Duke HIV vaccine effort loses $129M in Trump administration funding

The Duke HIV vaccine effort, a promising initiative aimed at developing an effective vaccine against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), experienced a significant setback when it lost $129 million in funding during the Trump administration. This funding was essential for advancing research and clinical trials, which are critical components in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The abrupt withdrawal of financial support not only hindered progress on this particular vaccine but also raised concerns about the overall commitment of federal resources to combatting infectious diseases .

On Friday, research programs at Duke University and the Scripps Research Institute that are working to deliver an HIV vaccine were told by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that their $258 million funding would be stopped. The vaccine manufacturer Moderna said that their clinical trials, funded by the NIH, have also been paused.

“The consortia for HIV/AIDS vaccine development and immunology was reviewed by NIH leadership, which does not support it moving forward,” a senior official at the agency .

Both research consortia had received $129 million seven-year grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2019 to support their work. For the DHVI, this was the third seven-year grant awarded by the institute for this purpose. 

 A senior official at the agency who was not authorized to speak on the matter and asked not to be identified said, “The consortia for HIV/AIDS vaccine development and immunology was reviewed by leadership, which does not support it moving forward.”

The decision comes amid sweeping federal cuts to HIV research, including the cancellation of funding for a clinical trial of HIV vaccines produced by Moderna. 

"HIV has established roadblocks to us fighting it off, which are unparalleled in vaccinology. We've had to learn what each of the roadblocks are and to devise ways to overcome it. This virus mutates so quickly," said Duke professor of medicine Dr. Barton Ford Haynes, who is part of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute.

Haynes said their work was essentially combining multiple different vaccines as part of their approach to designing an effective HIV vaccine. 

In conclusion, the Duke HIV vaccine effort's loss of $129 million is emblematic of larger systemic challenges facing public health initiatives. It underscores the necessity for sustained investment in scientific research and highlights how political decisions can significantly impact healthcare advancements . As society continues to grapple with various health crises, it is imperative to prioritize funding for innovative solutions that could save lives and improve public health outcomes.

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Sara H

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