How a Covid NFT is benefiting medical research

The NFT commemorates the historic breakthrough of mRNA vaccines.

By Rick Betancur / June 25, 2022

The University of Pennsylvania NFT, created with Dr. Drew Weissman whose research helped create mRNA vaccines, will be auctioned at Christie’s online from July 15-25.

The NFT, titled The University of Pennsylvania mRNA NFT: Vaccines for a New Era, is a one-minute 3D animation of a modified mRNA used in the Covid vaccine. Also in the NFT are images of patent documents and Weisman’s discussion of how the mRNA platform goes beyond Covid, helping to treat influenza, herpes, malaria, sickle cell anemia, and cancer.

The stunning speed with which the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were developed and their global success in fighting the pandemic has led to an explosion of interest in how modified mRNA technology can be applied across many fields of medicine,” said J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System and dean of the Perelman School of Medicine. “Dr. Weissman and his colleagues across Penn are continuing to chart new paths of discovery with the potential for global impact. This digital asset celebrates their historic scientific achievements and points to a bright future in vaccine research and development.”

Proceeds from the NFT sale will support research at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine.

mRNA, or Messenger RNA, vaccines work by introducing mRNA from the virus to stimulate an immune response by the body. These vaccines proved indispensable in fighting the pandemic which claimed over 1 million deaths in the US.

Vestly Takeaway: Just when you thought NFTs had found all their use cases another one pops up, commemorating the most important tool in the fight against Covid as an NFT.