HIV Vaccine Hopes Dashed Trump Admin Cuts Funding, Stalling Breakthrough?

A Setback in the Fight Against HIV: US Research Program Abruptly Cancelled

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the scientific community, a major US research program dedicated to developing an HIV vaccine has been abruptly terminated by the Trump administration. This decision, impacting crucial work at institutions like Duke University and the Scripps Research Institute, has ignited outrage and raised serious concerns about the future of HIV prevention efforts.

The program, a $258 million initiative, had been running for years and showed promising results, not only in HIV vaccine research but also in contributing to advancements in treatments for COVID-19, autoimmune conditions, and even snakebite antivenom. The news of its cancellation has left researchers and advocates deeply disappointed.

According to a senior official speaking to the New York Times, the NIH leadership reviewed the "consortia for HIV/AIDS vaccine development and immunology" and decided against supporting it moving forward. The NIH reportedly plans to shift its focus toward utilizing existing tools for HIV/AIDS elimination.

Dennis Burton, an immunologist who led the program at Scripps, expressed his disappointment, stating that it was "very disappointing that at this critical juncture the funding for highly successful HIV vaccine research programs should be pulled."

The Implications are Significant

The cancellation of this research program has far-reaching implications:

• Halted Progress: The promising research into broadly neutralizing antibodies, a novel approach to protecting against multiple HIV strains, is now at risk of stalling.
• Weakened Prevention Efforts: With over 1.2 million people in the US living with HIV, and thousands of new cases reported annually, the need for effective prevention strategies is paramount. This decision undermines those efforts.
• Global Impact: The US has historically been a leader in HIV research, and this setback could have repercussions for global initiatives aimed at combating the epidemic. Delays in US aid are already disrupting prevention work in several African countries.

Richard Angell, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, a leading HIV charity, criticized the decision, calling it "mind blowing" and "heart breaking." He emphasized the importance of a vaccine in ultimately keeping Americans safe, adding, "A president worthy of the title would want America to be the first country to invent the HIV jab, not walk off the pitch in the eleventh hour."

A Broader Trend?

This move appears to be part of a larger pattern of reduced federal HIV efforts. The NIH has also reportedly paused funding for a separate clinical trial of an HIV vaccine developed by Moderna. Moreover:

• The Trump administration has reportedly slashed prevention efforts and terminated grants for preventative drugs.
• The HIV prevention division at the CDC has reportedly been shut down.

The Future of HIV Research

While officials suggest that the work may be transferred to a new federal agency, concrete details remain scarce. John Moore, an HIV researcher at Weill Cornell Medical College, warned that "the HIV pandemic will never be ended without a vaccine, so killing research on one will end up killing people."

The abrupt cancellation of this crucial HIV vaccine research program represents a significant setback in the ongoing battle against the virus. While the focus may be shifting towards existing prevention and treatment methods, the need for a vaccine remains critical. The hope is that this decision will be reconsidered, or that alternative funding sources can be identified to ensure that this vital research continues and that the momentum in the fight against HIV is not lost.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14767747/vaccine-HIV-canceled-trump-cuts.html