Recently, the world received the news that, as early as spring of next year, two highly effective vaccines would become available to the public. One is being developed by Pfizer, in partnership with German firm BioNTech, and the other by Moderna Therapeutics. What has gone widely unnoticed is the fact that immigrants or children of immigrants played vital roles in both technological breakthroughs.
BioNTech was founded by a husband and wife team, Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci, who are both the children of Turkish immigrants who arrived in Germany as guest workers. Since 2008, the company has manufactured active immunotherapies for patient-specific approaches to the treatment of diseases.
Similarly, Noubar Afeyan emigrated with his parents from Lebanon to Canada as a teenager, and soon after, began working in the US under an H-1B visa. In 2010, he cofounded Moderna, a biotechnology company that specializes in messenger RNA.
As the two companies race to produce a safe and widely distributable vaccine, the world is once again seeing the vital benefits that immigrants and their children can bring to any country.
The Thanksgiving season invites Americans to reflect on the many things they are thankful for. Oftentimes, the holiday is spent expressing gratitude for family, friends, health, and, of course, great food. The COVID-19 era is no exception, even amidst quarantines, social distancing recommendations, and necessarily smaller gatherings. After the adversity and hardship of the last year, Americans will be looking—more than ever—for things to be thankful for.
Thanks to the cutting-edge work of immigrants such as Noubar Afeyan, Ugur Sahin, and Ozlem Tureci, the public can look forward to a possible end to the Coronavirus pandemic.
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The information provided in this blog is intended solely for informational purposes. While we strive to offer accurate and up-to-date content, it should not be considered legal advice. Immigration laws and regulations are subject to change, and individual circumstances can vary widely. For personalized guidance and legal advice regarding your specific immigration situation, we strongly recommend consulting with a qualified immigration attorney who can provide you with tailored assistance and ensure compliance with current laws and regulations.
Visa Business Plans is led by Marco Scanu, a certified coach from the University of Miami with a globally-based practice coaching Fortune 1000 company executives, entrepreneurs, as well as professionals in four different continents. Mr. Scanu advises clients on turnaround strategies and crisis management.
Mr. Scanu received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Cum Laude) from the University of Florida and an MBA in Management from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Mr. Scanu was also a Visiting Scholar at Michigan State University under the prestigious H. Humphrey Fellowship (Fulbright program) with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, and high-growth enterprises.
At present, Mr. Scanu is the managing partner and CEO at Visa Business Plans, a Miami-based boutique consulting firm providing attorneys and investors with business planning services in the areas of U.S. and Canadian immigration, SBA loans, and others.
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