Drew Weissman, M.D., Ph.D.

Drew Weissman, M.D., Ph.D., is a physician-scientist and pioneer in the science of immunology, with major contributions to the field. He is the Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Weissman’s laboratory is centered on the study of ribonucleic acids (RNA) and innate immune system biology, as well as the applications these areas have to vaccine research, therapeutic proteins, and gene therapy. Most notably, his research on messenger RNA (mRNA) biology, conducted with collaborator Katalin Karikó, Ph.D., helped pave the way for the first two FDA-approved mRNA vaccines to treat COVID-19.

Dr. Weissman and his lab team continue to conduct basic scientific research to understand how nucleoside-modified mRNA could be used to advance safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics for various diseases. He is a co-author of numerous publications related to vaccines for infectious diseases including flu, herpes and HIV and is the recipient of multiple accolades in medicine and research, including the NIH Merit Award, NIH Special Achievement Award, and the 50th Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Medical Science.

Dr. Weissman earned his B.A./M.S. in Biochemistry/Enzymology from Brandeis University and his M.D./Ph.D. in Immunology/Microbiology from Boston University.