Long-overlooked scientist shares Lasker Award with other GLP-1 researchers

Science and Health

GLP-1 based drugs are transforming the treatment of obesity and opening up new avenues for addressing heart disease, addiction, and even Alzheimer’s. Now, three scientists who played key roles in their invention have won a prestigious Lasker Award for biomedical research. Announced on Thursday in New York, the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award will be shared by Svetlana Mojsov and Joel Habener, who identified and characterized the GLP-1 hormone in the 1980s while at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Lotte Knudsen of the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, who led the team that created the first GLP-1-mimicking drug approved for obesity.advertisement

The Lasker — sometimes referred to as “America’s Nobel” — is the most prestigious award to recognize Mojsov, who was the first person to uncover the chemically active form of GLP-1, a critical step in creating a viable drug. As detailed in a STAT investigation last year, Mojsov spent a decade battling with her former employer to get her name on the patents as a co-inventor, and has seen her work sidelined from the GLP-1 story as passed down through scientific reviews. 

“It is a tremendous honor for me,” Mojsov, now at Rockefeller University, said in an interview. She sees the decision to recognize her, Habener, and Knudsen as celebrating the arc of science from the beginning to the end of creating a transformative treatment. It honors the “progression from discovery, which was made in academia on the bench, to development by the pharmaceutical company to a medicine,” she said. “So I think it’s very appropriate.”

In the last few years, as the explosive impacts of metabolism-correcting, weight-moderating medicines like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have reverberated through the health care universe, the GLP-1 story has increasingly grown in Nobel promise. This latest recognition bolsters that possibility; about a fourth of Lasker laureates have gone on to win the Swedish award, too.advertisement

Which is why today’s announcement is sure to turn heads. 

The Ozempic revolution is rooted in the work of Svetlana Mojsov, yet she’s been edged out of the story

“This is a celebration of the science and the transformative effect that this has had on treatment of a syndrome — call it a disease, if you will — that people thought was not possible to treat,” said Richard DiMarchi, a friend of Mojsov and a chemistry professor at Indiana University Bloomington who has worked on newer versions of drugs that harness GLP-1 biology. 

The discovery of GLP-1 has been recognized with many previous awards, including the Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine in 2017, the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize in 2020, and, the next year, the Canada Gairdner International Award. In each of those cases, the award committee named three male doctors to share the prize: Habener, his former postdoc Daniel Drucker, and Jens Holst, a Danish researcher who independently reported important findings on GLP-1 shortly after the Mass General researchers did. 

Joel HabenerCourtesy Joel Habener

In June, after STAT and the journal Science revealed Mojsov’s overlooked role in the GLP-1 story, she finally broke through, sharing with Habener and Holst the Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science. With Habener and Drucker, she was also named to the TIME list of the 100 most influential people of 2024.

In the last two years since Habener gave up his lab at Mass General and the GLP-1 craze has really taken off, dealing with the parade of awards has started to become “a full-time occupation,” he told STAT. That turn of fate couldn’t be more surprising to Habener, who had no idea back when his lab was working on GLP-1 in the late 1980s that it would turn out to be such a biopharmaceutical blockbuster. 

“It’s just totally unexpected,” he said, adding that he’s happy to be sharing the award with Mojsov. “I think it’s wonderful that she was chosen.” 

Assigning credit for scientific awards is a complicated, messy business, especially for something like GLP-1 drugs, which were developed in fits and starts over more than 50 years. “Science doesn’t work the way the awards want to make it work,” said Randy Seeley, director of the Michigan Nutrition Obesity Research Center, who has followed the development of these drugs and has consulted for companies making them. “Most of these things are 10,000 ants moving an ant hill, and it’s all the scurry of all those 10,000 ants that actually, ultimately make a difference.”advertisement

Still, he said Knudsen’s contributions — although they might be harder to spot in her publication record because of working in the drug industry — are entirely deserving of this year’s Lasker. ”Until the last three years, nobody believed that was going to make any money, and so she went through a decade of championing this idea in the face of lots of pushback,” he said. Seeley — who sat on the scientific advisory board of Novo starting in the 2000s — saw that she was doing a lot of work within Novo at the time to convince people of the idea of treating people with obesity. “Lotte was very clear about believing this at a time when not everybody else was nearly as clear,” Seeley said.

