You're listening to shortwave from NPR.

Hi there, shortwaveers.

Aaron Scott here with Global Health and Development Correspondent Norete Eisenman.

Hi Aaron.

Hello Norete.

I understand we're going to hear some snippets from reporting you've been doing down in Brazil

on a cutting-edge scientific collaboration.

Yes.

In May, I headed to Rio de Janeiro, where I met some scientists working on new mRNA vaccines

against COVID that could make this type of technology available to hundreds of millions of people in countries that until now have always been last in line to get the new stuff.

Wow. So it sounds like it really could revolutionize who gets access to vaccines?

Yes. And that's what maybe you want to meet these scientists.

This is our office.

But what I didn't know was that I was also going to learn about the fascinating backstory of two of them, Patrician Nevis and Anapala Anabam.

They work out of a room that's just big enough for their two desks pushed together.

At first they worried they wouldn't get much done because they'd have too much fun.

No.

She's my best friend.

That's Anabam.

Ever since she and Nevis met in college more than 20 years ago, they've been inseparable, shopping, lunching, and most of all just talking.

About anything science, kids, husbands.

This is Nevis. It's largely because of their friendship that this project came about.

...