Drew Weissman Biography: Parents, Net Worth, Son, Salary, Children, Research, Wife, Profile, Nationality

Drew Weissman is an American physician and immunologist renowned for his contributions to RNA biology.

He holds the position of inaugural Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research, serves as the director of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, and is a professor of medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Profile

• Full Name: Drew Weissman
• Stage Name: Drew Weissman
• Born: 7, September 1959
• Age: 65 years old
• Birthplace: Lexington, Massachusetts, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Physician
• Height: 1.83m
• Parent: Hal Weissman and Adele Weissman
• Siblings: unknown
• Spouse: Mary Ellen Weissman
• Children: Rachel Weissman and Allison Weissman
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life And Education

Drew Weissman was born on September 7, 1959, in Lexington, Massachusetts, United States, to parents Hal and Adele Weissman. Although it is possible he has siblings, details about them are not publicly available.

Weissman completed his undergraduate studies at Brandeis University and later earned both an M.D. and Ph.D. from Boston University. He has a diverse ethnic background, with Jewish and Italian heritage, and his religious affiliation is primarily Jewish.

Career

Drew Weissman, an American physician and immunologist, has made monumental contributions to the field of RNA biology, particularly in vaccine development.

After earning his M.D. and Ph.D. from Boston University in 1987, Weissman completed a residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a fellowship at the NIH under the guidance of Anthony Fauci.

In 1997, he established a research group at the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on RNA and the innate immune system, eventually becoming the Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research.

Weissman’s groundbreaking collaboration with Katalin Karikó led to the development of modified mRNA technology, which revolutionized vaccine development. Their pioneering work demonstrated that specific nucleoside modifications could prevent unwanted immune responses, making mRNA vaccines not only possible but highly effective.

This discovery played a crucial role in the development of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for COVID-19, marking a turning point in the fight against the pandemic.

Beyond his work on COVID-19, Weissman is continuing to make strides in the development of vaccines for diseases like influenza and HIV. He is actively collaborating with international scientists to improve vaccine access in low-income countries.

In recognition of his groundbreaking contributions, Weissman received the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, cementing his legacy as a leader in immunology and vaccine research.

Social Media

Twitter handle: @WeissmanLab

Personal Life

Drew Weissman is married to Mary Ellen Weissman, a child psychologist, and they have two daughters, Rachel Weissman and Allison Weissman.

While the couple values their privacy, they have embraced Jewish traditions, ensuring their children attend Hebrew school, even though they are not particularly religious themselves.

Net Worth

Drew Weissman’s net worth is estimated at approximately $5 million, largely due to his distinguished career in medicine and research.

His groundbreaking work in RNA technology and vaccine development has garnered widespread recognition and substantial funding.