Lotte KnudsenPhoto by Soren Svendsen

Knudsen, who STAT named as its 2023 Biomedical Innovation Award winner, said she was thrilled to see industry science getting recognized because of its reputation among academics as being “the dark side,” and she thinks it’s important for young scientists to know you can do impactful work from inside a company. But she also emphasized that although it’s her name on the award, she represents many researchers at Novo Nordisk, including the chemists who invented liraglutide and semaglutide and the teams of scientists who ran the company’s clinical trials. “Broad recognition matters to me,” she said.

More than any prize though, what she finds rewarding about her work on GLP-1 drugs is the way the availability of an effective medicine has catalyzed interest among researchers and funders to better understand obesity — which she hopes will help end the stigma around it — as well as GLP-1’s role in many other diseases. “There is no other example in the history of medicine for one biology to do so many different things at the same time,” Knudsen said. “We’re just starting to see its different effects in many tissues, and it’s likely there are still more to find.”

In just the last year, GLP-1 drugs have been shown to help lower body mass in children with obesity; cut the risk of heart failure, again; lower the risk of cirrhosis in patients with liver disease; and reduce the progression of kidney disease. “The constant good news and really impressive outcomes coming out of these studies have bolstered the evidence base for the medical community that really supports the value of these medicines,” said Drucker, which is just another reason it makes sense to see them being recognized. advertisement

How one scientist’s determination made Novo Nordisk an obesity-drug powerhouse

As to being left out of this prize, Drucker, who is now a professor of medicine at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute in Toronto, didn’t have any hard feelings. “There were many people at the very beginning who made important contributions,” he said. “Some people waking up in Europe will say that Jens Holst should have been recognized. At the end of the day, the awards committee has the tough job of sorting through the various narratives and lifting up some of them. That’s just the world we live in.”

The recognition, which since 1945 has been given to outstanding contributions to medicine by the Mary and Albert Lasker Foundation, is awarded in three categories, each carrying a $250,000 prize. All Lasker award categories have a maximum of three recipients.

The Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award went to Zhijan “James” Chen of the UT Southwestern Medical Center, who unraveled a key signaling mechanism of the innate immune system. Chen discovered that the body senses foreign DNA inside of cells through an enzyme called cGas, which then alerts the body’s pathogen-fighting forces to the presence of a threat. This breakthrough “solved a pivotal biomedical mystery of how DNA stimulates immune and inflammatory response,” and provides key insights for better treating infectious diseases and cancer and for managing autoimmune diseases, the foundation said. 

The Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award  was shared by Quarraisha Abdool Karim and Salim S. Abdool Karim of Columbia University in New York and the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), which the wife-and-husband team helped to establish in 2002. Through their efforts, they have trained hundreds of scientists and helped to establish world-class HIV/AIDS research centers across Africa. 

Their work has uncovered the disproportionate impact of the disease on women and girls and the need for integration of HIV-prevention efforts into sexual and reproductive health services. They also led a groundbreaking study that provided the first evidence that antiretroviral drugs prevent sexually acquired HIV in women — which laid the foundation for pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, a highly effective method of HIV prevention now endorsed by the World Health Organization.advertisement

“The Abdool Karims have saved lives around the globe through their innovative research, evidence-based policy proposals, public education, and courage to speak truth to power,” the foundation said.

