renowned for his pivotal role in developing mRNA vaccines, notably the ones for COVID-19 created by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna. At the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, Drew Weissman holds the prestigious position of the inaugural Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research. Additionally, he serves as the director of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation and holds the title of professor of medicine.
In collaboration with his research colleague, Katalin Karikó, Drew Weissman has received numerous accolades, including the esteemed Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award. In 2023, they were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their pioneering work on nucleoside base modifications that laid the foundation for the development of highly effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
Drew Weissman Age
Drew is 64 years old as of 2023, he was born on September 7, 1959, in Lexington, Massachusetts, United States. He celebrates his birthday on September 7, every year.
Quick facts about Drew Weissman are listed below:
- Full Name: Drew Weissman
- Gender: Male
- Age: 64 years old
- Birth of Date: September 7, 1959
- Place Of Birth: Lexington, Massachusetts, United States
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo.
- Salary: $435,000
- Net Worth: $5 million dollars
- Marital Status: Married
- Wife: Mary Ellen Weissman
- Children: Rachel and Allison
- Mother’s Name: Not known
- Father’s Name: Not known
- Siblings: Not known
- Profession: Physician and scientist
Drew Weissman Height
Drew stands at a height of 6 feet 0 inches (1.60 m) tall.
Drew Weissman Family
Drew was born in Lexington, Massachusetts, to a Jewish father and an Italian mother. Despite his mother not converting to Judaism, he was raised in a household where he celebrated all Jewish holidays.
He spent his formative years in Lexington, Massachusetts, and completed his high school education at Lexington High School, graduating in 1977. While details about Drew’s family, parents, and siblings are not publicly known, this section will be updated if such information becomes available.
| Father | Not Known |
| Mother | Not Known |
| Brothers and Sister | Not Available |
| Wife / Partner | Mary Ellen Weissman |
Drew Weissman Education
Drew grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, and completed his high school education at Lexington High School, graduating in 1977. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Brandeis University, where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1981.
During his time at Brandeis, he specialized in biochemistry and enzymology and conducted research in the laboratory of Gerald Fasman. Subsequently, Drew embarked on graduate studies in immunology and microbiology, leading to the completion of his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees in 1987 at Boston University.
Following his graduate studies, Weissman continued his medical training by completing a residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He then pursued a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he worked under the mentorship of Anthony Fauci, who was the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at that time.
This educational and training journey laid the foundation for Drew’s distinguished career in the field of medicine and his significant contributions to RNA biology and vaccine development, particularly in the context of mRNA vaccines.
Drew Weissman Wife
Drew is married to his lovely wife Mary Ellen Weissman, who grew up in an observant household. Interestingly, even though the Weissman family doesn’t identify as religious, Drew and his wife Mary Ellen carried forward the traditions they were brought up with, ensuring their children were also exposed to these observant values.
Drew Weissman Children
Drew and his wife Mary Ellen Weissman are known to have two children named Rachel and Allison. However, as you mentioned, there is limited publicly available information about them, and their privacy is respected.
Drew Weissman Salary
Drew earns an annual average salary of $435,000, which he accumulates from his successful career as a physician-scientist and Nobel Prize laureate best known for his contributions to RNA biology.
Drew Weissman Net Worth
Drew has an estimated net worth of $5 million dollars as of 2023. This includes his assets, money, and income, which he accumulated from his successful career as a physician-scientist and Nobel Prize laureate.
Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó
Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó have indeed made significant contributions to the field of mRNA (messenger RNA) research, particularly in the development of mRNA-based vaccines and therapies. However, as of my last knowledge update in September 2021, they had not received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine or some of the other awards mentioned in your statement.
It’s possible that they have received these awards since my last update, as their work in mRNA technology has gained even more recognition due to their pivotal role in the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Nobel Prizes and other prestigious awards are typically announced and awarded annually, so if they had been awarded these honors, it would have occurred after my last knowledge update.
Drew and Katalin Karikó’s work on mRNA has been instrumental in advancing the field of medicine, especially in the development of vaccines like the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Their research has revolutionized how we approach vaccination and the treatment of various diseases.
Drew Weissman Contacts
- Youtube
- TikTok
- Website
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