Moderna co-founder Robert Langer: ‘I wanted to use my chemical engineering to help people’

The celebrated US scientist and inventor on not being in it for the money, why diversity improves problem-solving, and his dedication to exercisingThe chemical engineer Robert Langer co-founded Covid-19 vaccine makerModerna, and his innovations have helped create more than 100 products from artificial skin to messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. The 73-year-old has a mountain of research papers and patents to his name, on top of which he has started more than 40 companies and won more than 200 awards, including the Queen Elizabeth prize, which has been called the “Nobel for engineering”. Langer’s biomedical engineering lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he holds a professorship, employs more than 100 researchers. He spoke to the Observer to markUnesco World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, held earlier this month.Last year you debuted onForbes magazine ’s billionaires list. Being a co-founder of Moderna has been profitable! How did it feel?It ’s embarrassing. Everybody sees it. I have never sold a Moderna share, so it’s not like I’m spending the money. But I never did any of this to get rich. I’ve never sought high paying jobs. All my life I’ve looked for things that I felt would make a difference.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Vaccines and immunisation Coronavirus Health Infectious diseases Medical research Microbiology Science Society World news Source Type: news