Scientists store DNA on 5D crystal to preserve humanity for the future

Science and Health

Imagine a future where, even if humanity faces extinction, there’s a way to bring us back. That’s exactly what a team of British scientists is working on. Researchers from the University of Southampton have found a way to store the entire human genome—the blueprint of who we are—on a tiny crystal that can last for billions of years. This breakthrough means that even if disaster strikes, future generations, or even advanced technologies, could have access to the information needed to potentially revive humans.
The scientists used ultra-fast lasers to etch the data onto what’s called a 5D crystal, a special material known for its extreme durability. Unlike other storage devices that degrade over time, this crystal can withstand enormous forces, extreme heat, and cosmic radiation. It’s designed to last long enough to be useful for future advancements in science.Right now, we don’t have the technology to recreate humans from just genetic data, but the crystal stores everything that would be needed if one day we figure out how.
Right now, we don’t have the technology to recreate humans from just genetic data, but the crystal stores everything that would be needed if one day we figure out how. It’s not just humans either—the same method could be used to store the genetic information of endangered animals and plants, potentially saving species on the verge of extinction.
The crystal has already been placed in the Memory of Mankind archive, a secure time capsule stored in a salt cave in Austria, where it will be safe for generations to come. While this doesn’t solve all our current problems, it opens the door to preserving life in a way never imagined before.
Source: Sky News

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Mark Warner Urge Major Tech Companies to Address Election-Related Misinformation and Disinformation

Technology

View Comments September 19, 2024 – WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight over federal elections, along with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, sent a letter to the CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg; CEO of…

Rome Odunze’s dad uses Bears film to call out Dan Orlovsky

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The Chicago Bears are 1-1, but their offense has struggled to keep the ball moving consistently through two weeks. Just don’t place any of the blame on rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze.In a social media post on X, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky called out the former Washington Husky’s inability to separate as a reason he and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams are having trouble getting on the same page so far. Odunze’s father responded with a video of the young receiver running a slant route and getting open for what could have been an easy touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1.”The Bears and Caleb are gonna have to get comfortable giving Rome more ‘covered’ opportunities,” Orlovsky wrote on Wednesday. “Rome isn’t getting open at this level right now − Caleb will have to get comfortable throwing him some 50/50 balls.”CHICAGO BEARS:Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 3 game vs. ColtsJames Odunze posted the video of Rome in response later that day.All things Bears: Latest Chicago Bears news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.At 3:30 a.m. ET on Thursday morning, he shared it again with a caption calling out Orlovsky directly: “A quick (2 GAMES out of 17) reference-guide for those with the initials D.O. and work for the Entertainment & Sports Programming Network … W/respect.”Odunze was not targeted on the play, which instead ended in an incompletion as Williams targeted veteran receiver Keenan Allen on the other side of the field.NFL WEEK 3 PICKS:Will Ravens beat Cowboys for first win?Rome Odunze statsThrough two career games, Odunze has been targeted nine times – four times against the Titans in Week 1 and five times against the Houston Texans on Sunday night.After Week 2, he is up to three receptions for 44 yards and zero touchdowns.

