The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has instructed scientists to remove all references to mRNA vaccine technology from their grant applications, a move that signals the agency’s potential abandonment of promising medical research in this area. The mRNA technology is being studied at the NIH for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, including flu, AIDS, and cancer.
The decision was made after President Donald Trump boasted about the COVID-19 vaccines developed using mRNA technology, which have been credited with saving 3 million lives in the US alone. A scientist at a biomedical research center in Philadelphia wrote to a colleague that a project officer at NIH had flagged their pending grant as having an mRNA vaccine component.
NIH officials also told senior scientists in New York state that all references to mRNA vaccines should be removed from future applications, citing concerns about public perception and potential backlash from critics of the vaccines. The decision has sparked fears among researchers who rely on NIH funding for their work, particularly those studying COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
The move is seen as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to scrutinize spending on mRNA vaccines and limit their development. Several Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at banning or limiting mRNA vaccines, which could hit doctors with criminal penalties and fines.
The NIH’s decision has raised concerns among researchers and scientists, who fear that it could undermine public health efforts and limit access to life-saving treatments. The agency’s funding for mRNA vaccine research is significant, with over $1 billion invested in studies of COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
As part of its review of spending on mRNA vaccines, the NIH is also examining a $590 million contract for bird flu shots awarded to Moderna. The agency’s shift away from mRNA vaccine research has sparked fears that it could have significant implications for public health policy and research funding in the US.
Source: https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/nih-grants-mrna-vaccines-trump-administration-hhs-rfk