The Decline of Book Reading in Pakistan: Understanding the Shift

Arts & Culture, Books

By Maria HameedIn Pakistan, a country rich in cultural heritage and literary traditions, the steady decline in book reading is a growing concern. Reading, once considered a revered activity for intellectual and personal growth, now faces stiff competition from a rapidly changing digital landscape, altering lifestyles, and economic challenges.One of the most significant factors contributing to the decline of reading habits in Pakistan is the rise of digital media. With smartphones, tablets, and social media platforms becoming more accessible, reading books has taken a backseat. People, especially the younger generation, prefer quick bites of information—scrolling through Instagram or Twitter feeds, watching short-form videos, and consuming content in a matter of seconds rather than investing hours into reading books.E-books and audiobooks, which once promised to reignite the flame of reading, have also not been widely embraced in Pakistan. The shift towards visual and auditory content—primarily through YouTube, Netflix, and TikTok—has further eroded the culture of reading for leisure Pakistan’s educational system also plays a role in the waning interest in books.The rote-learning approach, where students focus on memorizing textbooks for exams, discourages critical thinking and intellectual curiosity. In many cases, students only engage with books that are part of their syllabus, making reading a chore rather than a pleasure.This experience creates a long-lasting aversion to books as students associate them with pressure and stress rather than enjoyment.The limited availability of updated and diverse reading material in school and college libraries is another factor that curtails students’ exposure to books outside their academic curriculum. This deprivation results in an unbalanced approach to reading, where students seldom develop a love for literature, history, philosophy, or fiction.Books in Pakistan, particularly those that are not part of mainstream curriculum, are often perceived as a luxury. The rising costs of living, inflation, and economic instability have forced many families to prioritize essential needs over purchasing books. Additionally, book prices have significantly increased in recent years, making it difficult for the middle and lower-middle classes to afford them.Public libraries, which could provide access to books for people from different economic backgrounds, are also few and far between. The libraries that do exist often lack funding, resources, and a comfortable environment, which further discourages people from utilizing them.Another contributing factor is the growing influence of pop culture and entertainment industries.The allure of music, movies, and television series has largely overshadowed the once prevalent reading culture. For many young people in Pakistan, free time is increasingly spent binge-watching shows or gaming rather than reading novels or non-fiction. This transformation in recreational preferences is reflective of broader global trends, but it has distinct cultural implications in Pakistan, where storytelling and poetry were once integral to society.In Pakistani society, reading as a hobby is rarely promoted. Parents, educators, and public figures, who could serve as role models for fostering reading habits, often neglect to do so. Without visible champions of literature and reading in everyday life, the younger generation lacks inspiration to turn towards books. This issue is particularly noticeable in homes where television or smartphone usage is constant, and reading is viewed as an outdated pastime.Reviving the love for reading in Pakistan requires a multifaceted approach. Here are a few potential solutions:Integrating Books into the Digital Space: Given the popularity of digital platforms, initiatives to promote books online, such as digital book clubs, interactive e-books, and discussions on platforms like YouTube or podcasts, could help attract young readers.Revamping the Educational System: Reforming the curriculum to encourage critical thinking, discussions, and book-based projects rather than rote learning can foster an intellectual culture. Schools and universities should also encourage extracurricular reading by providing updated libraries with a wide range of books.Affordable Access to Books: Efforts should be made to reduce the costs of books, either through government subsidies or by promoting public libraries with a modern collection of books. Initiatives such as book fairs, book-sharing programs, and partnerships with publishing houses could also help make reading materials more accessible.Promoting Local Writers: Supporting local authors and storytellers can ignite national pride in reading. Programs that highlight Urdu and regional literature can bridge the gap between tradition and modernity, making reading relevant to younger audiences.Parental Involvement: Parents should model reading as an enjoyable and valuable activity at home. Encouraging children to read from a young age and limiting screen time can help establish reading as a lifelong habit.The decline in book reading in Pakistan reflects broader global shifts, but it also speaks to the unique cultural, economic, and educational challenges the country faces. However, the loss of reading culture is not irreversible. With a collective effort from educational institutions, families, public figures, and the media, Pakistan can rediscover its literary roots and foster a new generation of avid readers. After all, books hold the potential to expand minds, promote empathy, and equip individuals with the tools to navigate an increasingly complex world.Maria Hameed is an MPhil Mass Communication student with a robust background in communication studies, research methods, and social issues. She offers expert analysis and insightful commentary on contemporary media trends and challenges facing today’s youth.Maria brings a unique cultural perspective to her work, enriching her contributions with a blend of academic rigor and cultural insight.

Canada’s Leaders Must Reject Overbroad Age Verification Bill

EFF, Technology

Canadian lawmakers are considering a bill, S-210, that’s meant to benefit children, but would sacrifice the security, privacy, and free speech of all internet users. First introduced in 2023, S-210 seeks to prevent young people from encountering sexually explicit material by requiring all commercial internet services that “make available” explicit content to adopt age verification…

TIFF 2024 premiere film ‘Mother Mother’ offers an intimate portrait of motherhood, grief and forgiveness

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Toronto/IBNS: 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)’s premiere film ‘Mother Mother’ offers an intimate portrait of motherhood, grief, and forgiveness. First-time filmmaker Somali-Canadian writer/director K’naan Warsame’s film is replete with unique vocals that focuses on themes of death, mourning while opening a window to the world of the Somali pastoralists. The film covers universal human emotions including a mother’s love, a young man’s romantic love and dreams, justice and punishment, and revenge and forgiveness.relaying the message of self acceptance, the rejection of ‘normal’ society, and the importance of mental health. In rural Somalia’s lonely farm, the widowed Qalifo (Maan Youssouf Ahmed) and her college-age son Asad (Elmi Rashid Elmi) raise camels. Living in the shadow of his late father’s violent reputation and amid Qalifo’s strict parenting, Asad finds solace by escaping to a nearby village whenever he can. A moral drama is portrayed in a very small world juxtaposed against Somali culture with its beliefs, where Qalifo and her son Asad raise camels. Asad’s sense of alienation comes from being raised by an overprotective single mother, who lost her husband, Asad’s father, in World War II. When Asad learns his girlfriend has been seeing another boy, the American visitor Liban (Hassan Najib), a confrontation follows resulting in the death of Asad. After learning of  Asad’s death the tribe’s elders give Qalifo three choices for retribution, money, land, or ordering the boy’s death. When Qalifo instead decides to have Liban, sentenced to live on her land, as her son, the conception of justice and enforcement of its customs where communities make collaborative decisions becomes inevitable. The story emerges to a tender and even delicate story about two very different people, with neither of them knowing the language of the other. With a lay out of a tangled narrative of complicated lives with emotional choices, and hard-won understanding by Warsame, his love for music is visible by the background music with many other popular musicians. Warsame has crafted a touching story giving the audience a slice of everyday life in a rural area with its clearly laid out community structure both understandable, and relatable.  He focuses on not only  widowed Qualifo’s strength for her hard work each day whilst grieving her beloved husband but also her weakness compelling her to want to hang on to her son forever to ward off loneliness due to her own insecurity caused by her past trauma. The film is beautifully shot by César Charlone in the Somali camel-herding regions. From the first frame, through the magic and skill of filmmaking, the audience is transported to a distant land to connect with a familiar subject. Mother Mother is the recipient of this year’s FIPRESCI AWARD,  dedicated to emerging filmmakers, to a debut feature film having its World Premiere in TIFF’s Discovery programme. “Mother Mother’..depicts a humanistic approach towards a revenge narrative set in a country haunted by violence and grief…in its non-sensationalist treatment of contentious politics through its parallels of the human and the natural world. Warsame’s feature debut, through its compelling formal attributes and charismatic acting, conveys a sense of hope and healing after tragedy,” a FIPRESCI Jury statement has said. Winner of many awards, including a Grammy, a VMA, and four Juno awards, K’naan Warsame has written and produced episodes of the TV series Castle Rock (18) and Extrapolations (23). Mother Mother (24) is his directorial debut. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

Bea Alonzo’s ‘1521: The Movie’ continues to reap recognition abroad

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

After a successful run in the US and local cinemas, the film “1521,” starring Filipino actress Bea Alonzo as the lead, alongside American actor Hector David Jr., continues to make waves in the international circuit, having just received another award.Francis Lara Ho of Inspire Studios won the Producer of the Year Award at the Wu Wei Taipei International Film Festival during the Philippines Awards and Gala Night at WESTAR Theater in Taipei, Taiwan, on September 1.

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Guillermo del Toro Just Exposed the Biggest Problem With AI Movies

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Guillermo del Toro doesn’t do anything by half-measures. That’s one reason the director has become so beloved by genre fans: even if his dark fairytales aren’t your cup of tea, it’s impossible not to get swept up in the craft that complements his films. From immersive practical sets to seamless creature effects, del Toro is all about building new worlds in as hands-on a manner as possible. It’s natural, then, that he would have something to say about Hollywood’s growing embrace of generative AI.AI-assisted filmmaking is gaining a troubling foothold, with more and more directors testing the limits of AI software. This emerging tech, supporters argue, could be a boon to filmmakers who lack the resources to bring their ideas to fruition, as AI negates the need for a completed script or even flesh-and-blood actors. But that’s exactly where AI storytelling oversteps, undermining the importance of creativity and collaboration. Fortunately, we’re a long way from an industry-wide takeover, and as far as del Toro is concerned, AI will never match the human capacity to create.During an hour-long sit-down with the British Film Institute, the director shared some candid observations about AI-generated stories. “AI has demonstrated that it can do semi-compelling screensavers,” del Toro said. “How much would people pay for those screensavers? Are they gonna make them cry because they lost a son? A mother? Because they misspent their youth? F*** no.” AI still can’t compete with human storytelling, and del Toro suspects it never will.Searchlight PicturesFor all the innovations it hints at, AI software is nowhere close to telling a compelling story on its own. It can’t replicate a screenwriter’s or director’s vision, nor can it inspire a true emotional response from its audience. On the technical side, it can make some skills, like audio dubbing or visual effects, easier. But easier isn’t always better, especially when it comes to creating (and consuming) art. “The value of art is not how much it costs and how little effort it requires,” continued del Toro, “it’s how much you would risk to be in its presence.”This isn’t the first time the director has spoken out against AI. In 2023, del Toro called AI-assisted animation an “insult to life itself,” echoing sentiments from legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki. “I am not interested in illustrations made by machines and the extrapolation of information,” he told Decider. “I talked to Dave McKean, a great artist. He told me his greatest hope is that AI cannot draw.”With the entertainment industry continuing to move forward with AI, we may be closer to the future Del Toro fears than we were in 2023. It’s a daunting prospect for animation and visual effects in particular, and there’s no telling how artists’ relationship with the software will evolve in the coming years. As long as champions like del Toro stick around, however, we don’t have to roll over and accept this future. AI could have its place as a supplementary tool, but it’s important to acknowledge its limits. No matter how good it gets at aping human artists, its creations will never have soul.Learn Something New Every DayMore Like This

Ahead of their show at the Paradise, Kneecap talks about their movie, rise, and resistance

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The first time the Irish band Kneecap was scheduled to perform in Boston, opening for the Dropkick Murphys in early 2020, the show was canceled because of COVID. Instead, the band and their manager made their way to Croke Park, the South End dive bar. After downing some drinks, they shut down the jukebox and began bellowing songs.They got kicked out.The three members of Kneecap — rappers Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvai, all stage names — are no strangers to disobedience. “Kneecap,” the recent feature film about their unlikely rise to prominence, opens with Chara infuriating a police officer by refusing to speak English after an arrest.Instead, he speaks Irish, the ancient language (sometimes called Gaelic) that has been a source of pride for Irish republicans and contention for British authorities for centuries. Kneecap’s two frontmen rap in a chaotic mix of English and Irish, inspired by Bap’s real-life father, Arlo Ó Cairealláin, a former paramilitary who has been on the run for years. (Michael Fassbender plays Arlo in the film.)The movie, a vivid comic drama that’s part “Trainspotting,” part “8 Mile,” stars the Belfast trio as themselves — Liam Ó Hannaidh (Chara), Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Bap), and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (Próvai). The band’s meteoric rise, in Ireland and beyond, attracted several other suitors who wanted to make films about them, they said in a recent video interview, ahead of their headlining gig at the Paradise on Saturday. But they didn’t trust anyone until Rich Peppiatt, a journalist turned filmmaker, came calling.Director Rich Peppiatt holds the Next Audience Award for the film “Kneecap” during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Awards on January 26, 2024, in Park City, Utah. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty ImagesAfter dodging the director’s messages for a few months, eventually the band agreed to meet with him.“We realized with Rich that he was very serious, that it wasn’t just a throwaway comment,” said Ó Hannaidh. “When we sat down, it wasn’t like, ‘Oh, this is gonna be my thing, and youse are just gonna be part of it.’ It was like, ‘I want this to be collaborative. I want to hear your stories.’”The band only formed in 2017, but they have more stories than Belfast has churches. Most of them are real, or real-ish. It was actually a friend of Ó Cairealláin’s, not one of the band members, who drew the ire of British police when he refused to speak English.“We like to pepper up the stories,” said Ó Cairealláin. “But there are a lot of parts of the movie that are true.” The film begins with a christening in the forest, interrupted by a British army helicopter searching for the baby’s father (played by Michael Fassbender).“You would think that’s a made-up story,” said Ó Cairealláin, “but that’s actually true.” In reality, he was the baby being christened on a Mass rock in the forest.Also true is the roundabout way that Ó Dochartaigh joined the two rappers as their DJ. He was a secondary school teacher who taught in Irish. He and his girlfriend were involved in the human rights campaign that eventually led to the Identity and Language Act of 2022, an official act of Parliament that recognizes and protects the Irish language after centuries of restrictions.Kneecap plays the Paradise on Saturday.Older than the rappers but intrigued by their use of the language, Ó Dochartaigh used his musical skills to lay tracks for their first single, “C.E.A.R.T.A.” Quickly realizing that his students were coming to the group’s small-time local gigs, he began concealing his identity by wearing a ski mask, which would become his trademark. He wore it during the band’s interview with the Globe.In school on any given Monday after a Kneecap gig, the students “would be rapping the lyrics in the corridors,” Ó Dochartaigh recalled. His superiors launched an investigation to find out if he was in fact the DJ Próvai who dropped his trousers onstage to reveal two words, “Brits Out” — one on each buttock.“Eventually I had to walk the plank,” he said.After the band showed up at Sundance earlier this year to promote their film, they took advantage of a few days off to go skiing for the first time. Ó Dochartaigh claimed he took to it right away. Less successful was Ó Hannaidh.“I kept gradually going right,” he said with a laugh, “straight to the bar.”At first, the band had no notion of getting recognized beyond their own neighborhood in West Belfast, let alone around the globe.“It was just a bit of craic, the first song,” Ó Hannaidh said, using the Irish slang for good-time banter. “It was a shock to us that it has reached any other community, in America, whatever.”But the band quickly released a series of singles, including “Gael-Gigolos,” which imagined the two frontmen as male prostitutes working to pay off a debt to paramilitaries, and the self-explanatory “Get Your Brits Out.”As their notoriety has grown, the band has found solidarity with various resistance groups around the world. Kneecap’s second album, “Fine Art,” came out in June, with nods to mosh-pit rap and the rapid-fire electronic music known as grime.“Hip-hop is obviously from the bottom up,” Ó Hannaidh said. “There’s this common struggle. There are similarities that we draw on.“Oppressed people have always used their voice as the last means of resistance,” he continued. “I listen to a lot of hip-hop coming out of Palestine. You don’t need to understand the words to understand the message of it.”As the credits roll on the “Kneecap” movie, the band lays out its crusade: “Stories are built from language. Nations are built from stories.”If they’re a political band, they say, it’s by default.“It wasn’t our decision to make the language political,” Ó Hannaidh said.KNEECAPAt Paradise Rock Club, 967 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m. Tickets $24.50. crossroadspresents.comJames Sullivan can be reached at [email protected].